Read this article first, then my reaction. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/racist-sorority-party-photo-stirs-outrage-181258221.html
So I'm browsing through Yahoo trying to find something interesting to write about, then I came across this. Yes, a sorority of Penn State of all places had posted a racist picture on Facebook. It really amazes me how stupid some people can be. I mean come on, use your heads! There's a bunch of you in the picture, you should at least put all those brains together and maybe think, "Oh, a picture like this might offend some people. Maybe we shouldn't post it..or maybe not take a picture like this." I mean, their college didn't just come out of a sex scandal or anything, this wouldn't get them in any more trouble!
But for real, people needn't post things that could possibly offend another person. Live by the Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would want them unto you. So I guess it is now being investigated, and the president of a division of the sorority apologized...yaddayadda.
This struck me because I'm about to go off to a university next fall, and have been weighing my options and thinking about possibly joining a sorority. You know, the perks include awesome social settings to meet new people and it looks badass on your resume when you're out in the world looking for a job. See, it's not like you can't just not partake in an activity, like posing in a racist photo. You're associated with that group, and if a person (or a group of people within that group) gets in trouble, so are you. It's going to be a tough decision for me, because in light of this situation, and others, being in a sorority can make or break you. Just some things to ponder over.
Lights out,
Tory
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
The Holidays and Your Gut
I can't wait to hear the complaints from everyone saying the Holidays are going to KILL their diets and cause weight-gain. For one, no...the Holidays don't directly cause you to gain weight. You and your lack of self control are what makes you gain weight. There are ways to turn those negative thoughts about Holiday foods into positive ones. For one, PORTIONS, portions, portions. Instead of loading your plate full of food, and making a second trip because the plate can't fit it all, take a little bit of the healthy stuff. WHITE meat of the turkey. Instead of loading it with tons of gravy, load it with the natural juices the turkey makes while cooking. Instead of having candy yams, make some baked sweet potatoes. Make homemade cranberry sauce where you can control the amount of sugar that goes into it. Have green beans instead of the green been casserole that's loaded with fat. Only have a teeny tiny taste of stuffing. One roll, please; and instead of butter, dip in in the juices you have from the turkey. Dessert...well you're on your own because I NEVER skip it or anything in that category that is remotely chocolate.
Yes, most of y'all have probably heard all of these tips a million times before. To be honest, I'm pretty tired of hearing all of the hullabaloo, too! But one thing I never thought about is the alcohol you consume during the Holidays. I mean, you've got the spiked slushies (MMMM...this is a tradition in my family), spiked Eggnog, wine, champagne, beer, various liquors, etc. I swear, my family is not a bunch of alcoholics...we just have eclectic tastes when it comes to our beverages!
When I think of it, it's so true! I probably drink at least the value of half of my Thanksgiving meal throughout the day. By cutting that down AND using the tips on my meal above, I've cut my caloric intake for the day tremendously. I really recommend y'all read this article from the New York Times online (can you tell I like them as a source of information?!). It has all the statistics about how much people drink every day on average, and it explains all about how those added calories in alcohol really can affect your weight-gain. Really good read overall, especially if you're trying to be calorie-conscious over this Holiday season!
Hope this helps y'all out!
Tory
PS-the article I used!
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/20/the-not-so-hidden-calories-from-alcohol/
Yes, most of y'all have probably heard all of these tips a million times before. To be honest, I'm pretty tired of hearing all of the hullabaloo, too! But one thing I never thought about is the alcohol you consume during the Holidays. I mean, you've got the spiked slushies (MMMM...this is a tradition in my family), spiked Eggnog, wine, champagne, beer, various liquors, etc. I swear, my family is not a bunch of alcoholics...we just have eclectic tastes when it comes to our beverages!
