On Losing Weight...

[quidditchgrrl]

PBG = 2 skinny byotches down for the count

Skinny byotches = 0

If you're not familar with spinning, that's a workout on a stationary bicycle. It kicks ass. Being able to take spinning classes was my second workout goal a year ago (the first was to rehab my unstable knee). I took the first set of spinning classes last fall and loved it.

The one thing I discovered is that when you're the Fat Chick, people pace their workout to you, because obviously I'm out of shape working off 600+ calories an hour in class.

I've caused one girl to puke and another to be escorted upstairs to recover. Do I feel bad? Hell no! I think it's hilarious, and it certainly challenges the notion that overweight = unhealthy/uncoordinated/unable.

I'm down to 207 - I was at Nimbus at 237, my heaviest weight ever. I am wearing size 16 right now, and close to sizing out of Lane Bryant clothing. I already can't wear their 14/16 dresses. My wedding dress is going to need serious alteration.

I understand, I really do. Losing weight is such a struggle, and most of the time it's a losing proposition. I started gaining weight at age 6 and didn't stop until last September. My luck was always that I was tall, and 'carried the weight well'. Small blessings, I guess.

I understand. I try to never mention it unless I'm speaking in terms of this last ten pounds, which I lost in the course of being very ill for the past six weeks. I don't say anything, really. But the sarcastic remarks come anyway.

Person #1: "Oh, you've lost weight!"
PBG: "Yes."
Person #1 (sarcastic): "Well, lucky you."

Person #2: "Wow, you've really lost weight!"
PBG: "Yes."
Person #2: "What diet plan are you on?"
PBG: "I'm just eating better and exercising more."
Person #2 (sarcastic): " Well, isn't that just grand!"

I have to say that hurts my feelings, a bit. After all, I'm working very hard to get the weight off, fighting stereotypes about fat people and what they can do, I can't have bariatric surgery - not fat enough - and I'm suffering with stomach pain so intense, toast and tea has become my South Beach Diet.

After all that work, I am not able to be proud of myself in public, to my friends or my family. They don't want to hear it. I had to go to Lane Bryant and buy pants to wear out of the store because the pants I wore to work were literally falling off my ass. Thank goodness my younger sister and hastyent are happy for me or I'd be thoroughly discouraged. While private victories are important, being able to be happy about it in public can't be discounted.



Random thoughts:

I am the only female in the US who doesn't like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Gay stereotypes annoy me.

Clay Aiken is a freaky looking guy. Ew, freaky. He needs to make country records so they'll quit playing him on MTV Hits.

Liam Lynch is a god. "Still Wasted From the Party Last Night" - OMGFUNNIESTSONGEVAR.

I've been woken in the middle of the night twice this week with a serious Draco/Hermione plot bunny. IT WON'T LEAVE ME BE, probably won't until I've written it. *wails at the zillions of WiPs waiting for attention* The next chapter of my George/Hermione is 60% done, and I'll be plugging away on that as well, so will not be around so much. Will try to read LJ couple times a week though. Am very reachable through email.

ETA: Darn you, fearthainn for posting the last chapter of Dark Directed! Now I have to read it before I go to bed. I am going to be a tired (but happy) chica tomorrow. :P

Comments

[tonksnymphadora.livejournal.com]

*raises hand* I don't watch Queer Eye. And I actually get Bravo. I just get bored by it. I do however like it for the snarkiness.

I also like how Carson checks out if the guy is packing or not.

Btw, congrats on losing weight. It is all about feeling better for you, not for anyone else. Absolutely take those peoples comments to heart and feel the power of their jealousy as they consider you competition.

[lina-granger.livejournal.com]

It's always so good to see people dealing with their problems and have the guts to admit them. I wish I could be more open about my own health problems,though they have nothing to do with weight.
Keep on,you're going to make it. You seem to have the strength needed.I wish I could say the same.

[authenticjoy.livejournal.com]

You go! No, being overweight does NOT mean you can't kick the ass of every single skinny chick in sight. It doesn't. Discipline and endurance have more to do with working out and sometimes fat chicks have way more of that than so-called'normal' people do. Heh.

*poppy thinks about yoga and the size of her thighs* Wanna see some pretzel logic?

You aren't the only person who doesn't like the stereotypes on Queer Eye. Not all of it is stereotyping, but the way that the show is presented is horribly stereotyped. I think that the NYC setting has a lot to do with it, unfortunately. However, I think it also stereotypes the hapless straight guy too. The show on Comedy Central, 'Straight Plan For The Gay Man' makes fun of the stereotyping and is quite funny. If you get a chance, watch it, it's fairly funny.

[ladyanabelle.livejournal.com]

The bunnies are evil... I'm being awoke with a really evil George/Pavarati/Oliver bunny not to mention the ebil Bill/Narcissa bunny that has been crawling around inside my head... EEEK

Do you have any bunnie repellant I can borrow.

Congradulations on the weight loss.. I gained 20 lbs when I had the miscarriage in November and I just can't seem to get rid of it. I admire you so much for having the gumption to stick to it!!!

