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Tucking Myself In

Truth be told, I haven’t been getting a lot of sleep. So I’m writing my blog tonight, turning in nice and early and planning to get up when my body says it’s time to get up. For the past few weeks, I’ve been caught up in the pre-holiday frenzy and I’ve been staying up late. For most people, this isn’t a big problem. But when you’re an early riser, like a 4:30 or 5:00 A.M. early riser, going to bed after midnight is problematic.

So tonight, I plan to engage in a little self care. I’m finishing up my blog. I’m taking a bath. I’m putting on the comfy jammies. I’m drinking a glass of warm milk. I’m telling myself a story. And then I’m tucking myself in for the night.

Because you know what? I’m finding that just like a small child, when I don’t get enough sleep, I get cranky. I get irritable. I find myself inching ever closer to a total meltdown in the candy aisle at Target. So before I throw a complete and utter tantrum and get taken out of the store and told to wait in the car, I’m taking a little preemptive action and going the heck to bed. I choose not to be another one of those drivers on the California highways who is perpetually running late, engaging in complex multitasking, frustrated, angry and focusing on everything but the road. I’m setting my intention tonight and catching some ZZZzzzs so I feel inclined to make a space and wave for other cars to merge in front of me while I sing Christmas carols at the top of my lungs.

I’m making space for an awesome day tomorrow, by simply putting things aside and crashing tonight. *YAAAaaaawn* I’ll let you know how it goes.

Nighty night.

Love,

The Fat Chick

By the way, interested in getting a little extra help as you plan your fitness efforts for the new year? Why not join one of the special fitness groups on the Fit Fatties Forum? Ragen and I are creating four special groups to help you get and stay fit. See you there!

the HAES® files: Roman Coliseum—Children’s Edition

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Roll Models

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It’s hard to say whether kids today have an easier time or a harder time with the whole size acceptance thing. On the one hand, kids have access to a much more diverse community now. When many of us who are currently adults were children, our community was pretty small. We were influenced by television and magazines and movies of course. But most of our role models and experience came from a much smaller group comprised of our friends, the kids at school, our church or community group, the folks in the neighborhood and our families. Via social media, kids nowadays have access to a much wider group of people. There are social groups focused on size acceptance on the internet. And some of their heroes like Adele and Lady Gaga have spoken out directly about the notion that kids can love their bodies just as they are. Thus many kids are exposed at a much earlier age to the concept of size acceptance.

On the other hand, that social media is a double-edged sword. Kids are constantly communicating and critiquing one another. Mistakes can be immortalized via words, photos and videos and be part of an child’s online presence for life. If a group of kids should decide to pick on another kid, they can do so relentlessly, 24 hours per day and 7 days per week. They can find and follow their target even if they choose to move away. Sometimes this cyber bullying can have disastrous consequences.

And there’s also the question of kids being sexualized at a much younger age. Kids as young as 3 are paraded around in beauty contests. Companies sell padded bikini tops to preteens. Child actors and particularly singers are presented as sex objects well before the age of consent. Kids are under more pressure than ever to conform to an extremely thin, sexually desirable, designer clad, hot number at younger and younger ages. And yes, obesity and childhood type 2 diabetes have gone up in the past 20 years (although there is ample evidence that this is now leveling off or even decreasing). But we also have a situation where hospitalizations for eating disorders for kids under the age of 12 is up 119%. That’s kids UNDER 12 here folks.

So what are we to do? How can we help? Well one thing we can do is all go sign the petition created by Ragen Chastain and I to keep kids off the next season of The Biggest Loser. The last thing kids need is to see other kids like themselves battered, bullied and abused on national television just because of the size of their bodies. If you haven’t signed the petition, hop on over there and do it. I’ll wait…

But the other thing I think we grownups can do, especially when we are grownups of size is to be good roll models for our kids. Sure we can also be good role models. We can choose not to disparage other people for their size and we can speak out when we see it happening. But I’m also talking about rolls of flesh–our bumps, and love handles and folds of skin. We can wear those body “imperfections” with pride. We can wear tank tops. We can choose not to speak negatively about our bodies, especially in front of kids. By walking around, comfortable in our own skin, we send kids the message that bodies are wonderful and beautiful and diverse–and that there are lots and lots of other things we can choose to be neurotic about other than how we look in our skinny jeans. I’m not talking about lecturing to kids. We all know how well that goes. I’m talking about simply modeling a level of casual comfort over the whole body thing. Because so often while kids are busy not doing what we tell them, they are watching intently to see what we do.

So what about you? Are there ways that you can be a roll model for today’s youth? I’d love to hear what YOU think!