When I think of it, it's so true! I probably drink at least the value of half of my Thanksgiving meal throughout the day. By cutting that down AND using the tips on my meal above, I've cut my caloric intake for the day tremendously. I really recommend y'all read this article from the New York Times online (can you tell I like them as a source of information?!). It has all the statistics about how much people drink every day on average, and it explains all about how those added calories in alcohol really can affect your weight-gain. Really good read overall, especially if you're trying to be calorie-conscious over this Holiday season!
Hope this helps y'all out!
Tory
PS-the article I used!
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/20/the-not-so-hidden-calories-from-alcohol/
Monday, November 19, 2012
Another Rant About the American Society and Their Unhealthy Habits
Okay so this is the third post of the day, but I'm looking at different articles to write a paper and quite frankly, they're making me livid! We spend so much money on education and put so much pressure on students to be smart and make good grades, yet our society seems to be getting dumber by the minute when it comes to the choices we make about our health. I guess we can't blame them, according to the article from the New York Times.
"And therein lies a problem, Dr. Dishman and other researchers say. The public health message about exercise is that any amount is good and that walking is just fine. Everyone has been told, repeatedly, that regular exercise improves health and makes people feel better, happier, more energetic. Nearly all Americans say they have heard those messages. They know that exercise is good for them and that they should do it.
Yet they do not.
About 40 percent of Americans report that they never exercise, a figure that has remained steady for decades. They will not even do the easy stuff. "
Gina Kolata says that the message is what's faulty, not obese Americans. Yes, getting out and walking is good, but it can only do so much. No one should solely rely on walking for 30 minutes a day to keep them in shape. It's just not possible. You don't burn enough calories to maintain or loose weight. Now, thankfully I keep up with all of this health information. I do my research, as should those millions of Americans who are looking to loose weight. They need to consult a physician, talk to a personal trainer WITH certifications and nutritional certificates (not just the 20 guy that you see hitting the gym hard every day). They will tell you what you need to do to loose weight. I will attest, they DO know what they're doing. When I did the set they gave me to work out, I most definitely saw an improvement in my overall fitness and physique. Oh, but when I went and did my own thing (like walking 3 mph for a half an hour) I wasn't seeing ANY results. It quite frankly made me want to give up. So I get it--a person seeking to loose weight researches in the Health section of Cosmopolitan Magazine and starts doing their "7 minute workout" that helps you drop 20 pounds in a month (yeah, right). And not to mention you only have to do that 7 minute workout 3-4 times a week. Yes, I'm making this up--but you know there's plenty of magazines that get people to buy just because of their "miraculous diet and workout plan." Anyway, back on track. They start doing this phony workout, and they don't see results. So back to their old ways they go. Trust me, I GET IT. I've done these a million times. Tried every trick and trade I've found on the Internet. They have never worked. What works is what the professionals told me.
So the message to those millions of people about to make a New Year's Resolution to loose weight, start with your doctor, PLLLLLEASE! They actually know what they're talking about...duhh, I hope they would after close to a decade of higher education.....
That's all for now. Muahh
Tory
Links I referenced:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/updating-the-message-to-get-americans-moving/?ref=health
"And therein lies a problem, Dr. Dishman and other researchers say. The public health message about exercise is that any amount is good and that walking is just fine. Everyone has been told, repeatedly, that regular exercise improves health and makes people feel better, happier, more energetic. Nearly all Americans say they have heard those messages. They know that exercise is good for them and that they should do it.
Yet they do not.
