"The UN reported that a total number of people suffering from over-nutrition-1 billion- exceeded the number suffering from malnutrition- 800 million"
"What in the eyes of the omnivore looks like a meal of impressive variety turns out to be the meal of a far more specialized kind of eater. But then, this is what the industrial eater has become: Corn's Koala"
"A country with a stable culture of food would not shell out millions for
the quackery (or common sense) of a new diet book every January. It
would not be susceptible to the pendulum swings of food scares or
fads, to the apotheosis every few years of one newly discovered nutrient
and the demonization of another. It would not be apt to confuse
protein bars or food supplements with meals or breakfast cereals with
medicines. It probably would not eat a fifth of its meals in cars or feed
fully a third of its children at a fast-food outlet every day. And it surely
would not be nearly so fat.
Nor would such a culture be shocked to discover that there are
other countries, such as Italy and France, that decide their dinner questions
on the basis of such quaint and unscientific criteria as pleasure
and tradition, eat all manner of “unhealthy” foods, and, lo and behold,
wind up actually healthier and happier in their eating than we are. We
show our surprise at this by speaking of something called the “French
paradox,” for how could a people who eat such demonstrably toxic
substances as foie gras and triple crème cheese actually be slimmer and
healthier than we are? Yet I wonder if it doesn’t make more sense to
speak in terms of an American paradox--that is, a notably unhealthy people obsessed by the idea of eating healthily..." -Michael Pollan author of The Omnivore Dilemma READ IT GOOOD STUFF!!
"What in the eyes of the omnivore looks like a meal of impressive variety turns out to be the meal of a far more specialized kind of eater. But then, this is what the industrial eater has become: Corn's Koala"
"A country with a stable culture of food would not shell out millions for
the quackery (or common sense) of a new diet book every January. It
would not be susceptible to the pendulum swings of food scares or
fads, to the apotheosis every few years of one newly discovered nutrient
and the demonization of another. It would not be apt to confuse
protein bars or food supplements with meals or breakfast cereals with
medicines. It probably would not eat a fifth of its meals in cars or feed
fully a third of its children at a fast-food outlet every day. And it surely
would not be nearly so fat.
Nor would such a culture be shocked to discover that there are
other countries, such as Italy and France, that decide their dinner questions
on the basis of such quaint and unscientific criteria as pleasure
and tradition, eat all manner of “unhealthy” foods, and, lo and behold,
wind up actually healthier and happier in their eating than we are. We
show our surprise at this by speaking of something called the “French
paradox,” for how could a people who eat such demonstrably toxic
substances as foie gras and triple crème cheese actually be slimmer and
healthier than we are? Yet I wonder if it doesn’t make more sense to
speak in terms of an American paradox--that is, a notably unhealthy people obsessed by the idea of eating healthily..." -Michael Pollan author of The Omnivore Dilemma READ IT GOOOD STUFF!!
"What we eat becomes us. Our cultural perceptions of and attitudes towards food are deeply internalized and difficult to unlearn as an adult.
Paleoanthropologists speculate that successful exploitation of herbivores for meat was not possible until evolving humans had developed cognitive capacity for coordinated hunting, appropriate stone tool technology, and perhaps language" - Ka
"The problem is, we live in a modern world, but we’re stuck with caveman taste buds. When our ancestors roamed the plains, our preferences actually did make sense: Our tastes aligned with healthy foods. We evolved to like sugar because it’s in fruit. And fruit—which is rare in the wild—is high in nutrients, fiber, and calories. We evolved to like salt because the body needs salt to retain water. Salt—also rare in the wild—was an occasional lifesaving treat.But then we figured out how to extract sugar from plants and put it in pastries and Frappuccinos. We mined salt and stuck it in our soups and burritos and neon-orange cheese snacks. And in large quantities, sugar and salt are not so good for you at all. We also started to live longer. We cured a lot of infectious diseases, but this presented a new problem. Foods that were healthy in the short run—like those loaded with fat to allow the caveman to survive the famine until the next kill—turned out to be damaging in the long run." Drop Dead Healthy A. J. Jacobs
Paleoanthropologists speculate that successful exploitation of herbivores for meat was not possible until evolving humans had developed cognitive capacity for coordinated hunting, appropriate stone tool technology, and perhaps language" - Ka
"The problem is, we live in a modern world, but we’re stuck with caveman taste buds. When our ancestors roamed the plains, our preferences actually did make sense: Our tastes aligned with healthy foods. We evolved to like sugar because it’s in fruit. And fruit—which is rare in the wild—is high in nutrients, fiber, and calories. We evolved to like salt because the body needs salt to retain water. Salt—also rare in the wild—was an occasional lifesaving treat.But then we figured out how to extract sugar from plants and put it in pastries and Frappuccinos. We mined salt and stuck it in our soups and burritos and neon-orange cheese snacks. And in large quantities, sugar and salt are not so good for you at all. We also started to live longer. We cured a lot of infectious diseases, but this presented a new problem. Foods that were healthy in the short run—like those loaded with fat to allow the caveman to survive the famine until the next kill—turned out to be damaging in the long run." Drop Dead Healthy A. J. Jacobs
How to Lose Weight While Eating the Same Amount of Calories At Age 16
2011What does this graph tell you? It says that in about 9 months, I have consumed generally the same amount of calories and managed to lose 28 lbs in the process... if this does not prove that calories aren't everything in losing weight i don't know what the hell does.
So now the question is, how did i do it? Don't ask me what my big secret is because it's not a big secret at all. I didn't go on some quest to find the secret clue to losing weight, hide it away and leave everyone else fat and confused. The information is out there; stop going to Mcdonalds; get on a treadmill; don't take seconds; stay away from ice cream. You have everything in your disposal to get healthy.
Now the question turns to, what's stopping you? There are a variety of reasons; too lazy, too busy, too ignorant. It can all be traced back to being careless. If you don't take the effort to look out for your well being, how do you expect to be there to look out for others? You won't, cause you'll have a heart attack and die before you get the chance.
I can spend all my time trying to convince you what i'm saying is true; that there is no easy fix to obesity. It's a long, trying, frustrating process which few have the discipline and determination to see through to the end. I could plead and beg you to realize the path your really going down when you walk into the Golden Arches. I could pester you about changing your ways and working out instead of playing video games. But I won't do any of these things. You know why? Carelessness.
I couldn't give a shit whether or not you lose weight. Frankly, people who need convincing to do it never can do it. Losing weight is like quitting smoking, it has to be prompted by a decision within yourself, without the whole "3 day thing"( ironically the only good thing about quitting smoking doesn't apply :P thats life). You can' just change your lifestyle and in 3 days get used to it and move on. I'm in my 9th month and i still struggle with not grabbing that cookie; not taking just one more bite; not skipping exercise for the day cause i just don't feel like it. You know how I beat the temptations? I look in the mirror.
The good thing about trying to lose weight (probably the only one) is that you always have constant motivation. In quitting smoking, the damages of the act are hidden inside your lungs and behind your lips. But when your obese, the deleterious effects are smack in front of your face, staring back at you.
Some people might get depressed by this image, and that i understand. But don't go pout by eating a pint of Ben & Jerry. That's a vicious cycle which probably led you there in the first place. Get angry. Get fucking pissed. Scream at yourself. My favorites include "Why the hell are you such a fat ass?" and "How the hell did i allow this to happen?" Everyone has their own personality so insert generic degrading statement here:_______
Then take that anger and make it work for you! Go on a fridge raid and toss all that processed shit. Blast your screamo music and tackle the treadmill. Once you have released the energy in a healthy way, start writing. Anything you want. Write how you feel, how you look, how you want to look, how you can get there. ANYTHING! Motivation must be on paper so you can see what you feel.
This is the first step... Yeah... that whole thing was just the first step... You wanna know how many steps there are? I would say infiinite, but to provide quantitative data, there are about 4 major steps every day.( and i have done each of those steps for 9 months X 30 days X 4 steps=1080 steps to get to -28 lbs. yeah." TREW is the fun little acronym i came up with (actually it was just dumb luck but just go with it) To stay on track you must complete everyone to the fullest amount. NO SHORT CUTS!!
1. Track - watch and write down what you eat down to the last chip you snatched from your friend. This is not calorie-paranoia, just keeping the experiment as accurate as possible. Any calorie counting website is fine but i recommend theIt's the most accurate and doesn't sugarcoat anything. Plus provides everything you need to know, including cool graphs (psst and i would listen to the chick who has lost 28 lbs... she kind of knows what she's talking about... just saying...)
2.Remind- In everything you do, you must remind yourself constantly of your goal. Even with a major crisis occurring, your goal must be in the back of your mind. Because, if you only hold goals when life is easy, you'll never get anything done. Life is always going to throw curve balls at you, so why let that set you back in achieving what you want.
3. Exercise- OBV nothing too extreme but EVERYDAY! no concessions, exceptions NOTHING!! Even if your busy as hell, everyone has time to walk
around for a half hour, or bike to the store. That's all it takes trust me. Soon enough you'll know your body well and develop a work out plan.
