Yes, what she said! Many posts on that thread may be about a lot more going on in marriages than what the original post was all about …</p>
<p>Cardio + weights for me this morning. I feel as if I’m getting back into the exercise groove, which is a good thing. I went to the driving range yesterday (first time this season doing anything golf related) so now I have a few new sore muscles.</p>
<p>AND, I’m FINALLY having a 5 lb party! Honestly, I was convinced that scale was never going to move. My first goal is to take off the pounds I added over the holidays – yes, way back in November & December. Once I get there, I’ll consider the next goal.
Yup, that’s definitely been my experience. I really have to walk (run?) the straight and narrow to see any weight loss; H eats a little less and the pounds just fall off. </p>
<p>"I’m a little jealous–he was able to lose weight much faster than I did. "</p>
<p>Having more testosterone than estrogen definitely helps with weight loss. </p>
<p>We were a family of tubby spouses who were too busy to do anything about their unhealthy weight until Mr B was diagnosed with a couple of what would be considered minor health issues (borderline high BP and some food allergies that made eating spicy foods impossible). But that was his wake up call when his doc told him that if he continued to gain weight, he could end up with much more serious stuff. Meanwhile, I had my own wake up calls. First, a trip to Europe and realization that I cannot buy nice clothes in Europe because designers do not usually produce sizes larger than 48 (about 10 by US standards or M-L), and second, running a 5k in a company team triathlon without training for it - after 20+ years of non-running (I squeaked out a time under 29 min, but it hurt so much that I was disgusted with the whole idea of getting back to running). So, long story shirt, Mr B decided that the easiest way to get back into shape was by running daily. One sunny Saturday he went out for a run, and I reluctantly tagged along. After about 5 minutes of moderate jogging, Mr B stopped and started rubbing his chest! Yikes, that scared the daylight out of me - he was so completely out of breath that I thought he could collapse with his heart failing tight there! Defeated, we went back home, but Mr was not ready to give up his idea. So jog/walk it was from that point on. I was so terrified to let him run alone that I went along for those runs to make sure if something happens to my precious guy, I would be there to call for help! Of course, I was a tad faster and I had to run in circles around him to keep him company. Our slow jogs turned into 20-min runs, and those turned into weekend trail outings… until Mr B tore his meniscus. Ouch. Seeing how much his overall health had improved from the exercise and healthy eating (I read up on sports nutrition and idad’s links and ruthlessly cut out junk), he was not ready to give up his routine. Instead of running, he now bikes. We have a home gym with a Precor treadmill and a recumbent bike for him for those nasty, rainy nights, and we are a “W runs while H bikes” family when we go to the Beer Trail. BTW, I now fit into size 42 clothes and have run 3 marathons. Mr B’s BP is almost back to normal, and he dropped 2 inches from his waist. </p>
<p>That’s a great story and something to smile and be proud of BB!</p>
<p>However I have to say, shame on designers who cannot or don’t produce sizes > than size 10. Bodies come in all shapes and sizes regardless of fat rolls or not. Broad shoulders, broad hips, short waists, etc - are there regardless of weight. A woman can wear a size 12 or 14 and be a gorgeous fit woman who just may be tall or broad or shapely. I seriously have an issue with companies or individuals who thrive on saying they wear a tiny single digit number. Whoopee! But how do you FEEL? Do you enjoy life and a variety of food? Is mealtime a happy time with a variety of dishes and celebration of ethnicity or is it a bowl of rabbit food? Thin arms can be fit. Bulky arms can be fit. Ugh - don’t get me started on the size thing (oh - it’s ME that started the rant…haha!) </p>
<p>Great story, Bunsen. It’s good that you are both on the same page.</p>
<p>Plus- the whole sizing thing has changed so much with vanity sizing and all. I was a tiny 4-6 when I was really competitive in the early 80s and now I’m a little bigger and a size 2! Yeah, right. Also, once I started triathlon and swimming in the 80s my shoulders got a lot broader. I remember going for a job interview after being home with my baby kids for a few years and I could not even move my arms in my blazer.</p>
<p>I have a 1 pound party (since Wed am) which is a start. I really dialed it back. No beer or wine the last 3 nights, for one thing. </p>