About 40 percent of Americans report that they never exercise, a figure that has remained steady for decades. They will not even do the easy stuff. "
Gina Kolata says that the message is what's faulty, not obese Americans. Yes, getting out and walking is good, but it can only do so much. No one should solely rely on walking for 30 minutes a day to keep them in shape. It's just not possible. You don't burn enough calories to maintain or loose weight. Now, thankfully I keep up with all of this health information. I do my research, as should those millions of Americans who are looking to loose weight. They need to consult a physician, talk to a personal trainer WITH certifications and nutritional certificates (not just the 20 guy that you see hitting the gym hard every day). They will tell you what you need to do to loose weight. I will attest, they DO know what they're doing. When I did the set they gave me to work out, I most definitely saw an improvement in my overall fitness and physique. Oh, but when I went and did my own thing (like walking 3 mph for a half an hour) I wasn't seeing ANY results. It quite frankly made me want to give up. So I get it--a person seeking to loose weight researches in the Health section of Cosmopolitan Magazine and starts doing their "7 minute workout" that helps you drop 20 pounds in a month (yeah, right). And not to mention you only have to do that 7 minute workout 3-4 times a week. Yes, I'm making this up--but you know there's plenty of magazines that get people to buy just because of their "miraculous diet and workout plan." Anyway, back on track. They start doing this phony workout, and they don't see results. So back to their old ways they go. Trust me, I GET IT. I've done these a million times. Tried every trick and trade I've found on the Internet. They have never worked. What works is what the professionals told me.
So the message to those millions of people about to make a New Year's Resolution to loose weight, start with your doctor, PLLLLLEASE! They actually know what they're talking about...duhh, I hope they would after close to a decade of higher education.....
That's all for now. Muahh
Tory
Links I referenced:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/updating-the-message-to-get-americans-moving/?ref=health
It's Not Just Girls Chasing After the Perfect Image
The media really has taken a toll on young Americans all over. All of those models with perfect bodies gliding on the runways and gracing the covers of magazines give us girls, and now young boys, false hope. Seriously, it's unnatural to be that skinny! Yes, modeling agencies find the few people in this world that actually have that body type. It's sad, because there are so many different kinds of people with different body builds, but we only idolize and market the tall men and women with strikingly small percentages of body fat; and for men, high volumes of muscle. Because of all this false hope in the fashion industry, women, girls, men, and now young boys are now obsessing over getting their bodies just like theirs. In an article from the New York Times online, there are recent studies talking about boys as young as middle-schoolers obsessing over going to the gym and lifting for hours every day.
Douglas Quenqua states that, "Just as girls who count every calorie in an effort to be thin may do themselves more harm than good, boys who chase an illusory image of manhood may end up stunting their development, doctors say, particularly when they turn to supplements — or, worse, steroids — to supercharge their results."
To me, when these images in the media pose a threat to the health of people--especially kids, it's gone too far. The influence the fashion industry and Hollywood have on the young generation is astounding; especially if it steers kids in the direction of experimenting with steroids. Even the fact that these boys could be hindering their growth because of the over building of their muscles is dangerous--do they realize that if they do this to their body, they may never be as tall or developed as the male athletes of actors??
It's crazy, because now that I think about it more after reading this article, I've noticed that my brother has even obsessed over his body image. He is 15, 6' tall, 166 pounds, in the ninth grade and has already lost 14 pounds since the beginning of the school year! He is already so skinny, but he thinks that he is fat. He is very highly active in sports, having been on the football team this year and is starting up his second season of baseball this year alone. I've noticed that he has been lifting a lot more, trying to get that toned up look. He's only 15 and already obsessing over how "fat he is." Which he's most definitely NOT! Just to prove my point on how he really is not fat, I'm going to post a picture.
I can attest to this personally as I have always been hard on myself for not looking like the models or actresses on the covers of magazines. Their hair, makeup, clothes, body, just everything is so perfect! It's not fair; but it's not fair to those women who are photo-shopped to look like that. The reality is that no one is perfect even though society expects us to be.
That's all the rant I have in me for now, or else I'd go on for days!
Adios,
Tory
Links to the New York Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/health/teenage-boys-worried-about-body-image-take-risks.html?ref=health&_r=0
Douglas Quenqua states that, "Just as girls who count every calorie in an effort to be thin may do themselves more harm than good, boys who chase an illusory image of manhood may end up stunting their development, doctors say, particularly when they turn to supplements — or, worse, steroids — to supercharge their results."