Love,

The Fat Chick

Stuff that Weighs More than Me: The Rockettes

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Over the years, more than 3,000 women have smiled, danced and high-kicked as one of the Radio City Rockettes. Founded in 1925 as the Missouri Rockets, the dance troupe was formed under the leadership of Russell Markert. In 1932, the Rockets ventured forth from their St. Louis home and performed at the Radio City Music Hall to great acclaim. They were renamed the Radio City Rockettes and they have been performing under that moniker ever since.

The Rockettes have a grueling schedule–logging 6 hours of rehearsal per day to prepare the 8 numbers for their annual Christmas Spectacular. Eight numbers mean eight incredibly fast costume changes–sometimes as little as 78 seconds! And there are A LOT of costumes. Eight costumes per day times four performances per day times 36 Rockettes means a whole LOT of laundry.

In terms of personal stats for each of the Rockettes we know a few things. Each of the Rockettes must be between 5ft., 5.5 inches and 5 ft., 10.5 inches tall and must be able to kick over their heads. None of them appear to weigh very much, but in the aggregate, I think it’s a different story. Here’s the stats:

Height: 5ft., 5.5 inches to 5ft., 10.5 inches.

Number of Rockettes: 36

Conservatively estimated weight per Rockette: 100 lbs.

Weight of the “Radio City Rockettes”: Approximately 3600 lbs.

Conclusion: The Radio City Rockettes weigh more than me.

By the way, ever wonder why all the Rockettes appear to be exactly the same height when there is an allowable height difference of five inches? It’s an illusion! The tallest dancers are in the middle with the shortest dancers on the end. Thus from the audience’s perspective the dancers all appear to be the same height!

Body Intelligence or Body War?

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This week, I’ve come across two very different approaches to young bodies in the media. One is the announcement (and subsequent activism response by the amazing Golda Poretsky) that the television show “The Biggest Loser” will now include teenagers and the other is a new study about the effectiveness of “intuitive eating” among young adults.

It’s hard to imagine a stronger dichotomy than these two approaches. On the one hand, we have “The Biggest Loser” which teaches us that our body is the enemy. No punishment is too harsh. No humiliation is too great. We must deprive ourselves of delicious foods. We must exercise until we vomit or pass out. We must make our bodies thin at all costs.

The study outlines a different approach (at least to eating) by documenting the outcomes of young adults who practice intuitive eating. The study defines intuitive eating by the young people “trusting their bodies to tell them what to eat” and “stopping eating once they felt full”. Based on the Biggest Loser story, one would imagine that those who trust their bodies and allow hunger to guide their eating would be larger than those who focus on controlling body weight. However, the study seems to indicate the opposite. Those who trusted their bodies not only had fewer signs of disordered eating, but also had a lower average BMI.

Now, it’s important to remember that this is only one study. But we’ve yet to unearth a single study that indicates that deprivation and self hatred is an effective way to maintain a lower body weight or BMI over the long term (more than 5 years). So what should we be teaching our kids, to love their bodies or make war on them?

While it seems obvious to me that teaching kids to trust the innate intelligence of their bodies is the better choice, I think it’s important to recognize this is not the easier choice. I think peer pressure plays an enormous role both for children and their parents. I think many of us have faced discrimination and outright cruelty from others because of the size of our bodies. We don’t wish that pain on our worst enemies. So it’s not surprising that we don’t want it for our children. And the prevailing wisdom of the women at the beauty shop, Aunt Thelma and even our pediatricians often involves hushed side conversations about what the parent is going to “do” about a child’s weight. It seems clear to me that peer pressure bends us towards putting our kids on diets, obsessing over their BMIs, forcing them to exercise, sending them to fat camps and yes, even allowing them to be on “The Biggest Loser”, even though there is so, SO much evidence out there showing that this approach doesn’t work. But at some point, we have to ask ourselves, “Is peer pressure a smart way to decide what’s best for kids? Is bowing to peer pressure in this case going to make our kids happier or healthier in the long run?” I think we need to ask the proverbial question, “If our friends tell us to run off a cliff, will we do it?” Or will we put peer pressure aside, assure the ladies at the beauty shop and Aunt Thelma and even our pediatrician that we are doing what science indicates is best for our kids, and teach them that their bodies are wondrous and intelligent and trustworthy?

I’d love to hear what you think.

Love,

The Fat Chick

Exercising Through the Long Night

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The long winter nights can really take a toll on your fitness routine. For many of us, it’s already dark when we begin our commute home from work. Coming home to a dark house, we yearn for the comforts of a blankie, the couch, some soup and the remote. And if you’re an early morning exerciser, you may find it dark out when you get up as well as when you drive home from work. It’s no wonder the bears hibernate at this time of year.

But this is also a time of year when exercise is especially important. Lack of sunlight can cause depression and lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). And for many of us, the reduced access to sunlight leads to a drop in Vitamin D levels which can lead to fatigue and depression. And since exercise is a great way to battle depression, it’s especially helpful when the nights are long.