4. Weigh- i put this last because this is the one everyone hates. Trust me i know, i hated it too. I refused to look at that evil number; that number
which reminded and represented all my failures, all the reasons i was different, and all the things i hated about myself. But you have to do it, for accuracy, motivation, and realistic purposes. You need to know how the things you change are affecting your weight every day. You'll soon learn the specified ways your body reacts to certain foods, eating times, and exercise programs. Seeing that number every morning will get you pissed throughout the day the help you overcome those temptations (and when you begin to lose weight, keeps your hopes up that it's actually working :D) The last one is a bit ambiguous.
What I'm trying to say is losing weight is an experiment. You are the variable being tested with how certain foods, exercises, and mind sets affect your weight. Being stuck in denial pulls you away from the reality and into a fantasy where your problem doesn't exist. Sure its a pretty place, but its not real. You know what are real? Double chins. Fat rolls. Love handles. They are your enemies, they are your coaches, but most importantly they are a part of YOU. Not a permanent part, but still there, and to be able to change yourself, you must recognize yourself, ALL of yourself. That includes your number. Until you do, you'll never lose anything.
A scientist cannot just ignore an important variable or piece of data just because it's unpleasant. This would lead to a error filled experiment and incorrect data, and one cannot make conclusions from faulty results. For the best results and an accurate model to follow throughout the future, follow these steps.
Again, i stress how indifferent i am to whether or not you believe me. I'm not writing this because i want to be some big hero, who comes to the rescue for all those to pathetic to do it themselves. To quote Thoreau, like i usually do "Rather than love, than wealth, than money , give me truth". I'm writing this for the sole purpose of informing the public of my experiences.
I'm writing this to tell you that all the things you have heard are true, that you can do it. It is possible to get into those jeans you've always wanted or wear a good swimsuit next summer. I want to prove those unknown facts to be true, because I see the world as truth and fallacy. Only through truth can a person attack reality head on and be the best person they can be, not through myths which they tell themselves to feel better. That is what i will leave you with today, the overall fallacy and inconvenient truth about weight loss:
FALLACY: Losing weight can be done by changing one thing in your life; by doing one ab exerciser; by cutting out carbs; by wear weight losing shoes. You can easily keep doing everything else the same you always have.
TRUTH: Weight lose is universal. Your weight is who you are, therefore is affected BY EVERYTHING YOU DO. In order to change it you must change everything you do. Trust me, don't be afraid of change. When you cross that bridge and finally reach your goal, you'll definitely like who you see in the reflection; a skinnier, healthier, more confident YOU.
That took me like a straight hour... pretty freakin awesome when the inspiration Gods hit you. Too bad its 1 am and i have an AP Bio test tomorow. Why didn't this writing inspiration come while i was taking the ACT???? :)
-your skinnier, healthier, happier friend you have always known: Roxy
So now the question is, how did i do it? Don't ask me what my big secret is because it's not a big secret at all. I didn't go on some quest to find the secret clue to losing weight, hide it away and leave everyone else fat and confused. The information is out there; stop going to Mcdonalds; get on a treadmill; don't take seconds; stay away from ice cream. You have everything in your disposal to get healthy.
Now the question turns to, what's stopping you? There are a variety of reasons; too lazy, too busy, too ignorant. It can all be traced back to being careless. If you don't take the effort to look out for your well being, how do you expect to be there to look out for others? You won't, cause you'll have a heart attack and die before you get the chance.
I can spend all my time trying to convince you what i'm saying is true; that there is no easy fix to obesity. It's a long, trying, frustrating process which few have the discipline and determination to see through to the end. I could plead and beg you to realize the path your really going down when you walk into the Golden Arches. I could pester you about changing your ways and working out instead of playing video games. But I won't do any of these things. You know why? Carelessness.
I couldn't give a shit whether or not you lose weight. Frankly, people who need convincing to do it never can do it. Losing weight is like quitting smoking, it has to be prompted by a decision within yourself, without the whole "3 day thing"( ironically the only good thing about quitting smoking doesn't apply :P thats life). You can' just change your lifestyle and in 3 days get used to it and move on. I'm in my 9th month and i still struggle with not grabbing that cookie; not taking just one more bite; not skipping exercise for the day cause i just don't feel like it. You know how I beat the temptations? I look in the mirror.
The good thing about trying to lose weight (probably the only one) is that you always have constant motivation. In quitting smoking, the damages of the act are hidden inside your lungs and behind your lips. But when your obese, the deleterious effects are smack in front of your face, staring back at you.
Some people might get depressed by this image, and that i understand. But don't go pout by eating a pint of Ben & Jerry. That's a vicious cycle which probably led you there in the first place. Get angry. Get fucking pissed. Scream at yourself. My favorites include "Why the hell are you such a fat ass?" and "How the hell did i allow this to happen?" Everyone has their own personality so insert generic degrading statement here:_______
Then take that anger and make it work for you! Go on a fridge raid and toss all that processed shit. Blast your screamo music and tackle the treadmill. Once you have released the energy in a healthy way, start writing. Anything you want. Write how you feel, how you look, how you want to look, how you can get there. ANYTHING! Motivation must be on paper so you can see what you feel.
This is the first step... Yeah... that whole thing was just the first step... You wanna know how many steps there are? I would say infiinite, but to provide quantitative data, there are about 4 major steps every day.( and i have done each of those steps for 9 months X 30 days X 4 steps=1080 steps to get to -28 lbs. yeah." TREW is the fun little acronym i came up with (actually it was just dumb luck but just go with it) To stay on track you must complete everyone to the fullest amount. NO SHORT CUTS!!
1. Track - watch and write down what you eat down to the last chip you snatched from your friend. This is not calorie-paranoia, just keeping the experiment as accurate as possible. Any calorie counting website is fine but i recommend theIt's the most accurate and doesn't sugarcoat anything. Plus provides everything you need to know, including cool graphs (psst and i would listen to the chick who has lost 28 lbs... she kind of knows what she's talking about... just saying...)
2.Remind- In everything you do, you must remind yourself constantly of your goal. Even with a major crisis occurring, your goal must be in the back of your mind. Because, if you only hold goals when life is easy, you'll never get anything done. Life is always going to throw curve balls at you, so why let that set you back in achieving what you want.
3. Exercise- OBV nothing too extreme but EVERYDAY! no concessions, exceptions NOTHING!! Even if your busy as hell, everyone has time to walk
around for a half hour, or bike to the store. That's all it takes trust me. Soon enough you'll know your body well and develop a work out plan.
4. Weigh- i put this last because this is the one everyone hates. Trust me i know, i hated it too. I refused to look at that evil number; that number
which reminded and represented all my failures, all the reasons i was different, and all the things i hated about myself. But you have to do it, for accuracy, motivation, and realistic purposes. You need to know how the things you change are affecting your weight every day. You'll soon learn the specified ways your body reacts to certain foods, eating times, and exercise programs. Seeing that number every morning will get you pissed throughout the day the help you overcome those temptations (and when you begin to lose weight, keeps your hopes up that it's actually working :D) The last one is a bit ambiguous.
What I'm trying to say is losing weight is an experiment. You are the variable being tested with how certain foods, exercises, and mind sets affect your weight. Being stuck in denial pulls you away from the reality and into a fantasy where your problem doesn't exist. Sure its a pretty place, but its not real. You know what are real? Double chins. Fat rolls. Love handles. They are your enemies, they are your coaches, but most importantly they are a part of YOU. Not a permanent part, but still there, and to be able to change yourself, you must recognize yourself, ALL of yourself. That includes your number. Until you do, you'll never lose anything.
A scientist cannot just ignore an important variable or piece of data just because it's unpleasant. This would lead to a error filled experiment and incorrect data, and one cannot make conclusions from faulty results. For the best results and an accurate model to follow throughout the future, follow these steps.
Again, i stress how indifferent i am to whether or not you believe me. I'm not writing this because i want to be some big hero, who comes to the rescue for all those to pathetic to do it themselves. To quote Thoreau, like i usually do "Rather than love, than wealth, than money , give me truth". I'm writing this for the sole purpose of informing the public of my experiences.
I'm writing this to tell you that all the things you have heard are true, that you can do it. It is possible to get into those jeans you've always wanted or wear a good swimsuit next summer. I want to prove those unknown facts to be true, because I see the world as truth and fallacy. Only through truth can a person attack reality head on and be the best person they can be, not through myths which they tell themselves to feel better. That is what i will leave you with today, the overall fallacy and inconvenient truth about weight loss:
FALLACY: Losing weight can be done by changing one thing in your life; by doing one ab exerciser; by cutting out carbs; by wear weight losing shoes. You can easily keep doing everything else the same you always have.
TRUTH: Weight lose is universal. Your weight is who you are, therefore is affected BY EVERYTHING YOU DO. In order to change it you must change everything you do. Trust me, don't be afraid of change. When you cross that bridge and finally reach your goal, you'll definitely like who you see in the reflection; a skinnier, healthier, more confident YOU.