To me, when these images in the media pose a threat to the health of people--especially kids, it's gone too far. The influence the fashion industry and Hollywood have on the young generation is astounding; especially if it steers kids in the direction of experimenting with steroids. Even the fact that these boys could be hindering their growth because of the over building of their muscles is dangerous--do they realize that if they do this to their body, they may never be as tall or developed as the male athletes of actors??
It's crazy, because now that I think about it more after reading this article, I've noticed that my brother has even obsessed over his body image. He is 15, 6' tall, 166 pounds, in the ninth grade and has already lost 14 pounds since the beginning of the school year! He is already so skinny, but he thinks that he is fat. He is very highly active in sports, having been on the football team this year and is starting up his second season of baseball this year alone. I've noticed that he has been lifting a lot more, trying to get that toned up look. He's only 15 and already obsessing over how "fat he is." Which he's most definitely NOT! Just to prove my point on how he really is not fat, I'm going to post a picture.
My 15 year old brother and my Gammie September 2012--can you imagine that 14 pounds lighter?! Crazy, huh? P.S.--isn't he such a cutie?! :)
I can attest to this personally as I have always been hard on myself for not looking like the models or actresses on the covers of magazines. Their hair, makeup, clothes, body, just everything is so perfect! It's not fair; but it's not fair to those women who are photo-shopped to look like that. The reality is that no one is perfect even though society expects us to be.
That's all the rant I have in me for now, or else I'd go on for days!
Adios,
Tory
Links to the New York Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/health/teenage-boys-worried-about-body-image-take-risks.html?ref=health&_r=0
Exercising Extends Life?
Even though I don't practice being healthy 24/7, y'all know that I'm a health nut. Hey, we're all human, and Thanksgiving and Christmas come around every single year. Especially if you're a woman like me, those chocolate cravings are killers. One thing I do try and make sure I do is exercise. My motives may be because of the fact that I pay $40 a month for a gym membership and don't want it to go to waste and to look like one of those girls on the cover of the Victoria's Secret magazine, but hey, that's a start! However, I'm starting to feel differently about my motives after I read this article. Now I'm not so jealous of those twigs that can eat anything they want without working it off and not gaining a pound as a result! CNN has an article about exercising extending the span of your life. Here's the kicker...it extends your life EVEN if you're overweight! The other good news is that you don't have to spend hours a day at the gym for your exercise to count, you just need "150 minutes a WEEK of moderate-intensity exercise." That's only two and a half hours of your whole week that will tack on 3.4 years to your life! Wouldn't you sacrifice a couple of extra hours a week to gain three and a half more years of life?! Now imagine how many more years you can add to that number if you were to exercise more frequently at a higher intensity!
Okay, for you people just starting out and this is your first time getting out there and exercising--take it slow! I was getting a little bit excited over the fact. Start out by walking 30 minutes a day for three days a week. Make a conscious effort to drink a little more water today than you did yesterday. One step at a time will help you not just go on a health kick for a month or two, but it will help you make a lifestyle change: literally. You'll be feeling awesome, looking great, and adding years to your lifetime; ALL from exercise! I know, the next thing you're going to tell me is that you dread exercise, and you usually give up far to quickly. The key to this is to start off like I said above with 30 minutes of walking, 3 days a week. Do that for a couple of weeks, then keep adding days. When you get up to walking for 5 days a week for 30 minutes, go up to walking 45 minutes for 3 days. Build up to five days, and then maybe consider adding in small weights. Walk a little faster each day. Start cutting out certain things in your diet like white grains or high fat items. Making little changes at a time will help you ease into this lifestyle change and make it a permanent thing and not just a three-month diet.
Just writing about this is getting me all fired up! I want to get to the gym NOW! Too bad I have work in about an hour.
I hope this helps those few people that do check out my blog!