<p>While I wouldn’t call my husband a tubby hubby, he was skinny when I met him and now he isn’t. He needs to exercise and he needs to lose weight – he has a very high stress job, works very long hours, and needs to take better care of himself. He has no problem at all sitting down to work at 8 am and not moving from his desk until 8 pm. And when he travels for business (which is frequent), he often will work from 7 am to 10 pm.</p>
<p>He must have different hormones than most men, because he doesn’t eat badly at all – he’s cut out most carbs, sweets, etc. – but doesn’t lose weight. For him, I really think exercise is the key. I have tried everything I can think of to get him to move more on a regular basis – we go on walks and hikes and bike rides whenever I can get him to move, but left to his own devices, he does nothing. Doctors have told him to lose weight and exercise more – but work just comes first.</p>
<p>I realize that my nagging is useless, but it’s frustrating and I don’t really want him to have a health crisis to prompt him to change. </p>
<p>abasket, I would not blame them - it is a simple business decision. If those large sized clothes do not sell because there is no market, well, it makes zero sense to make them - in Europe. I was shocked to see how “big” I was compared to the women of my age and height in Russia and France (this was in 2008) and I had zero reasons to be that big. Here in the US the Guccis and Armanis of the fashion world do sell large stuff. My point is that it was one of my “kicks in the pants” moments that I needed to take a serious look at my health (vanity came as an added benefit ) because dragging those pounds around was getting tiresome. I looked with envy how fast and effortlessly those women navigated the cobblestoned streets and marble staircases while I - a former athlete! - could barely keep up with our private guide. </p>
<p>There will be no market if your audience of people + size 10 know you do not design pieces complimentary to their body type or put into production, pieces in their size. There are plenty of people in Europe who are > size 10 who have $$ and like fashion. I know some of them! </p>
<p>And size 10 or above is not large in itself for many body types. </p>
<p>Abasket, you are feisty lately! I am a little torn on the size debate. I think the fact that vanity sizes exist contributed to my own creeping up of weight over 20 years. I never used to weigh myself, but instead relied on my weekend jeans to give me feedback. As I bought new jeans over the years, I managed to stay in the same size (look at me … Still the same size as high school! Ha). Because I was so athletic before kids, I suspect my weight was heavier than what I looked like because I was denser, so even when I got on a scale, my weight looked okay, but in truth I was exercising less, so as my muscle atrophied, my weight stayed the same because I gained more fat.</p>
<p>I went to a health screening at work about 5-6 years ago and got feedback on my body fat mass and that’s when I realized I was fooling myself. I wish that there were size standards around the US at least, and those standards should consistently map to sizes in Europe. In the meantime, an inch is still an inch, and body fat is still body fat, so I am using those as the true metrics of what my shape should be. I know I will never be tall and lean, but I am motivated to be short and healthy. </p>
<p>Only two days of vacation left … Definitely been exercising a ton and eating delicious food. No scale here!</p>
<p>Numbers on a dress size, numbers on a scale, age number - just wish we would be more in tune with our personal well being in terms of how we feel, how we take care of ourselves, etc. instead of letting a “number” be our ticket to whether we should feel good about ourselves or not. </p>
<p>Even Europeans are fat compared to the people I saw in southeast Asia and Japan this year. They are tiny – I was really struck by the difference when I walked through O’Hare airport when my plane landed. Other than sumo wrestlers, you just don’t see huge beer bellies in Asia. </p>
<p>Portion size is key. In Japan, everything is served on these teeny little plates.</p>
<p>The other day I sat next to a seriously obese woman on the plane. Her arm and thigh took up about a quarter of my seat – seriously, good thing I’m slender, and thankfully it was a short flight. When the flight attendant served drinks, she got a Coke. </p>
<p>abasket, I used to get up in arms about those issues, too, until I realized that “weight discrimination” had nothing to do with it - if the stuff does not sell, why make it. It is statistics at work. Curiously, I just looked at what is left of Saks famous 60% off designer sale. It is all larger sizes, for most part (12 and above) and extra teeny tiny small ones (0-2 and below) - and this is the US.</p>