Hugs,

annie

[hastyent.livejournal.com]

I am seriously proud of you and adore you to boot!!!!

I admit to loving QEfSG. I can't help it. Ted Allen is my hero and I loff him. I love getting the recipes and trying stuff out. Although the stereotypes do get on my nerves. I rarely get to see it, as I don't have cable.

Much Loff!!!

[quidditchgrrl.livejournal.com]

Ew, Carson. I always get the feeling he would sleep with anyone who was 'packing'.

And yes, that jealousy/contempt is a great motivator for me!

[quidditchgrrl.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope you decide to deal with your health problems, but it's a personal decision.

[quidditchgrrl.livejournal.com]

I've heard of the Straight Plan series, I must plan to watch it. Yes, I think the NYC setting is part of it, but the way they present the guys - gay and straight - are over the top.

There's nothing but fluff and kitsch to me. :P

I do kick ass! And while I think it's amusing that skinny chicks have to make themselves feel better by competing with me, it pisses me off that they just look at me and think I'm nothing but blubber.

[authenticjoy.livejournal.com]

With Straight Plan once is enough. You get the joke, it's pretty funny, and that's it. :o) You don't need to watch it again. We watched it twice and sort of said, "Didn't we see this before?"

It is over the top, but then most of the reality based shows are. It's how they work, after all. Meh. I mean, it's better than the Care Bear Transvestites on Steroids that appear on Springer, right? ;o)

I'm not defending Queer Eye. I think it's boring, but I think most of the mainstream reality shows are anyway. I like the ones that go waaaaay over the top and then back again. Smash the stereotypes to bits. But, I like smashing things.

I kick ass when I am fat and I kick ass when I am skinny. I go back and forth. Right now I am fat and I kick ass. But, I kick less ass than I did when I was 20. That's all sad and shit.

I have to quit smoking. Bleh. I gotta make that call today.

*smokesmoke*poppyhastosetdate*coughcough*

Why would skinny chicks want to compete? That makes no fucking sense at all. You work out for yourself, not others. That is teh stoopid. Gah. That's why I can't stand gyms. I did the weight lifting thing for a while. Loved the weights, hated the gym.

Yoga baybee. Beeeee the pretzel. :o)

*off to stretch it out in my jammies - rock it out to Yoko Kanno and da hardbop*

[seakays.livejournal.com]

Donna,

Congratulations on losing the weight. While I personally am blessed with my mother's high metabolism, I've never had to worry much about my weight.

However, after kid #2, I wanted to get in shape and trust me, post 35 bodies take a lot of exercise to get in shape. I was appalled to find out that my body fat index was so damn high. I was considered underweight and overfat.

After a couple of years of hard slogging on the weights and a complete revamp of my diet, I've been able to get my BFI in the normal range and my fitness level where it should be.

People shouldn't be so quick to judge a book by its cover. So many people would look at me and laugh about my dedication to fitness. They'd all say - "But, you're so skinny."

Yeah, I was skinny, but so out of shape and carried so much fat inside my body, it was damn frightening.

Sorry, got carried away there! Go you on spinning to - tis a class I cannot do without wanting to vomit!

LOL

S

[thalialunacy.livejournal.com]

Well, from one in-shape fat girl to another--HUZZAH! I am sooo happy for you! :applaudsapplauds: I had this football-player-looking guy ask me last week in amazement how I *manage* running the whole way around the lake. I laughed. XD

[jane-rucker.livejournal.com]

I love Liam Lynch.

Jane

[quidditchgrrl.livejournal.com]

I totally understand, hughroe and I were talking about this the other day.

My sister's mother-in-law is this petite, skinny little dynamo - with a triglyceride level of 500. Her cholesterol is near 300. She's the type to eat a piece of fudge instead of dinner.

But I think most people would compare the two of us and pronounce me the less fit of the two.

Good job on not being complacent and letting your health go by on how you look.

:)

[(Anonymous)]

Go for it girl and get slim now as with the passage of years it gets harder. It becomes a habit after a while though to say I'll have Death by Lettuce and a Green Tea when what you actually want to say is I'll have pie and chips and a bottle of red wine! I found that I started to lose weight again as The Skipper suddenly, after years of sloth and business lunches, turned into a runner. It is a great leveller taking your clothes off in front of a guy with a six pack! I like to work out in the gym but I also bought a new bike and entered for a novice's triathlon last year. That way I found that I had something to focus on and it worked - I am doing it again this year and my back problems are much improved. Stick at it - I will be your e-mentor if youlike. lol.

Cress

[quidditchgrrl.livejournal.com]

I know, the longer you wait, the tougher it is to get in shape.

I used to be (and have reworked) a very strong, muscled person despite the extra weight. The time crunches of college, jobs, taking care of my mom, those all took me away from any kind of regular training. Now that I've been 'on the treadmill', I can tell how much better I feel, nevermind how I look. Back/knee troubles are almost non-existent, and I have more stamina.

Andy, unfortunately, is being a stick in the mud about working out. He still has his biceps, the weenie! :P Unfair, I tell you!