Until next time,
Tory
Link to the CNN article:
http://www.thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/06/exercise-lengthens-your-life-even-if-youre-overweight/
Okay, for you people just starting out and this is your first time getting out there and exercising--take it slow! I was getting a little bit excited over the fact. Start out by walking 30 minutes a day for three days a week. Make a conscious effort to drink a little more water today than you did yesterday. One step at a time will help you not just go on a health kick for a month or two, but it will help you make a lifestyle change: literally. You'll be feeling awesome, looking great, and adding years to your lifetime; ALL from exercise! I know, the next thing you're going to tell me is that you dread exercise, and you usually give up far to quickly. The key to this is to start off like I said above with 30 minutes of walking, 3 days a week. Do that for a couple of weeks, then keep adding days. When you get up to walking for 5 days a week for 30 minutes, go up to walking 45 minutes for 3 days. Build up to five days, and then maybe consider adding in small weights. Walk a little faster each day. Start cutting out certain things in your diet like white grains or high fat items. Making little changes at a time will help you ease into this lifestyle change and make it a permanent thing and not just a three-month diet.
Just writing about this is getting me all fired up! I want to get to the gym NOW! Too bad I have work in about an hour.
I hope this helps those few people that do check out my blog!
Until next time,
Tory
Link to the CNN article:
http://www.thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/06/exercise-lengthens-your-life-even-if-youre-overweight/
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Talks About Ethics in the Media
This is an exciting post because I was having a conversation with my parents when I remembered something from class. What do you know, I learned something! The topic itself isn't something to be happy about per se, but the fact that I applied something I learned in class to my everyday life is!
Anyway, what I want to talk about today is the ethics the media holds themselves to--especially when it comes to suicides and covering them in the paper or on a broadcast. In this case, I'm happy the media didn't publicize this because of the condition. Here's how the story goes:
I found out about this suicide from my mom. She's been a stay at home mom for years, and now that my siblings and I are getting older and becoming more expensive, she decided to put her degree to good use and start substituting at our local schools in Keller. She is a teacher by degree, so her aim is to get a permanent job with KISD, or any nearby school district that is offering teaching positions. So, she was at one of the twenty something elementary schools for the first time waiting to be assigned to the room they needed her in, and while she was waiting she went ahead and brought her resume to the Vice Principal as she has been doing to every school she's subbed at. While talking to the VP, she was told about a teaching position that had just opened in a first grade class. All she told my mom was that the teacher unexpectedly died. Of course, my mom felt so bad for this woman and her students, so she was explaining to one of her friends that also substitutes with her about the situation. It turns out this teacher didn't die of natural causes, she actually killed herself and they weren't telling very many people that fact.
So as my mom was explaining this to my family, my dad asked, "Well how does no one know or how do they know it won't get leaked? I mean, won't people see it on the news?" I immediately chimed in and explained how the media don't typically cover suicides unless it happens in a public place--which in this case it wasn't public. I also told him that given the circumstances, first graders are so young; they don't need to know that their teacher killed herself. That's a very emotional subject to bring down on kids.
Like I said, the topic of this blog isn't very happy, but the fact that I applied class to my conversation assured me that college is more than all-nighters, writing papers, and taking tests. It's about applying what you've learned to your own life!
Until next time,
Tory
Anyway, what I want to talk about today is the ethics the media holds themselves to--especially when it comes to suicides and covering them in the paper or on a broadcast. In this case, I'm happy the media didn't publicize this because of the condition. Here's how the story goes:
I found out about this suicide from my mom. She's been a stay at home mom for years, and now that my siblings and I are getting older and becoming more expensive, she decided to put her degree to good use and start substituting at our local schools in Keller. She is a teacher by degree, so her aim is to get a permanent job with KISD, or any nearby school district that is offering teaching positions. So, she was at one of the twenty something elementary schools for the first time waiting to be assigned to the room they needed her in, and while she was waiting she went ahead and brought her resume to the Vice Principal as she has been doing to every school she's subbed at. While talking to the VP, she was told about a teaching position that had just opened in a first grade class. All she told my mom was that the teacher unexpectedly died. Of course, my mom felt so bad for this woman and her students, so she was explaining to one of her friends that also substitutes with her about the situation. It turns out this teacher didn't die of natural causes, she actually killed herself and they weren't telling very many people that fact.