That took me like a straight hour... pretty freakin awesome when the inspiration Gods hit you. Too bad its 1 am and i have an AP Bio test tomorow. Why didn't this writing inspiration come while i was taking the ACT???? :)
-your skinnier, healthier, happier friend you have always known: Roxy
New Generation, New Problems
2012With every new generation comes new obstacles and changes. Our parent's generation faced a sudden surge of melanoma caused by tanning under the sun without proper protection. Their parent's generation experienced the frightening appearance of lung cancer in response to the smoke from cigarettes. Our generation faces our own pandemic, obesity.
In our ancestor’s generation, those things which caused the health scares were previously thought to be harmless. Our generation is most likely going through a similar pattern of ignorance towards the harmful omnipresent occurrences of soda machines, video games, and fast food chains. To learn from our predecessors, we need to shed light on these seemingly harmless attributes of everyday society which are causing this widespread obesity, especially in today’s youth.
Unfortunately, many Americans fail to recognize the severity and universal presence of obesity, claiming it has happened before and there’s nothing to worry about. In actuality, obesity rates in children have been said to be at an all time high since our parents were kids. Why is this worrisome? Along with this new record height, the very first presence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, common diseases occurring in obese adults, are now happening in similarly obese children. Now can someone really say there's nothing to worry about when a child has to grow up dealing with life threatening diseases which could have easily been prevented?
In fact, obesity is the highest cause of preventable death second to smoking. This statistic wasn’t true in previous generations, so why is this happening? To answer this question, we must analyze the factors which have changed since our parent's were kids.
Looking at the daily eating habits of children today compared to children of the 70s and 40s, it's pretty obvious who the culprit is responsible for the rise in obese children, the food industry. The way our food is made, distributed, and displayed has drastically changed since the 20th century. This change is easily shown when we analyze the differences in the food we ate 40 years ago, compared to now. When your parents woke up for school, their breakfast choices ranged from fruit and toast to eggs and bacon. Kids today usually go for delicious frozen waffles or the cinnamon rolls and pop tarts offered in the school breakfast lines. The snacks available to kids today usually only consist of candy bars and chips from vending machines, while our parents had to bring food from home, usually fruit or a granola bar. Not to mention the school lunches presented to our parents had much less from-frozen fried foods and much more homemade dishes consisting of foods actually from the vegetable group, not pizza sauce. But the most drastic change in how we eat appears during dinner time. When our parents were young, generally they ate every dinner with their family, going out to neighborhood restaurants on special occasions. Now, dinner is much less formal occasion, usually done independently by the child and unsupervised by the parent. Our even worse, the parent encourages their child to frequent fast food drive thrus to save time on actually cooking them a meal.
Obviously our parents were not health nuts, and they still indulged in sweets and salty snacks like we do, the only difference is that their main diets consisted of nutrient-rich homemade foods, not fries, TV dinners, and chicken nuggets. To prevent this increase in obesity from continuing into the next generation, parents of today and future parents, aka us, need to guide their children in healthy eating, and stress the importance of keeping a healthy diet.
Being teenagers we know how hard it is to make healthy choices, and we know how practically impossible it's going to be to change the way our generation eats. The only way this could be made a reality is if every single person wakes up and realizes the lethal road were on when we continue to ignore our responsibilities to our children's health and our own. Seriously, what's really more important than health? Health is what keeps you alive to do what you want to do: go to college, get married, have kids etc. Health is what gives you the ability to accomplish that dream of scaling the Grand Canyon, or hiking the China Wall, or just walking down the beach. Health equals life. If we don't start paying attention to the health of our kids, then they are not going to have much of a life to look forward to.
-your AP LA speech-giving friend Roxy ;)
In our ancestor’s generation, those things which caused the health scares were previously thought to be harmless. Our generation is most likely going through a similar pattern of ignorance towards the harmful omnipresent occurrences of soda machines, video games, and fast food chains. To learn from our predecessors, we need to shed light on these seemingly harmless attributes of everyday society which are causing this widespread obesity, especially in today’s youth.
Unfortunately, many Americans fail to recognize the severity and universal presence of obesity, claiming it has happened before and there’s nothing to worry about. In actuality, obesity rates in children have been said to be at an all time high since our parents were kids. Why is this worrisome? Along with this new record height, the very first presence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, common diseases occurring in obese adults, are now happening in similarly obese children. Now can someone really say there's nothing to worry about when a child has to grow up dealing with life threatening diseases which could have easily been prevented?
In fact, obesity is the highest cause of preventable death second to smoking. This statistic wasn’t true in previous generations, so why is this happening? To answer this question, we must analyze the factors which have changed since our parent's were kids.
Looking at the daily eating habits of children today compared to children of the 70s and 40s, it's pretty obvious who the culprit is responsible for the rise in obese children, the food industry. The way our food is made, distributed, and displayed has drastically changed since the 20th century. This change is easily shown when we analyze the differences in the food we ate 40 years ago, compared to now. When your parents woke up for school, their breakfast choices ranged from fruit and toast to eggs and bacon. Kids today usually go for delicious frozen waffles or the cinnamon rolls and pop tarts offered in the school breakfast lines. The snacks available to kids today usually only consist of candy bars and chips from vending machines, while our parents had to bring food from home, usually fruit or a granola bar. Not to mention the school lunches presented to our parents had much less from-frozen fried foods and much more homemade dishes consisting of foods actually from the vegetable group, not pizza sauce. But the most drastic change in how we eat appears during dinner time. When our parents were young, generally they ate every dinner with their family, going out to neighborhood restaurants on special occasions. Now, dinner is much less formal occasion, usually done independently by the child and unsupervised by the parent. Our even worse, the parent encourages their child to frequent fast food drive thrus to save time on actually cooking them a meal.
Obviously our parents were not health nuts, and they still indulged in sweets and salty snacks like we do, the only difference is that their main diets consisted of nutrient-rich homemade foods, not fries, TV dinners, and chicken nuggets. To prevent this increase in obesity from continuing into the next generation, parents of today and future parents, aka us, need to guide their children in healthy eating, and stress the importance of keeping a healthy diet.
Being teenagers we know how hard it is to make healthy choices, and we know how practically impossible it's going to be to change the way our generation eats. The only way this could be made a reality is if every single person wakes up and realizes the lethal road were on when we continue to ignore our responsibilities to our children's health and our own. Seriously, what's really more important than health? Health is what keeps you alive to do what you want to do: go to college, get married, have kids etc. Health is what gives you the ability to accomplish that dream of scaling the Grand Canyon, or hiking the China Wall, or just walking down the beach. Health equals life. If we don't start paying attention to the health of our kids, then they are not going to have much of a life to look forward to.
-your AP LA speech-giving friend Roxy ;)
Handle the Truth: You're A Fat Ass
2012 When you grow up, you go
from a stage of innocent ignorant child, to a confused complicated adolescent.
During this awkward time you learn many lessons and discover many new things
which were always right in front of you, but you never truly saw. My biggest
discovery was not boys, drugs, or that my parents actually had sex. I
discovered that I was a tremendous fat ass.
Ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration and needs background story which I’ll provide now.
Just like any sixth grader, coming to West Middle School was a very frightening experience. We had multiple teachers, more freedom, and a bigger school to get used to, along with our peers hitting puberty before/after us and worrying about boy drama or any drama for that matter. One of my biggest questions of that time, and of most of my life is why don't boys like me like all the other girls? I started seeing girls and guys holding hands and talking about their "boyfriends" and "girlfriends" and how they were "going out". Of course they never truly did anything, maybe kiss, but it was still a big deal to say you were together, for the two weeks it generally lasted.
Now, I didn't particularly have a crush on anyone, nor did I particularly want a relationship, but like so many young ones, I wanted to feel normal, and normal meant started to go out with boys. I tried to talk to guys and be nice to them, but none of them seemed interested which confused me. How could some girls have so many guys ask them out when none of them will even say I’m cute? I discovered the answer next year, when the guys’ egos got bigger along with their 3 arm chairs.
Seventh grade was completely different from sixth grade. In sixth grade, everyone was still familiarizing themselves with the school and being older. Seventh grade meant you weren't the babies anymore and this gave many kids, especially the guys, an extremely cocky attitude. This mixed with an endless amount of immaturity equaled some pretty annoying and uncontrollably chauvinistic mother fuckers.
Chauvinistic mother fuckers + talkative fat girl = enddddlleeesssssss funnnnnnnn! These are the kind gentlemen who changed my innocent, sweet sixth grade self into a sassy, get-the-fuck-outta-my-way kick ass chica. Of course I'm thankful for it now, but at the time, it was hell. I can count on two hands all the boys in my school that referred to me along the lines of fat, ugly, and my favorite, walrus. Yes, my nickname in middle school was walrus. So flattering for a girl right? I also forgot to mention I had terrible buck teeth... well at least they remember their mammals from kindergarten.