<p>I have seen more articles lately that can be put in the camp of “skinny shaming” (and gosh, I am by no means skinny, but I feel that I am being targeted there, together with one of the miss USA contestants and the infamous La Perla mannequin ). I think this is the food industry trying to stop the epidemic of people “downsizing”. I think that “Love the body you have” is a good motto - as long it is not the body that you have managed to trash by years of unhealthy habits. And that is determined by the overall health assessment and not by size or some fitness number, like number of pushups a minute, alone. All those morbidly obese actresses publicly declaring that they are the epitome of health and therefore they are happy with themselves - well, they are fooling themselves. I have yet to see a typical 400 pound lady who was healthy by all medical standards. Either she is fooling herself or she has not been to the doctor lately.</p>
<p>There is a middle ground between the size 2 lady and the 400 pound lady. The majority of America - even the middle or upper middle class in the midwest anyway does not shop at Saks - I personally find at places I might shop - like Loft, JCrew, Gap and some other retailers that it is the smaller sizes that are left on the rack - and that the 10+ sizes that are lacking. So I often wonder here why the stats are not working in favor of the 10+ crowd - because those sizes ARE selling where I shop! </p>
<p>We don’t have to agree. I am sensitive to seeing things in the “not typical” manner, especially when it comes to people. Business and stats are important and are one way to see things. Humanity, feelings and social-emotional feelings of acceptance and fitting in are another. </p>
<p>A British news site asked the same question - would a typical UK lady be considered “healthy”? These women are “size 12” (but they are all shorties like me, under 5’8"):</p>
<p>The average height of an American woman is 5’4, so those taller but under 5’8 are not shorties by any means! </p>
<p>The webmd article is decent. It does still focus a lot of size. I do like how it recognizes finding “your right size” - meaning, with decent eating and exercising,(“decent” is up for discussion) you can find the size you should be comfortable in for YOU:
"Your clothing size will change with healthy lifestyle choices. Once you’re no longer in the red zone for health risk, look at your clothing size and that’s where you belong. "
“Do the work it takes to become healthy. And while you’re at it, define your own sense of beauty.”</p>
<p>The webmd article author actually gives a set of parameters that would put women in the “decently healthy” category. Neither one of them taken alone would mean anything, but when all of them fall within the given guidelines, one can be - statistically - considered healthy. And by that it means than there is a good probability that such woman would have only a few, if not none, health issues, and would continue to do so. </p>
<p>Geez, you guys were busy today! H and I went to C’ville. </p>
<p>CBB, congrats on that five pound party! Yay! </p>
<p>I got some new running stuff so I can carry water with me while I run. I think that’s going to be important in the months to come. Most importantly, we went to Whole Foods and H was an active participant in shopping! He read labels! He listened to me explain why one product was better than another! It was great! On the way home, I read him BB’s story about Mr. B and I have to say it really resonated with him. The success stories are what he needs to hear, so thanks to all who have shared. </p>
<p>I am 5’-9" and weighed 125 pounds at age 23, when I got married. I was a size 8. I expect to be a size 8 again when I reach 150 pounds before long.</p>
<p>I am loving CrossFit. I know it’s gotten some bad publicity, but I like the trainer/coach. She knows I’m not an athlete, and she’s taking lots of time to help me with my technique. I managed to jump rope last week - I haven’t been able to do that in years! So my schedule will be to run M, W, F mornings and do CrossFit T, Th, and Sat mornings. </p>
<p>I have lost 9.0 pounds in the past six weeks. I know my weight may plateau if I start gaining muscle. That’s OK! I will look better.</p>
<p>We have been buying a ton of fresh veggies and fruit. It’s been quite awhile since I had any red meat, too. I definitely feel better.</p>
Our slow jogs turned into 20-min runs, and those turned into weekend trail outings… until Mr B tore his meniscus. Ouch. Seeing how much his overall health had improved from the exercise and healthy eating (I read up on sports nutrition and idad’s links and ruthlessly cut out junk), he was not ready to give up his routine. Instead of running, he now bikes. We have a home gym with a Precor treadmill and a recumbent bike for him for those nasty, rainy nights, and we are a “W runs while H bikes” family when we go to the Beer Trail. BTW, I now fit into size 42 clothes and have run 3 marathons. Mr B’s BP is almost back to normal, and he dropped 2 inches from his waist. 
) because dragging those pounds around was getting tiresome. I looked with envy how fast and effortlessly those women navigated the cobblestoned streets and marble staircases while I - a former athlete! - could barely keep up with our private guide. </p>