So as my mom was explaining this to my family, my dad asked, "Well how does no one know or how do they know it won't get leaked? I mean, won't people see it on the news?" I immediately chimed in and explained how the media don't typically cover suicides unless it happens in a public place--which in this case it wasn't public. I also told him that given the circumstances, first graders are so young; they don't need to know that their teacher killed herself. That's a very emotional subject to bring down on kids.
Like I said, the topic of this blog isn't very happy, but the fact that I applied class to my conversation assured me that college is more than all-nighters, writing papers, and taking tests. It's about applying what you've learned to your own life!
Until next time,
Tory
Friday, November 2, 2012
Talks...On STAR WARS!
I know this is all over the news, but to me, and many others, Disney buying Lucasfilm is a BIG deal! I'm not the biggest Star Wars fan that has read all the books and watched the movies numerous times; however, I do like to step into my inner-nerd and Yoda talk like. I grew up watching Episodes IV, V, and VI and going to the midnight premiers of the first three Episodes with my dad. It's something me and my dad can relate to in the midst of our rock-hard heads clashing together. We're too alike for our own good. Now that Disney bought Lucasfilm for the ridiculous price of $4 billion, the Star Wars franchise will for sure move forward! Even though no one has a clue what the next three Episodes will be about, it will definitely be fun for my dad and I to get back on the Star Wars train. I can't wait for there to be a Star Wars marathon we can watch together before we go and see these new films.
I like what George Lucas said about Disney and the buy-out in an article from USA Today, "For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next. It's now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers." Yes, Disney is going to make an ass-load of money off of this buy, and I know that's the main reason they chased after Lucasfilm, but to me this is is a win-win situation. Disney gets bigger with more money, but those Star Wars fans get more Episodes to enjoy!
All of this ties into our discussions about conglomerates. Disney is a major conglomerate in our culture today. Here's a list of all the companies Disney owns, coming out of an article from the Columbia Journalism Review:
I don't know about you, but that's a LOT of money, contracts, lawyers, workers, assets....you name it! That's just A LOT! I am almost overwhelmed with all of this, but I guess that is the name of the game. Stay tuned and see which company Disney either creates or buys out!
Until next time...
P.S: Here are the links to the articles I referenced!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/10/30/disney-star-wars-lucasfilm/1669739/
http://www.cjr.org/resources/?c=disney
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
That Weight We Can't Get Off of Our Shoulders....or Tummies
"Lose 30 pounds in 30 days!" "Drop the pounds without any exercise!!"
Unfortunately, these are the types of things we see in our society every day; shortcuts to weight-loss. The simple fact of the matter is that all of these "miracle diets" don't work for long. The companies behind all of these weight-loss secrets are just in business to make money, and the United States is a prime market for them. According to the American Heart Association, "among Americans age 20 and older, 149.3 million are overweight or obese (BMI of 25.0 and higher)." This is an epidemic that has grown tremendously over the years, and it frightens me. These people are really struggling with their health and all these companies want to do is make money off of them, when their products are most likely to not work. I know this because I've dealt with my own weight issues. I've tried plenty of those highly marketed diets, supplemental pills, protein shakes, meal replacement products, and more. Never have I had results with these things. It never occurred to me that I was yo-yo dieting. I would loose a couple of pounds, then gain it back..plus more! And then the cycle would repeat; over and over again.
It was when I went to my doctor in August of 2010 to get a few blood tests that my eyes were opened. (And even then it took over a year to get it all together!) I got the news no one wants to hear. I was 17, and the doctor had come to tell me that my LDL (bad) Cholesterol was very high, and that my HDL (good) Cholesterol was too low. That's not anything a teenager wants to hear! I knew that the path I was going down was not a good one. I had to change what I was doing. But I knew it had to be more complicated then 30 minutes of cardio 3-4 times a week and tracking what I ate. So the next round of doing weight-loss the wrong way came along.