So naturally, I have a few tips to help keep your workout on track even on the shortest days of the year:

1. BE SAFE: If your normal daytime workout is now happening in the dark, you may need to take extra precautions. If you exercise outdoors, wear reflective clothing so others can see you. It’s especially important to have a charged cell phone with you at all times. (Lots of cell phones have neat-o apps or music programs available that can track your workout miles and pace or offer special motivational talk or songs.) Even if you exercise inside, you may be traveling to and from the gym in the dark. Be aware of your surroundings, walk in with a buddy if you can, and it’s always a good idea to have some self defense training.

2. EXERCISE IN SHORTER BURSTS: One of the best ways to take advantage of the limited light is to squeeze in a lunchtime workout. But it’s pretty tough to get in whole hour or even 45 minutes of exercise and still manage to eat some lunch. Lunch time is great for a 15-minute burst of more intense exercise. Put on your tennis shoes and go for a power walk. You can also potentially get in even shorter (5-10 minute bursts) during your morning or afternoon coffee breaks. New research is coming on line that indicates shorter more intense bursts of exercise may actually be better for your health than long and slow workouts. PLUS as an added bonus, short winter workouts are less likely to leave you hot and sweaty.

3. TAKE VITAMIN D: As I mentioned earlier, the shorter days mean that many of us get less access to sunlight (a primary source of Vitamin D for most people). Vitamin D deficiency can make you feel depressed and fatigued which can affect your exercise motivation. Now might be a great time to talk to your doctor or pharmacist and explore whether a Vitamin D supplement is for you.

4. DRESS FOR SUCCESS: Make sure if you’re exercising outside in the winter that you are properly dressed. That means wear layers that you can put on or take off as you feel too hot or too cold. Make sure to protect hands, ears and other areas sensitive to cold. And it can be especially important to wear sweat-wicking, technical fabrics in the winter, as sweat soaked cotton can leave you dangerously chilled at the end of your workout.

5. EXERCISE IN THE MORNING: I know that all you night owls are groaning right now. But after we set the clocks back in the fall, you tend to have more access to daylight in the hours before work than after. Now’s a great time to get up just a little earlier in the morning, and get in a short burst of exercise right before you head off to work. If you have a long commute, you could leave for work a half-hour earlier and get in a quick walk or jog somewhere near the office.

6. CHANGE AT WORK: If you are a night exerciser, it can be especially challenging to get in a workout when it’s dark after work. Once you get home and start checking your email and spend a few minutes/hours on facebook, getting changed for a workout can seem like a monumental task. And let’s face it, exercise clothes are just as comfy for sitting on the couch and watching some tube as they are for exercising. One strategy that seems to work for a lot of people is to change into your workout clothes before leaving work and exercise before arriving at home.

These are just a few strategies to help keep you enjoying the lifelong benefits of exercise even when the days are super short. And don’t forget the main strategy: have fun!

Love,

The Fat Chick

Cranky Cookies

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As you can see, my awesome husband and I went down and used the church kitchen and made a few cookies yesterday. And by a few, I mean about 60 dozen. Every year, we make cookies to give away as Christmas gifts. It’s a holiday tradition. Another holiday tradition is to start out having a really great time making cookies and end up really annoyed at one another. Best I can figure, the main problem is that we end up getting tired and cranky. And despite my best efforts to end our baking session sooner this year, and to be the one to say “enough is enough.” I still didn’t say “enough is enough” quite soon enough. Hence we had some very cranky Christmas elves in the holiday baking tree.

We can look at our kids and figure out that they just need to go down for a nap. We understand that no appeal to logic or pleading for better behavior will work. That kid just needs to go night-night for half an hour or it’s GAME OVER. Why is it that we can’t figure this out for ourselves? I know my hubby and I get cranky when we are both hungry. That’s why we instituted the sandwich rule. But we haven’t figured out a “nap” rule or a “time out” rule for ourselves. I have some friends that have asked me point blank to please be the adult in their lives to tell them, as it says in the book, to go the f#@k to sleep! I haven’t agreed to do that yet, because I can’t even figure it out for my ownself.

I want nap time back, like in kindergarten. I want to eat a cookie and drink a chocolate milk and then lie on a mat in a darkened room and have 30 minutes of quiet time while my teacher contemplates her impending nervous breakdown or next career move (to an easier job like CIA agent). I want to lie there in a quiet room and just listen to myself breathe. Can we have nap time again?

I know I can actually do this myself. I know that I can sit quietly in a chair and meditate. I know that I can take a few minutes to do a progressive relaxation. But honestly, who the heck remembers to do that? Not me! What about you readers out there–do you have any advice? Or can you meet me every day about 2:00 PM with a carton of chocolate milk, a cookie and a blankie and tell me to lie down on my mat for an hour? Please? Thanks!

