[nabs-l] OT weight issues

[humberto]

Hi,

This is kind of similar to what my Mom tells me sometimes, that I 
am getting bigger on the area of the abs.  I'm wondering, what 
are the most ideal looks for men though because I am a male? Is 
it normal for a young man to have the "Apple-shape" kind of thing 
where your abdominal are growing too much.  I do PE at school, 
and to me it works; I'm not sure that my Mom thinks that is not 
working.  She tells me to do sit-ups and push-ups but I don't do 
it because I do those exercises in PE anyways.
any thoughts? By the way, I understand this is off-topic, but, 
this can result in a discussion that can lead to great other 
discussions about blindness and appearance among sighted public.

>----- Original Message -----
>From: <bookwormahb at earthlink.net
>To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:47:00 -0400
>Subject: [nabs-l] OT weight issues

>Hi all,

>I’ve battled the weight and appearance issue particularly in 
the recent years; my mother got upset about this once I gained 
weight upon going to Marymount and eating some unhealthy food 
there.  The freshman 15 is true!  Not that I gained 15 pounds but 
did gain some weight.  It was a slow weight gain and I hardly 
noticed it until I put on different clothes.
>BTW I lost those six or seven pounds I gained at Marymount 
university, MU.  But of course I’m still overweight and my mom 
isn’t satisfied.

>I am about five feet and I am apple shaped, meaning my fat tissue 
is in my middle, the abdominal area.
>I am a girl, so image in this society plays a part.
>My Body mass index, BMI, is not 30, the obese category.  BMI is
>a person’s weight over height squared.
>But its not far off.
>I mentioned my height and sex and where the weight shows since it 
does affect your image and health.
>Weight around the abdomin area, apple shape, is associated with 
more health risks.  I took a health class in college.

>I should lose weight to  fit in a dress for a wedding in early 
May and to have a better weight overall.

>Its been a struggle.  I already eat more whole grains and some 
complex carbs.
>For instance cereal such as Cheerios for breakfast.  I eat no fat 
milk.
>I eat little red meat; I eat chicken and pork primarily.  I do 
not eat fried food or drink sodas.
>I have some fruit but could probably do better there.  The worse 
food I eat is chips which I eat at lunch with a sandwich.
>So I say it’s a struggle because I have eaten healthily for 
several years and do not see many results.  I live with parents 
and my mother has to eat low carbs due to health issues anyway.  
If I have carbs, they are the complex kind, like potatoes, not 
the refined kind!


>I might add that I weigh less than in years past.  Yet I cannot 
fit in a size 14 dress!

>What suggestions do you have for diet? How do you feel full on 
less calories?
>I drink water at night, but sometimes I still get the hunger and 
crave something.  Its probably cause I’m stressed too!


>Another issue I see is that being blind I cannot participate in 
as much games; I cannot run out and shoot basketball or soccer.
>I belong to a gym, but classes rely on seeing an instructor lead 
classes.  I have not found them too accomodating.
>I tried a cardio kickboxing class and it was a disaster as I 
could not follow the fast pace!
>I have done spinning, a bike workout to music.  That is the most 
accessible.

>I cannot  go to the gym often and I do not feel motivated to 
workout at home due to the fact we have an old treadmill in the 
back basement.  You cannot incline it and the environment just is 
too stagnant or something being in the basement!
>I do moves in place, usually jumping jacks, but its not enough.


>I wish someone would make a described workout video for aerobics!

>Anyway, I just wondered how you all deal with this and what 
worked for you.
>My mom says its all my fault; well obviously she doesn’t admit 
weight is partly genetic, and studies indicate that fat in the 
mid section is the hardest to lose.
>Women my shape will lose fat from the top down.  So, the place 
you want to lose the fat is the last place it will come off!
>Its opposite.  Where you put on the fat is the last place to lose 
it.
>I just had to vent.  I’m tired of being accused I drink too 
many sodas and juices when I never drink them except when I’m 
out at a restaurant.
>As for juices, only at lunch time.  I cut back that at night.  
Sometimes I don’t even have it at lunch and stick with plain 
tap water.
>I’m tired of hearing I eat too many sweets when actually yes I 
have some.  But its during lunch time or as a snack; not at 
night.
>I could cut back on that I suppose and eat another snack instead.  
But fruit never fills me up.
>Maybe something healthier like rice cakes or low fat 
peanuter/creakers.  I don’t know.
>But I am not this overeating junk food aholic my mother thinks I 
am.


>Let me know your ideas.
>Ashley
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