Ever under all this torment, I still did not understand why no guys liked me. I thought they were just teasing me and those things weren't really true. Maaann was I wrong. I can pinpoint the exact moment I lost my innocence, and I vowed to never be weak again. Whether this makes me lucky or unlucky I’m unsure, but it makes me informed. It all happened during 4th hour science when I was sitting with a group of boys I did not like. Of course I got the usual teasing, but that day they were particularly incessant. Then one of the boys decided I should know exactly what was wrong with me, so he pointed out my flaws, saying I had bad teeth a double chin, etc. For some reason this really stuck with me. I had only been hearing the names before, but now I could actually see the person behind them, and she wasss fatttttt. At this point I was already close to tears, but a particular group of boys after that (yes I had a group of boys in practically every class which I had to stay away from) who kicked me over the edge of the cliff.
Walking into social studies in my shitty mood, wearing my favorite university of pink shirt, I sat down and started my homework, not talking to anyone wishing not to be disturbed. Now most of the time when the boys made fun of me, we were in small groups and there's really nothing I could do to prove it to a teacher, plus I HATED tattlers, so I stuck it out. This time was different.
The boy who invented the fairly clever nickname orchestrated with his two friends to shout from across the room “Shouldn’t it be university of walrus?" To this day I will never understand preteen humor, but that comment was just mean enough to send me over the edge.
Throughout this whole ordeal I vowed to myself I wouldn't retaliate or show they hurt me, just brushed it off and walked away. That day I cried, in the middle of class. To this day I’m very proud, but even back then I had my pride, and knowing that I was crying in front of them made me angry enough to make me cry more. The worst part is walked up to the teacher and asked to be excused, and she looked at me and said go ahead, not noticing anything was wrong. The one time I really would have appreciated an adult's help and I didn't get it. It wasn't her fault, she was like 100 years old and never noticed when the students would stand behind her and party boy after they pretended to get tissues.
I don't even remember if I went to the bathroom or what but all I know is when I came back I was a new person. I vowed I would never cry in front of someone who had hurt me nor would I take any of their bullshit anymore. I came to class to find a note of two of the three guys apologizing for what they did. The one who didn't, attend my school to this day and continued to torment me after that incident, obviously feeling no remorse for what he had done.
There's more to this story which includes countless visits to the office for calling someone a dick and throwing books at other students, but that's doesn't illustrate my point. How this connects to health or at least my journey to getting healthy is something every person who has ever been overweight has had to deal with, feeling abnormal.
My abnormal feelings never really connected to my weight until that day when I really saw the light. That the guys didn't like me because I was repulsive to them (and in turn I didn't like the guys because they were shallow assholes, but at least I had my answer).
Since then, it has taken me four years, 32lbs, and $$$$ of orthodontics, but I’m finally fully comfortable with myself, and I guess their torment was a blessing in disguise. While all other 16 year old girls get their self esteem from their bfs, food, WHATEVER, I get it from me, myself and I. This is what I think everyone deserves, because in the end you only have yourself and if you’re not content with that, then you'll never be truly happy. I've told very few people this story, simply because it's personal and embarrassing. Plus I don't like sounding like a whiner. However, like many people, I went through a severe awkward stage and want to inform that if you were or are currently going through such a stage, you are not alone and time changes everything. You'll get out of that hellhole called middle school eventually full of knowledge, strength, and a vision of the type of person you want to become. I did.
Ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration and needs background story which I’ll provide now.
Just like any sixth grader, coming to West Middle School was a very frightening experience. We had multiple teachers, more freedom, and a bigger school to get used to, along with our peers hitting puberty before/after us and worrying about boy drama or any drama for that matter. One of my biggest questions of that time, and of most of my life is why don't boys like me like all the other girls? I started seeing girls and guys holding hands and talking about their "boyfriends" and "girlfriends" and how they were "going out". Of course they never truly did anything, maybe kiss, but it was still a big deal to say you were together, for the two weeks it generally lasted.
Now, I didn't particularly have a crush on anyone, nor did I particularly want a relationship, but like so many young ones, I wanted to feel normal, and normal meant started to go out with boys. I tried to talk to guys and be nice to them, but none of them seemed interested which confused me. How could some girls have so many guys ask them out when none of them will even say I’m cute? I discovered the answer next year, when the guys’ egos got bigger along with their 3 arm chairs.
Seventh grade was completely different from sixth grade. In sixth grade, everyone was still familiarizing themselves with the school and being older. Seventh grade meant you weren't the babies anymore and this gave many kids, especially the guys, an extremely cocky attitude. This mixed with an endless amount of immaturity equaled some pretty annoying and uncontrollably chauvinistic mother fuckers.
Chauvinistic mother fuckers + talkative fat girl = enddddlleeesssssss funnnnnnnn! These are the kind gentlemen who changed my innocent, sweet sixth grade self into a sassy, get-the-fuck-outta-my-way kick ass chica. Of course I'm thankful for it now, but at the time, it was hell. I can count on two hands all the boys in my school that referred to me along the lines of fat, ugly, and my favorite, walrus. Yes, my nickname in middle school was walrus. So flattering for a girl right? I also forgot to mention I had terrible buck teeth... well at least they remember their mammals from kindergarten.
Ever under all this torment, I still did not understand why no guys liked me. I thought they were just teasing me and those things weren't really true. Maaann was I wrong. I can pinpoint the exact moment I lost my innocence, and I vowed to never be weak again. Whether this makes me lucky or unlucky I’m unsure, but it makes me informed. It all happened during 4th hour science when I was sitting with a group of boys I did not like. Of course I got the usual teasing, but that day they were particularly incessant. Then one of the boys decided I should know exactly what was wrong with me, so he pointed out my flaws, saying I had bad teeth a double chin, etc. For some reason this really stuck with me. I had only been hearing the names before, but now I could actually see the person behind them, and she wasss fatttttt. At this point I was already close to tears, but a particular group of boys after that (yes I had a group of boys in practically every class which I had to stay away from) who kicked me over the edge of the cliff.
Walking into social studies in my shitty mood, wearing my favorite university of pink shirt, I sat down and started my homework, not talking to anyone wishing not to be disturbed. Now most of the time when the boys made fun of me, we were in small groups and there's really nothing I could do to prove it to a teacher, plus I HATED tattlers, so I stuck it out. This time was different.
The boy who invented the fairly clever nickname orchestrated with his two friends to shout from across the room “Shouldn’t it be university of walrus?" To this day I will never understand preteen humor, but that comment was just mean enough to send me over the edge.
Throughout this whole ordeal I vowed to myself I wouldn't retaliate or show they hurt me, just brushed it off and walked away. That day I cried, in the middle of class. To this day I’m very proud, but even back then I had my pride, and knowing that I was crying in front of them made me angry enough to make me cry more. The worst part is walked up to the teacher and asked to be excused, and she looked at me and said go ahead, not noticing anything was wrong. The one time I really would have appreciated an adult's help and I didn't get it. It wasn't her fault, she was like 100 years old and never noticed when the students would stand behind her and party boy after they pretended to get tissues.
I don't even remember if I went to the bathroom or what but all I know is when I came back I was a new person. I vowed I would never cry in front of someone who had hurt me nor would I take any of their bullshit anymore. I came to class to find a note of two of the three guys apologizing for what they did. The one who didn't, attend my school to this day and continued to torment me after that incident, obviously feeling no remorse for what he had done.
There's more to this story which includes countless visits to the office for calling someone a dick and throwing books at other students, but that's doesn't illustrate my point. How this connects to health or at least my journey to getting healthy is something every person who has ever been overweight has had to deal with, feeling abnormal.
My abnormal feelings never really connected to my weight until that day when I really saw the light. That the guys didn't like me because I was repulsive to them (and in turn I didn't like the guys because they were shallow assholes, but at least I had my answer).
Since then, it has taken me four years, 32lbs, and $$$$ of orthodontics, but I’m finally fully comfortable with myself, and I guess their torment was a blessing in disguise. While all other 16 year old girls get their self esteem from their bfs, food, WHATEVER, I get it from me, myself and I. This is what I think everyone deserves, because in the end you only have yourself and if you’re not content with that, then you'll never be truly happy. I've told very few people this story, simply because it's personal and embarrassing. Plus I don't like sounding like a whiner. However, like many people, I went through a severe awkward stage and want to inform that if you were or are currently going through such a stage, you are not alone and time changes everything. You'll get out of that hellhole called middle school eventually full of knowledge, strength, and a vision of the type of person you want to become. I did.
Maintenance vs. Repairs
9/27/12Your body is a machine plain and simple. It was created and works the best while it's brand new, slows down as it ages and eventually has to break down. Sometimes the machine needs a few repairs to get it back to working order and with a few minor adjustments it's possible. When making a huge life alteration such as losing weight and getting healthier, fixing the machine can be tough. Every machine is different and each unique machine needs different repairs and need unique ways to fix those repairs. What's really challenging though is maintaining the machine and keeping it from breaking again.
I have reached the point of my journey where my goal weight has been accomplished and I have relatively speaking achieved my ideal body. Now here comes the real hard part, staying that way. I know it may be annoying to hear to someone is pushing to lose weight, the battle has just begun. Trying to stay in one place is much more difficult than heading in one direction (hehe) whether it'd be up or down. One second your weight will be a little over and then a little under, and it drives you insane! Living the last year constantly worrying and monitoring my eating has put me in a state of constant anxiety if I'm not seeing a smaller number on the scale. You don't know how to be normal after being that way for so long.
