theSurlyMermaid
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2004
- Messages
- 2,517
So what? I don't care what I sound like to you.You sound bitter and defensive.
So what? I don't care what I sound like to you.You sound bitter and defensive.
Well, I guess if they actually did a true body composition test, but that's not how BMI is calculated. It is a measurement of height to weight. It does not measure percentage of body fat. It is only a tool used to estimate healthy body weight assuming an "average" body composition. Body builders and strength athletes are told they are morbidly obese all the time. I just ran Derek's stats. He's 6'1" and he weighs 341lbs. His BMI is 45.0. That's morbidly obese according to the definition. Elaine, I'm sure would come in as morbidly obese as well. That's why BMI is not a good tool. And that was kind of my point.![]()
OMG! Are the first two really size 14's? They look good, except for their facial expressions. The 3rd & 4th look sick - is this really what a normal-sized woman is supposed to look like? They DON'T look healthy! (& they don't look like they work out; they look like they starve themselves!)
She sounds pretty surly to me![]()
But to be honest. . .I think a lot of people that are obese really don't know. If they did we wouldn't have a multi-million dollar industry selling them crap that doesn't work.
I think some people just need to see some kind of fast results, and when they don't they figure it's not working. Little do they know that maybe just another few weeks of sticking to it, they might have seen some dramatic results. They have to find some way to burn that they enjoy or it will be hard to stick with it. they have to figure out a way to eat that works for them and that they can live with. So I think saying, eat less and exercise more is akin to telling the anorexic to just eat something. It's not that easy. If it was everybody would be their ideal body weight and we could all call it a day.![]()
I was editing that post to add an example of a woman with a child who was able to do exactly what I did. In fact she beat me. And that is only one example of many.
I line up at many a run next to folks, many faster then I, who have kids. Both the gyms I go to have childcare centers filled with kids. The other three people who are doing the marathon with me all work full time and have multiple kids (two have 2 and one has 3). The thread on the WISH about the race is filled with married working parents along with those who don't have kids.
If you choose to make fitness a priority it will be.
ETA: I have a full time job and am on call for emergencies on the weekends. I'm the I.T. director of my company and if a server crashes I am here. I leave work at work though when I can and we have a culture here of not letting work creep into our non-work lives which is promoted from the top down.
There are so many things wrong with this post I wouldn't know where to start.
I have to agree with you, I am not one of you, but I do agree. I personally know someone that has 3 kids is in her 40's helped he hubby with his business while graduating Summa cum Laude with her MBA. Took care of her house, and I mean it was always spotless and NEVER allowed fast food in her kids. She also ran 5 miles a day. It was something she refused to give up, fitness was important to her as was nutrition and she didn't give it up for anything or anyone. She now works full time, coaches, and still running. I wish I could say this applied to me, but hey I am working on it.
Wow, an entire post devoted to your awesomeness. Well done you.
At the moment I prefer to spend the hours I used to sweat in a gym with my kids instead of dumping them with a babysitter. When they're older, sure I'll go back. But not enough to look like Firedancer's "happy medium." I'm still too busy laughing about it. But whatever burns calories.
eta: Oh, wow 40 plus hours a week. Try doubling that and that's what my husband works. He's able to squeeze in a basketball league once a week. If he's lucky.
I have been "going at it" with Firedancer for 2 hours....with a nursing, sleeping child in my lap.
And yes, I can exercise at home. I do yoga twice a week. I have a treadmill at home. It doesn't get you in the kind of shape that makes up Firedancer's "happy medium". I know because I WAS super in shape. And it took hours at the gym and thousands of sit ups. Which took a lot more time than jogging in place.
And as for using free weights, lugging around my kids counts, I think.
Yuppers, I rock.. thanks ! If I want to pat myself on the back I sure will, but I mentioned those things to just show that I have an interesting perspective on the whole thing.
I wasn't telling you how to spend your time-- i choose to make my health a priority because me being happy and healthy will keep me around longer and more active with my kids... nor do i dump them off at a sitter to go to the gym-- I get up extra early or stay up extra late and leave them sleeping with my husband at home. You had said that the other poster could not be a woman or have kids, cause if he were he would understand that it's impossible to fit those things in. It's actually NOT impossible-- If you decide not to, that's fine, not my place to tell anyone what to do.
My point certainly wasn't that you don't do enough- I don't know you at all. my point was simply that jumping all over someone else for making their health a priority and assuming a lot of facts about his personality because of it is actually the SAME attitude that the author of the magazine blog had to begin with.
Oh I read that. Why don't you put the toys away, put the child to sleep, and then get crunching!!! Feel the burn....![]()
Just on a happy note: Don't under-estimate the benefits of your treadmill!! Your treadmill can be your best friend if you allow it to.I run 5-8 miles on mine 5 to 6 nights a week. Two years ago, I started out walking 3 miles in an hour, and now this 40yr old mom of 3 is capable of running 6 miles in an hour. I love running outside, but there just isn't enough hours of light for my schedule so the treadmill has become my best friend. Over the last two years, I have lost 35lbs and gone from a size 12 to a size 4. I think it has given me that "happy medium". I just thought I would encourage you with my experience because I know how hard it can be to exercise outside of the home when you have children. The treadmill has been a miracle worker for me!!
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Again, reading comp. I NEVER said impossible, I said "really hard". Go back and look yourself.
How awesome you can leave your children with a sleeping husband. Mine is usually at work.
Making health a priority is a great thing. I know I do. We are privileged enough to eat organic and we get what exercise we can. My initial point (probably poorly made) was in response to Fire Dancer's happy medium pics. It takes a lot of time and effort at the gym to look like that. I know. And I flat out do not have it....not if my kids are priority one, which they are. As I said before, I'm not overweight. I am definitely out of the shape I used to be in. Doesn't mean health is not a priority. Just means having an athlete's body is not my number one goal in life at the moment. And it is in no way a "happy medium" either.
The size 14 models pictured above look awfully healthy to me. Is anyone saying their health is obviously not a priority because they don't have the bodies of Fire Dancer's pictures? Because people in this thread sure seem to be implying it.
I think you have just inspired me. I was over weight and then had a hysterectomy last Dec. OMG, what that surgery can do to you. But I refuse to use it as an excuse, I will get on that treadmill and start, after all I have a cruise in 8 months.
my kids are priority one too. I am a close second. I would argue that most woman don't put themselves on the list at ALL which is partially why we have such weight and body image issues.
I put her down, she wakes up. Care to come over and take her for me? She'd scream bloody murder, though.
A little off topic, but some screaming won't kill her and she will learn to go to sleep. Sorry, not trying to be a know it all, just trying to help and yes I had a real screamer, took him longer than the other 2, but he eventually got it.