[nabs-l] OT weight issues

[bookwormahb at earthlink.net]

Hi Humberto,
Yes, for males its normal to be apple shaped. Women are typically pear 
shaped.
But I am apple.  Appearance wise this looks bad and its more a health risk.

But whether male or female cardio exercise is important and I wish it were 
more accessible.  You have flat screens on cardio equipment; I can read them 
usually but a totally blind person would have less access.  You have visual 
based classes and sports unless adapted are visual and rely on hand-eye 
coordination.

Humberto, doing push ups and sit-ups helps with endurance and building 
tone/muscle.
But aerobic exercise burns fat or supposedly does.  Push up are more of a 
strength exercise for the arms and chest.

As I said I do fast walking for my primary aerobic exercise plus jumping and 
jumping jacks.  I cannot see how to do actual aerobs like in the workout 
videos, so I made up some of my own silly moves like moving to the side and 
lifting my legs.
But I'm not doing enough diet or exercise or something. How can you feel 
full on less calories? I often get night cravings and admit sometimes give 
into drinking sweet juice or some sweets.
Its quite hard to lose weight; I lost a few pounds this year.

Ashley


-----Original Message----- 
From: humberto
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 11:34 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] OT weight issues

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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