So the beginning of maintaining your weight feels great because you've finally reached your goal, then it's all downhill. Once you begin the increase in calories, it usually begins to snowball into an overload and that's when the machine is at risk for needing repairs again. But if you can resist the urge to totally go back to those wretched ways, then you're halfway there.
Once you get the physical part down of how may calories and how much exercise you need to simply maintain your weight, then you have to tackle that mental roadblock which cannot accept the fact that losing weight could be a BAD thing. I actually reached a point where my running and my eating habits were polar opposites and i lost my period for a good number of months. It wasn't until i changed my regime to only 2 times a week and became more lenient with my eating that I got my monthly present back.
At this point I'd like to say I've mastered maintaining but i know that's not 100% true. I think I'll never truly master it because I'll always be afraid of turning back into that little fat girl, but over this journey i have learned many things about myself which I never would have guessed to be the lessons which come out of these experiences. One has to sit back, relax and stop worrying. /
Scientists say that with the body's metabolism and processes, a person never truly has a real weight and it usually just bounces are a 3 number area (me between 117-120). If i continue to allow myself to follow the ridiculous and unpredictable changing of my body weight, I'll go insane. I need to sit back, relax and only get into lockdown mode if i reach out of that 3 pound range.
I hope everywhere accomplishes all of their fitness goals and i hope this advice gets out to somebody like me who needs to know that there is an end to justify all the crazy means we go through just to look and feel the way we want. In the end the maintenance stage is great because all you have to do is eat when you're hungry, stay away from problem foods, and momentarily change eating habits when the weight is fluctuating more than usual. Other than that, I feel fantastic. I look good in all my clothes, I am in shape for all the workouts i could never dream of doing, and I don't have to sit in agony with my stomach growling eating a salad, yeah that's pretty good.
And the very very end goal of repairing and maintaining the machine continuously, is to further prolong the inevitable final breakdown, and to look fucking sexy :D
I have reached the point of my journey where my goal weight has been accomplished and I have relatively speaking achieved my ideal body. Now here comes the real hard part, staying that way. I know it may be annoying to hear to someone is pushing to lose weight, the battle has just begun. Trying to stay in one place is much more difficult than heading in one direction (hehe) whether it'd be up or down. One second your weight will be a little over and then a little under, and it drives you insane! Living the last year constantly worrying and monitoring my eating has put me in a state of constant anxiety if I'm not seeing a smaller number on the scale. You don't know how to be normal after being that way for so long.
So the beginning of maintaining your weight feels great because you've finally reached your goal, then it's all downhill. Once you begin the increase in calories, it usually begins to snowball into an overload and that's when the machine is at risk for needing repairs again. But if you can resist the urge to totally go back to those wretched ways, then you're halfway there.
Once you get the physical part down of how may calories and how much exercise you need to simply maintain your weight, then you have to tackle that mental roadblock which cannot accept the fact that losing weight could be a BAD thing. I actually reached a point where my running and my eating habits were polar opposites and i lost my period for a good number of months. It wasn't until i changed my regime to only 2 times a week and became more lenient with my eating that I got my monthly present back.
At this point I'd like to say I've mastered maintaining but i know that's not 100% true. I think I'll never truly master it because I'll always be afraid of turning back into that little fat girl, but over this journey i have learned many things about myself which I never would have guessed to be the lessons which come out of these experiences. One has to sit back, relax and stop worrying. /
Scientists say that with the body's metabolism and processes, a person never truly has a real weight and it usually just bounces are a 3 number area (me between 117-120). If i continue to allow myself to follow the ridiculous and unpredictable changing of my body weight, I'll go insane. I need to sit back, relax and only get into lockdown mode if i reach out of that 3 pound range.
I hope everywhere accomplishes all of their fitness goals and i hope this advice gets out to somebody like me who needs to know that there is an end to justify all the crazy means we go through just to look and feel the way we want. In the end the maintenance stage is great because all you have to do is eat when you're hungry, stay away from problem foods, and momentarily change eating habits when the weight is fluctuating more than usual. Other than that, I feel fantastic. I look good in all my clothes, I am in shape for all the workouts i could never dream of doing, and I don't have to sit in agony with my stomach growling eating a salad, yeah that's pretty good.
And the very very end goal of repairing and maintaining the machine continuously, is to further prolong the inevitable final breakdown, and to look fucking sexy :D
What Raskolinikov Was Talking About
9/30/2012 I just read Crime and Punishment for AP Literature in which we follow the thoughts and actions of a man who had just murdered an old woman... Yes you're wondering how this pertains to health, it's abstract but intriguing. Raskolinikov kills the old woman over a goal he had set for himself, to become his ideal self which is impervious to the law like Napoleon by accomplishing this task. When you think about it, how is making a goal weight and ideal body shape any different? Both ideas are self-propagated, self-monitored, and fucking insane.
Raskolinikov wanted to see if he could actually do it, if he could be that extraordinary man and be the face of courage and glory to himself and those around him. No matter what people say, there is always a tiny bit of motivation to get skinny and healthy propelled by others, whether it'd be the general public, an ex, or, in my case, all the kids i grew up with who doubted i could ever amount to anything other than an ugly walrus.
The point of this post was to share what Raskolinikov and I learned, I know, the required school reading mirroring my life is kind of a cheesy setup but c'mon mine is original. I doubt anyone has claimed to felt deep empathy for a psycho murderer novel before? But the way I have been living the past couple of years has been similar to him, always is my head, calculating, pondering, obsessing, hoping for my dream of validation to finally come true. The tricky thing about dreams though, is that they are surreal and never come out as good as you would have hoped. So instead of being disappointed all my life, I must separate the dream world and the real world. In his dream world, Raskolinikov thought by transgressing the law, he would feel no conscience and discover himself to be extraordinary, which keeps sounding more and more like sociopath. Instead, he discovered himself to be scarily human and in the end must confess to the police. I must confess to myself that the only reactions i can expect to happen are the ones within myself. I am happy with my changes and i need to stop obsessing that if I keep changing, someone is bound to notice, they never do.
Unless those around you have changed themselves, they will never even notice you're a completely different person. It takes personal change to alter the outlook someone has on the world around them, and many of my peers still posses the outlook of an eighth grader. My original goal in starting my track to getting healthy was to prove all those assholes wrong and get them to want to tap that but me never giving them the chance, a revenge of sorts. But life never turns out like those makeover or high school reunion movies where the weird chick comes back hot and all the guys want her... surprisingly guys aren't that superficial which i'm not sure is a good thing or a bad thing, the girl needs to have a personality and reputation of being a hot chick before they can pursue. No she can't be smart or prudent, even if she is a solid 10, don't care.
Anyone out there trying to lose weight simply for the view of others, don't, it doesn't matter and you will only be disappointed. Instead do it for yourself, trust me, people are deluded. I lost 35 lbs, got my braces off, jaw surgery, and fake teeth put in, and my status has not really changed since seventh grade where it all began. No one has ever said they liked me. Never had my first kiss. Never been called even attractive. The only guy friends I have are gay. Which frankly in the long run are all things i'm completely fine with, i just need the little smidgen of validation. I just need someone to say they want me, say i look amazing, say that all my work was not just for the pleasure of my camera (although she thanks you). All i'm asking is for a little validation that i do have the strength, determination, and talent to get looking this good and still be the amazing person i am. It would teach them a lesson about first impressions. Will I ever get it? Or will i be Raskolinikov, rotting in prison for years, waiting for validation that his theory was real and his attempts were not in vain. Sadly, even the ax murderer ends up in a relationship by the end of the story...
Raskolinikov wanted to see if he could actually do it, if he could be that extraordinary man and be the face of courage and glory to himself and those around him. No matter what people say, there is always a tiny bit of motivation to get skinny and healthy propelled by others, whether it'd be the general public, an ex, or, in my case, all the kids i grew up with who doubted i could ever amount to anything other than an ugly walrus.
The point of this post was to share what Raskolinikov and I learned, I know, the required school reading mirroring my life is kind of a cheesy setup but c'mon mine is original. I doubt anyone has claimed to felt deep empathy for a psycho murderer novel before? But the way I have been living the past couple of years has been similar to him, always is my head, calculating, pondering, obsessing, hoping for my dream of validation to finally come true. The tricky thing about dreams though, is that they are surreal and never come out as good as you would have hoped. So instead of being disappointed all my life, I must separate the dream world and the real world. In his dream world, Raskolinikov thought by transgressing the law, he would feel no conscience and discover himself to be extraordinary, which keeps sounding more and more like sociopath. Instead, he discovered himself to be scarily human and in the end must confess to the police. I must confess to myself that the only reactions i can expect to happen are the ones within myself. I am happy with my changes and i need to stop obsessing that if I keep changing, someone is bound to notice, they never do.