That year I gained about 30 pounds, especially within the last few months of 2011. I hit the Freshman 30...and I was even living at home with good food to choose from! The time was now. My health and well-being were counting on me to get in shape and get that weight off. So I decided to start doing what my doctor told me to do over a year ago. I got a gym membership and started working out. It took me a while to start seeing results...about 4 months to be exact. I was getting really frustrated that I wasn't loosing any weight and was about to quit. But then I realized that I couldn't quit another time; especially the time I was trying to lose the way my own doctor recommended! July 2012 is when I finally lost the first couple of pounds. It was such a victory, even though it was small, to know that I was that much closer to being a more healthy me!
Fast-forward to September 2012. I am currently down 18 pounds, and it's only getting easier and easier. I am such a gym rat and a health freak! I keep track of every single thing I put in my mouth and am at the gym 4-5 times a week for about 45 minutes. I'm not following the latest and greatest diet, I'm changing my lifestyle and how I do things. Diets are just temporary, and so is the weight loss that comes with it. It's realizing that in order to stay healthy and live longer, you have to change your attitude, and your waistline will go right with it!
December 2011 to September 2012; living proof that a lifestyle change is all you need to get that weight off your shoulders...and your tummy!
Unfortunately, these are the types of things we see in our society every day; shortcuts to weight-loss. The simple fact of the matter is that all of these "miracle diets" don't work for long. The companies behind all of these weight-loss secrets are just in business to make money, and the United States is a prime market for them. According to the American Heart Association, "among Americans age 20 and older, 149.3 million are overweight or obese (BMI of 25.0 and higher)." This is an epidemic that has grown tremendously over the years, and it frightens me. These people are really struggling with their health and all these companies want to do is make money off of them, when their products are most likely to not work. I know this because I've dealt with my own weight issues. I've tried plenty of those highly marketed diets, supplemental pills, protein shakes, meal replacement products, and more. Never have I had results with these things. It never occurred to me that I was yo-yo dieting. I would loose a couple of pounds, then gain it back..plus more! And then the cycle would repeat; over and over again.
It was when I went to my doctor in August of 2010 to get a few blood tests that my eyes were opened. (And even then it took over a year to get it all together!) I got the news no one wants to hear. I was 17, and the doctor had come to tell me that my LDL (bad) Cholesterol was very high, and that my HDL (good) Cholesterol was too low. That's not anything a teenager wants to hear! I knew that the path I was going down was not a good one. I had to change what I was doing. But I knew it had to be more complicated then 30 minutes of cardio 3-4 times a week and tracking what I ate. So the next round of doing weight-loss the wrong way came along.
That year I gained about 30 pounds, especially within the last few months of 2011. I hit the Freshman 30...and I was even living at home with good food to choose from! The time was now. My health and well-being were counting on me to get in shape and get that weight off. So I decided to start doing what my doctor told me to do over a year ago. I got a gym membership and started working out. It took me a while to start seeing results...about 4 months to be exact. I was getting really frustrated that I wasn't loosing any weight and was about to quit. But then I realized that I couldn't quit another time; especially the time I was trying to lose the way my own doctor recommended! July 2012 is when I finally lost the first couple of pounds. It was such a victory, even though it was small, to know that I was that much closer to being a more healthy me!
Fast-forward to September 2012. I am currently down 18 pounds, and it's only getting easier and easier. I am such a gym rat and a health freak! I keep track of every single thing I put in my mouth and am at the gym 4-5 times a week for about 45 minutes. I'm not following the latest and greatest diet, I'm changing my lifestyle and how I do things. Diets are just temporary, and so is the weight loss that comes with it. It's realizing that in order to stay healthy and live longer, you have to change your attitude, and your waistline will go right with it!
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