Unless those around you have changed themselves, they will never even notice you're a completely different person. It takes personal change to alter the outlook someone has on the world around them, and many of my peers still posses the outlook of an eighth grader. My original goal in starting my track to getting healthy was to prove all those assholes wrong and get them to want to tap that but me never giving them the chance, a revenge of sorts. But life never turns out like those makeover or high school reunion movies where the weird chick comes back hot and all the guys want her... surprisingly guys aren't that superficial which i'm not sure is a good thing or a bad thing, the girl needs to have a personality and reputation of being a hot chick before they can pursue. No she can't be smart or prudent, even if she is a solid 10, don't care.
Anyone out there trying to lose weight simply for the view of others, don't, it doesn't matter and you will only be disappointed. Instead do it for yourself, trust me, people are deluded. I lost 35 lbs, got my braces off, jaw surgery, and fake teeth put in, and my status has not really changed since seventh grade where it all began. No one has ever said they liked me. Never had my first kiss. Never been called even attractive. The only guy friends I have are gay. Which frankly in the long run are all things i'm completely fine with, i just need the little smidgen of validation. I just need someone to say they want me, say i look amazing, say that all my work was not just for the pleasure of my camera (although she thanks you). All i'm asking is for a little validation that i do have the strength, determination, and talent to get looking this good and still be the amazing person i am. It would teach them a lesson about first impressions. Will I ever get it? Or will i be Raskolinikov, rotting in prison for years, waiting for validation that his theory was real and his attempts were not in vain. Sadly, even the ax murderer ends up in a relationship by the end of the story...
This Journey Has Lead To My Choice in Career: Essay to U of Wisconsin
10/30/12 Sitting in my bed with my legs crossed and back arched, I stare at the computer screen, contemplating how I am going to answer this essay prompt. Then, the thoughts start flowing. With eyes blinking, lungs inflating and vessels pulsing, my fingers begin furiously typing these words. The human body is probably the most unnoticed and underappreciated aspects of our lives, ironic due to the fact that it is the very vessel in which we live our lives.
Specifically was goes unnoticed is how many different steps must occur to accomplish the most simplest of tasks, like writing this essay for example. The most obvious bodily action is the movement of my fingers on the keyboard, but that little muscle action is so more complex than many realize. Just to move an individual muscle attached to one of my phalanges takes a long string of different signals, transmitters, and electrons which all take place in a fraction of ten different times! This is only one example happening consciously, while subconsciously my nerves are also telling my eyes to blink, mouth to open, lungs to breathe, and heart to pump, and that is only to sit still in one place! Imagine the complex web of networks needed to run, throw, pump iron, or play football. Muscles, nerves, organs, and glands all work together to accomplish one task at time, making the human body the best example of the perfect machine.
In all it splendor, it’s baffling to me why some people seem to take their bodies for granted. Cigarettes, junk food, alcohol, or plain laziness, are all examples of things people use without a second thought as to how it will affect their bodies. The body is the only thing we can control as to how good our quality of life will be. Sure, health does not matter if one’s car or plane crashes, but those are things which happened every day and no one can control; it doesn’t mean people should just assume they are fated to die and give up on trying to prevent it. There are countless scientific studies which show people who exercise, eat right, and abstain from smoking have a higher average life span than those who with a diet of Doritos, Pepsi, and Marlboro.
I developed this adoration of my body in seventh grade, after endless torture due to my obesity and buck teeth, when it dawned upon me that if I wanted something, I had to go get it; no one was going to help me reach my goals or get through the tough times, except myself. I began researching and experimenting on which foods, workouts, and habits were best for achieving my goal weight and self esteem. As what happens on most journeys, I gained so much more than I ever thought possible. I incubated my passion for science, the human body, and its complex functions through reading books such as The Omnivore’s Dilemma and implementing the knowledge I picked up in AP Biology. After four years and thirty-seven pounds, I have finally bloomed into the person I have striven to be physically and mentally.
All a person really has in this life is their soul and their bodies, everything else, friends; family; looks; money, comes and goes. So why do our beautiful machines go unchecked and unnoticed? Humans tend to have warped senses of what is truly important, especially teenagers; it is definitely noticeable in my school. The ignorance and carelessness exhibited by the masses of monster-drinkers and parking lot smokers is appalling, acting as if their choices now will have absolutely no repercussions in the future, regardless of what medical professionals and parents might say.
While others abuse it, I spend most of my efforts in keeping my body in top condition. Not only does this keep my weight off, but I feel the best that I have ever felt. My headaches, upset stomach and insomnia have all gone way down since my self-abusive ways in middle school, evidence that taking care of our beautiful machines does make a difference.
Being one of the most important things to me explains my choice in studies, biology. I know in such a career, especially human biology, I will never be bored. In this field, one is never bored; there are always new species of animals, gene markers, or specific enzymes being discovered, not to mention the tremendous amount of research needed to discover these new things. When looking at all the time, effort, and work our body goes through just to stay at homeostasis, it is pretty obvious that the body’s importance definitely goes unnoticed. Right now, and in my future life, I continually educate myself and others on all the amazing relationships, battles, and meetings taking place right underneath my skin. It’s definitely more interesting than the Real Housewives.
Specifically was goes unnoticed is how many different steps must occur to accomplish the most simplest of tasks, like writing this essay for example. The most obvious bodily action is the movement of my fingers on the keyboard, but that little muscle action is so more complex than many realize. Just to move an individual muscle attached to one of my phalanges takes a long string of different signals, transmitters, and electrons which all take place in a fraction of ten different times! This is only one example happening consciously, while subconsciously my nerves are also telling my eyes to blink, mouth to open, lungs to breathe, and heart to pump, and that is only to sit still in one place! Imagine the complex web of networks needed to run, throw, pump iron, or play football. Muscles, nerves, organs, and glands all work together to accomplish one task at time, making the human body the best example of the perfect machine.
In all it splendor, it’s baffling to me why some people seem to take their bodies for granted. Cigarettes, junk food, alcohol, or plain laziness, are all examples of things people use without a second thought as to how it will affect their bodies. The body is the only thing we can control as to how good our quality of life will be. Sure, health does not matter if one’s car or plane crashes, but those are things which happened every day and no one can control; it doesn’t mean people should just assume they are fated to die and give up on trying to prevent it. There are countless scientific studies which show people who exercise, eat right, and abstain from smoking have a higher average life span than those who with a diet of Doritos, Pepsi, and Marlboro.
I developed this adoration of my body in seventh grade, after endless torture due to my obesity and buck teeth, when it dawned upon me that if I wanted something, I had to go get it; no one was going to help me reach my goals or get through the tough times, except myself. I began researching and experimenting on which foods, workouts, and habits were best for achieving my goal weight and self esteem. As what happens on most journeys, I gained so much more than I ever thought possible. I incubated my passion for science, the human body, and its complex functions through reading books such as The Omnivore’s Dilemma and implementing the knowledge I picked up in AP Biology. After four years and thirty-seven pounds, I have finally bloomed into the person I have striven to be physically and mentally.
All a person really has in this life is their soul and their bodies, everything else, friends; family; looks; money, comes and goes. So why do our beautiful machines go unchecked and unnoticed? Humans tend to have warped senses of what is truly important, especially teenagers; it is definitely noticeable in my school. The ignorance and carelessness exhibited by the masses of monster-drinkers and parking lot smokers is appalling, acting as if their choices now will have absolutely no repercussions in the future, regardless of what medical professionals and parents might say.
While others abuse it, I spend most of my efforts in keeping my body in top condition. Not only does this keep my weight off, but I feel the best that I have ever felt. My headaches, upset stomach and insomnia have all gone way down since my self-abusive ways in middle school, evidence that taking care of our beautiful machines does make a difference.
Being one of the most important things to me explains my choice in studies, biology. I know in such a career, especially human biology, I will never be bored. In this field, one is never bored; there are always new species of animals, gene markers, or specific enzymes being discovered, not to mention the tremendous amount of research needed to discover these new things. When looking at all the time, effort, and work our body goes through just to stay at homeostasis, it is pretty obvious that the body’s importance definitely goes unnoticed. Right now, and in my future life, I continually educate myself and others on all the amazing relationships, battles, and meetings taking place right underneath my skin. It’s definitely more interesting than the Real Housewives.
Preventing Weight Loss Relapse
2/4/13 So if you are where I am, you have reached your goal weight and are happy with yourself and have made all the crazy TREW changes you needed to make over a long duration of time and have reached the garden of Eden a place which everyone talks about but only the holy ones get let into, maintenance. I reached this goal of 38lbs lost about the end of junior year/beginning of summer. I'm still not exactly sure what weight I want to be at, thoughts of going less than 117 have crossed my mind due to the fact that i got summer belly fat that isn't a big problem but I could be a perfectionist and get rid of it lol, but the main theme of this is that I'm calm and not longer stressing about my weight, a very healthy place one would think, but it can bring some new and fairly dangerous obstacles. Being less than a total neurotic, obsessive calorie counter can lead one to stray and hopefully not but also relapse, something which I have avoided this holiday season, but I'm sure many people have not. Through many mini-relapses, which involve some not so mini binges and shame spirals, I have discovered a whole new list of tips for people maintaining their current weight in a stress-free yet conscientious way.
1. Eat only when the feeling of hunger is present- In weight loss this means only eat when you are starving and even wait a bit, but in maintenance, this means that if you are going to eat, make sure it is not when you've already eaten enough, aka binge eating. It's not as pleasurable when your belt is popping trust me.
2. Allow yourself to splurge only on healthy things- Which should change the liberally used "healthy" to "shit your body could actually use later after losing the lbs gained from it". As stated, your body is machine and you must give it the fuel it needs to run well, not just chucking random crap which could clog the gears. So yes enjoy life and occasionally splurge but please, choose the apple pie over the chocolate chip cookie, the apple crisp over the cake, the dark chocolate over the milkyway. Now that your menu is more open, a person can really analyze what is in the food one is eating. Even if something is alot of calories such as pecan tarts or fruit cake, does not mean it does not offer health benefits. Granola is no calorie vacation, but now you can eat it, and feel good about it! One is never allowed to feel good about eating swedish fish or brownies, something which I struggle with to this day.
3. Going totally off the leash leads to disaster- When going to a party or restaurant, never just allow yourself to eat whatever because you've reached that goal, that leads to binging and disaster filled with 3 days of intense cardio and dieting just to return to where you were before, which is always possible and easy to do, but trust me, gets old after countless weekends given with free cards and regretted. So instead, give little free cards throughout the day. Eat a little more of that one thing you usually don't, not a whole free day for holidays and such. You're body is not used to the same foods and amounts that you used to eat, so it ends very badly with a bloating from 2 pieces of lasagna that feels like you ate a horse, along with a side of a ruined holiday.
4. Keep monitoring- Weighting oneself and calorie counting is not about obsessing, it's still about awareness. What many people forget is that weight loss is one big personal experiment. All those diet books that you read, while they may work for some and be helpful for producing motivation and sparking ideas, they definitely don't know your body. You must understand what works for your body after countless trials and tribulations. Try to stay where you usually want to be, but if you go over, it's not the end of the world anymore. It's just important to notice when you do and what it does to your weight.
5. Keep up the same amount of exercise- Whatever you were doing before, do not change it at all. Maybe give yourself more days off, but definitely do not lessen the exercise. The only thing one can change is eating habits once maintenance is reached, because you really don't want to change any of the muscle mass you got going on.
6. Enjoy life- One thing i never realized with weight loss, is how much weight one can lose if you just forget about food and concentrate on other things more. I'll accidentally skip meals just because I wasn't constantly thinking about what I can or can't eat and listen to my body when it was hungry or not. When it doesn't send the signal, I don't eat and that has worked out pretty well. So go ahead, enjoy life and because you aren't starving yourself, no horrible things are going to happen to you if food isn't constantly on your mind and you happen to skip a meal. Obviously something much more exciting and important is happening at that moment in time and at that I say congrats, you have made it into the Secret Garden. Now sit down and enjoy your life with a side of food, and not the other way around.
1. Eat only when the feeling of hunger is present- In weight loss this means only eat when you are starving and even wait a bit, but in maintenance, this means that if you are going to eat, make sure it is not when you've already eaten enough, aka binge eating. It's not as pleasurable when your belt is popping trust me.
2. Allow yourself to splurge only on healthy things- Which should change the liberally used "healthy" to "shit your body could actually use later after losing the lbs gained from it". As stated, your body is machine and you must give it the fuel it needs to run well, not just chucking random crap which could clog the gears. So yes enjoy life and occasionally splurge but please, choose the apple pie over the chocolate chip cookie, the apple crisp over the cake, the dark chocolate over the milkyway. Now that your menu is more open, a person can really analyze what is in the food one is eating. Even if something is alot of calories such as pecan tarts or fruit cake, does not mean it does not offer health benefits. Granola is no calorie vacation, but now you can eat it, and feel good about it! One is never allowed to feel good about eating swedish fish or brownies, something which I struggle with to this day.
3. Going totally off the leash leads to disaster- When going to a party or restaurant, never just allow yourself to eat whatever because you've reached that goal, that leads to binging and disaster filled with 3 days of intense cardio and dieting just to return to where you were before, which is always possible and easy to do, but trust me, gets old after countless weekends given with free cards and regretted. So instead, give little free cards throughout the day. Eat a little more of that one thing you usually don't, not a whole free day for holidays and such. You're body is not used to the same foods and amounts that you used to eat, so it ends very badly with a bloating from 2 pieces of lasagna that feels like you ate a horse, along with a side of a ruined holiday.
4. Keep monitoring- Weighting oneself and calorie counting is not about obsessing, it's still about awareness. What many people forget is that weight loss is one big personal experiment. All those diet books that you read, while they may work for some and be helpful for producing motivation and sparking ideas, they definitely don't know your body. You must understand what works for your body after countless trials and tribulations. Try to stay where you usually want to be, but if you go over, it's not the end of the world anymore. It's just important to notice when you do and what it does to your weight.
5. Keep up the same amount of exercise- Whatever you were doing before, do not change it at all. Maybe give yourself more days off, but definitely do not lessen the exercise. The only thing one can change is eating habits once maintenance is reached, because you really don't want to change any of the muscle mass you got going on.
6. Enjoy life- One thing i never realized with weight loss, is how much weight one can lose if you just forget about food and concentrate on other things more. I'll accidentally skip meals just because I wasn't constantly thinking about what I can or can't eat and listen to my body when it was hungry or not. When it doesn't send the signal, I don't eat and that has worked out pretty well. So go ahead, enjoy life and because you aren't starving yourself, no horrible things are going to happen to you if food isn't constantly on your mind and you happen to skip a meal. Obviously something much more exciting and important is happening at that moment in time and at that I say congrats, you have made it into the Secret Garden. Now sit down and enjoy your life with a side of food, and not the other way around.
How to maintain weight-loss habits and sanity in response to life change
So I have not been diagnosed yet, but I know that something intensely wrong is going on and the hip pain which I have felt ever since I began exercising and starting my weight loss journey has now gotten worse, has moved to my lower back, and makes me uncomfortable when I walk and sit down. I will get diagnosed with something after I get my third MRI, not be able to exercise like, at all. It's very likely that the run I had on Sunday will be one of my very last as well as the Yoga I did today. As is typical, this entry is following an emotional meltdown on my part. Researching and realizing the real-life problem I had and dealt with every day brought on a wave of panic for the damage I had caused, the anxiety of my results, and what the future could hold for my hips, but most of all for my weight. Without the hips, what can our bodies really do for weight loss? Exercise was my one-way ticket to relieving stress and maintaining the body I wanted. Without either of my most favorite activities, being running and Yoga, I am daunted and highly depressed at the thought of their absence from my life. But now that I have researched so much and have had that intense epiphany, I can't go back to pushing through the pain and getting the job done, I need to take a stand and look for non-hip ways to exercise.
STEP 1: JOIN A GYM: Classes, swimming and plenty of other activities are going to be offered which I could have never had before. I need to look at the positives and see what classes I can do: Pilates, Planks, push-ups, weight-lifting, machines, swimming, and whatever my physical therapist will recommend. I can no longer do at home exercising such as walking, running or yoga. I must seek outside help and asking for help is totally fine once one has tried everything.
STEP 2: DON'T FREAK OUT: These moments are exactly why you lost weight! In preparation for unexpected hardship where one cannot be as diligent with weight-watching, you lost it ahead of time. Whether this setback is a couple months or a couple years, the most important thing i staying calm and reasoning that this is what life is about. It cannot be perfect and it inserts these little tests to show your true strength and determined character. Show life who's boss, just like you showed that fat whose boss!
STEP 3: GAINING IS OK: When a traumatic or stressful situation is going on, freaking out over weight gain is only going to add to the stress and exacerbate the situation. This gives no permission to pig out, no sir, but know that this is a temporary moment in your life and your energy is needed elsewhere
STEP 4: EAT HEALTHY: Not only will this minimize weight gain but it will help you most in this precarious time in your life. You'll feel better and also be feeding your weakened body the best medicine to help you through it. Food is such a huge contributor to everything that you are, people seem to forget that. Don't mean to be cliche but you are what you eat.
STEP 5: RECOVER AND MOVE ON: Just like before, once you reach that happy place, you can start your program all over again and lose it all. Yes it's tedious but imagine how easy it will be knowing exactly what to do and what not to do?? You're an expert now and you should lose the weight in half the time as before.
I hope we both make it through this tough time. I will keep you posted on my further developments, but I know if I can lose 40 lbs with my horrible metabolism, lack of athleticism, and American environment, I can do anything.
PEACE
-your painfully hip friend Roxy142142
STEP 1: JOIN A GYM: Classes, swimming and plenty of other activities are going to be offered which I could have never had before. I need to look at the positives and see what classes I can do: Pilates, Planks, push-ups, weight-lifting, machines, swimming, and whatever my physical therapist will recommend. I can no longer do at home exercising such as walking, running or yoga. I must seek outside help and asking for help is totally fine once one has tried everything.
STEP 2: DON'T FREAK OUT: These moments are exactly why you lost weight! In preparation for unexpected hardship where one cannot be as diligent with weight-watching, you lost it ahead of time. Whether this setback is a couple months or a couple years, the most important thing i staying calm and reasoning that this is what life is about. It cannot be perfect and it inserts these little tests to show your true strength and determined character. Show life who's boss, just like you showed that fat whose boss!
STEP 3: GAINING IS OK: When a traumatic or stressful situation is going on, freaking out over weight gain is only going to add to the stress and exacerbate the situation. This gives no permission to pig out, no sir, but know that this is a temporary moment in your life and your energy is needed elsewhere
STEP 4: EAT HEALTHY: Not only will this minimize weight gain but it will help you most in this precarious time in your life. You'll feel better and also be feeding your weakened body the best medicine to help you through it. Food is such a huge contributor to everything that you are, people seem to forget that. Don't mean to be cliche but you are what you eat.
STEP 5: RECOVER AND MOVE ON: Just like before, once you reach that happy place, you can start your program all over again and lose it all. Yes it's tedious but imagine how easy it will be knowing exactly what to do and what not to do?? You're an expert now and you should lose the weight in half the time as before.
I hope we both make it through this tough time. I will keep you posted on my further developments, but I know if I can lose 40 lbs with my horrible metabolism, lack of athleticism, and American environment, I can do anything.
PEACE
-your painfully hip friend Roxy142142
My Study Abroad Application Essay Personal Statement
Ever since I was a chubby little sixth grader I have loved food with an undying passion. It has continued to fascinate me how food touches everyone from the very firsts stages of life all the way until death; that is something that no other person, place or thing can do! Food is something which connects all of us together. We all eat therefore no matter what divides us we can all share a commonality as humans, and that is a beautiful thing. Ever since birthing this undying passion, I have constantly educated myself through books, online sources, and asking experts on what food is what it does, and how it can really help and hurt people. Through my research and inquires, I soon learned that there existed, and still exists, so many misconceptions about food; where it comes from, how it is made, what is safe, what is healthy, the list goes on and on. I have made it my personal goal for my future career to unveil the truth behind these misconceptions and educate others on the right way to think, make, and eat food. Food also connects us between borders; while we see Chinese-American restaurants everywhere in the US, McDonald's has been invading mainland China for the last twenty years. Instead of traveling overseas and having individuals give Chinese people hamburgers, a major corporation is showing Chinese citizens America's take on fast food. Even though it has been detrimental to their health, the idea that culture can be shared and unify us through food is truly a fascinating idea. Everywhere I have traveled, I am amazed at all the innovative ideas other ethnic groups have fostered for decades using the simple ingredients found in their local areas. I would love to see first hand the cuisine, production, and overall food system of the Chinese people. With its powerful trade position, high population density, and overall high citizen socio-economic status, China is a very important country when it comes to the world economy, and the biggest economic opportunities usually involve food. To be the food scientist and food enlightened educator I wish to become, I need to invest time in most of the major countries of the world and observe their food system and techniques. There are many problems in the American food system that I am sure our fellow nations could have possible helpful solutions for. Not only do study abroad trips breed collaborative energy, it also arises cultural tolerance, awareness, and empathy, tools which the next generation definitely needs for the upcoming globalization of the planet. I know that if I went on this trip, it would further ignite my passion for world cultures, food production, and food education aiding me on my journey to change the world through food!
Freshmen 15: Ab Belly vs Beer Belly
Okay so for me this is more like Freshman 10 0r 11 but you get the point. With all the changes of college, and the fucking amazing food, it's almost impossible to not gain/lose some weight. In my case I gained. But we will get to that aspect later. I have started college and I wanted to discuss all the cray huge changes which occur one's first semester of college, specifically regarding weight, health, and life choices. Woah that's a task haha. I'll start from the beginning. Once one gets to college, it becomes obviously clear to you that this is no longer high school. No one is judging, asking, or even giving any fucks about what you are doing. Everyone is busy and doing their damn thing that they could not give a shit what you are doing because they know your damn thing is also being done. This makes 2 distinct populations, people who makes awesome decisions due to lack of peer pressure and those who make terrible ones due to lack of supervision and caring friends. These 2 populations are easily spotted, just by where their freshmen 15 goes. Those in the first group either lost weight their freshman year or the weight they gained much-needed muscle. This is due to the fact that they choose to eat well, not drink, and work out, things which due to various reasons they did not do in high school. The latter group definitely gain the F15 and it is very obvious on their bellies and thighs. These are people who had structure of working out, eating somewhat well, and not too much partying in high school and at home; but once they get to college they neglect their bodies and go nuts. This is sad but also sometimes extremely amusing, especially with those "popular" girls and guys in high school who are, let's just say, not in their former prime. If course their is the small group which nothing occurs to them; this is usually people whose lifestyle was not altered by college either because they live at home, or are used to the immense amount of freedom. But otherwise. these observations demonstrate how different people deal with life changes and new freedoms, some see it as opportunity for progress and enrichment, and others are not prepared/cannot handle it and lose control of their life. I would like to proudly say I am the first group!
I have gained 10-11 lbs this semester and I look my best ever! I know! This is so contradicting to my other columns in this section, but that's why it is so great! Throughout my whole journey ever since 8th grade I have been so determined to lose weight always! No matter what I could not gain and every time I did I flipped a shit! I was stressed much of the time, but that's what helped in eliminating my nonsense fat. Then I got to a place where losing weight was way too easy and I was not consuming enough nutrients and my monthly gift left me for a while. After ceasing running and eating more I got down to 114 at the lowest time, but I was still not happy. My whole body was my ideal look except my dreaded tummy. It was also so fucking squishy and flabby that I could never wear tight things without being uncomfortable. For years I struggled with trying to figure out how to gain those abs to get my ideal person, but I never could; until now. Once I hit college, I decided to stop counting calories and see how well I self-responded to my body in order to maintain it. The first month was good, but then something happened. I began to gain weight rapidly. And ate more. Not like bad shit, I'm vegan guys kind of impossible. I ate like 5 huge salads a day and was still hungry. I was so confused since my body still looked good, except, hmm were my arms that muscley before? Nope, I had just gained 5 lbs of muscle. This is due to actually consuming the amount of protein I need and walking tons more. The remaining 5 lbs came along when my exercises were altered to focus on my abdominals. At 124-125 lbs now, my stomach is the flattest and hardest it has ever been and sure my arms and legs are a bit better, but all my clothes fit better than ever and I am so happy with my body, a thing which has always been hard for me. I can eat all the time whenever I want as long as I focus on 3 things:
1. protein and veggies and eliminate sugar on vegan diet 2. work out every day 3. listen to body signals of hunger and what type.
As long as I continue to do this, I look amazing and feel amazing.
After 5 years of obsessing over food, calories, and my weight, I can finally relax and branch out into the other wonders of the food world. That is the group of the F15 I am in and I am fucking excited.
-Cannot Believe I Am Excited About Gaining Weight
I have gained 10-11 lbs this semester and I look my best ever! I know! This is so contradicting to my other columns in this section, but that's why it is so great! Throughout my whole journey ever since 8th grade I have been so determined to lose weight always! No matter what I could not gain and every time I did I flipped a shit! I was stressed much of the time, but that's what helped in eliminating my nonsense fat. Then I got to a place where losing weight was way too easy and I was not consuming enough nutrients and my monthly gift left me for a while. After ceasing running and eating more I got down to 114 at the lowest time, but I was still not happy. My whole body was my ideal look except my dreaded tummy. It was also so fucking squishy and flabby that I could never wear tight things without being uncomfortable. For years I struggled with trying to figure out how to gain those abs to get my ideal person, but I never could; until now. Once I hit college, I decided to stop counting calories and see how well I self-responded to my body in order to maintain it. The first month was good, but then something happened. I began to gain weight rapidly. And ate more. Not like bad shit, I'm vegan guys kind of impossible. I ate like 5 huge salads a day and was still hungry. I was so confused since my body still looked good, except, hmm were my arms that muscley before? Nope, I had just gained 5 lbs of muscle. This is due to actually consuming the amount of protein I need and walking tons more. The remaining 5 lbs came along when my exercises were altered to focus on my abdominals. At 124-125 lbs now, my stomach is the flattest and hardest it has ever been and sure my arms and legs are a bit better, but all my clothes fit better than ever and I am so happy with my body, a thing which has always been hard for me. I can eat all the time whenever I want as long as I focus on 3 things:
1. protein and veggies and eliminate sugar on vegan diet 2. work out every day 3. listen to body signals of hunger and what type.
As long as I continue to do this, I look amazing and feel amazing.
After 5 years of obsessing over food, calories, and my weight, I can finally relax and branch out into the other wonders of the food world. That is the group of the F15 I am in and I am fucking excited.
-Cannot Believe I Am Excited About Gaining Weight