Love,

The Fat Chick

The Holiday Magnifying Glass

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The holidays are here with all the extra activities and fun and stress. Just to be clear, I love the holidays! I love the decorations and the visiting and the food and the music. But I think the holidays also bring special challenges like the one I call the holiday magnifying glass.

I coined this term because it seems to me that everything is just a little bit bigger during the holidays. Schedules are fuller, bills are bigger, and emotions run higher. Everything is just a little more intense. I find my highs are higher. I can say I’ve experienced true holiday joy (both with and without eggnog). Unfortunately joy is not the only emotion I find heightened during the holiday season. I also tend to experience more fear, more stress, more anxiety and more anger. And I don’t think I’m alone.

Los Angeles is a pressure cooker the whole year through. But it seems this sense of increased holiday intensity is especially apparent here in La La Land. The mean people are meaner. People will risk their lives (and yours) to cut you off on the freeway, to steal the parking spot near the store all to get somewhere fifteen seconds sooner. The nice people are also nicer. I’ve had people make room for me to enter the road from the gas station, store keepers be extra nice, gentlemen holding doors.

It seems like the holidays bring more of just about everything. I think a lot of it has to do with rampant expectations. Johnny has to have exactly the same number of presents as Sue. The house has to look perfect. I have to make my special cranberry chutney and 18 kinds of cookies and roast a whole ox for the next holiday feast. I’ve talked a lot about managing holiday expectations on this blog. I’ve talked about it a lot because I think it’s important, and also because it’s something that I personally find extremely challenging. But sometimes when you’re in the moment under the holiday magnifying glass, when you’re in the middle of opening gifts or hosting the holiday feast and it’s too late to not make the 3 kinds of homemade latkes or simplify your holiday plan you need an emergency technique to get you through.

Here it is. It’s not exactly earth-shaking rocket science, but it seems to work. When everything is magnified, when it all seems way too big, just take three steps back. When you step back and give yourself a little perspective, everything seems a little smaller. Take a few steps away. Go sit in the bathroom and take a few deep breaths. Step back from the holiday table and stop obsessing about the way the napkins are folded. Don’t just look at the car in front of you, take in the entire road. Step back from the temper tantrums happening with the kids and realize that this too will pass (probably in much less time than you think.) When in doubt, literally and figuratively take three steps back and three deep breaths. And give yourself the holiday gift of just a little perspective.

Love,

The Fat Chick

Stuff that Weighs More than Me: World’s Biggest Hanukkah Menorah

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Just in time for Hanukkah, I give you, the world’s largest Menorah. This amazing edifice stands at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, by Central Park, between the Plaza and the Pierre Hotels in New York City. This year, the first Hannukah “candle” will be lit at 5:30 PM on Saturday, December 8. All the candles will be lit on the evening of December 15. The Menorah will be lighted nightly with genuine oil lamps. Given the enormous size of the structure, the lamps will be lit using a Con Edison Cherry Picker and two lifts.

This amazing Menorah, certified by Guinness Worlds Records as the world’s largest, was designed based on a drawing inspired by the original Menorah at the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. The Menorah will be the site of a number of celebrations in the coming week including a parade on December 13 and a celebration featuring music, dance, free hot “Latkes” and “Hanukkah Gelt” for the children. YUM!

Here’s the stats:

Color: gold

Material: steel

Height: 32 feet

Weight: Over 4,000 lbs.

Conclusion: even after an evening of free hot Latkes, the worlds largest Chaukah Menorah still weighs more than me.

Happy Hanukkah!

Love,
The Fat Chick

Thursday Theater: Even Monkeys Understand Fairness

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This video is wonderful for a few reasons. In the first place it is really funny. And in the second place, it reminds us that even monkeys understand about fairness. When monkeys do equal work, monkeys expect equal pay.

Yet, in the world of humans, we have an ever growing disparity in worker pay. At my last full-time job, I was discouraged to learn that my immediate supervisor was earning nearly ten times my pay. And I was also earning less than half as much as the male producer in the office next door. Granted, my supervisor was higher on the totem pole than me, but ten TIMES higher? I don’t think so. And I have to admit, when I found out that others doing the same job as me were getting paid twice as much, well I started lobbing more than cucumbers out of my cage.

This is why I get so boiling mad when I see that fat people on average earn less than their thinner counterparts. Even when the fat person is performing the job as well or better than their thinner counterparts, the bigger person typically brings home a smaller paycheck. According to The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, in 2004 obese men earned $4,772 less than thin men, and obese women earned an astonishing $8,666 less than thin women. That’s a lot of grapes, my friends.

This is one of the reasons I think it is so important to be aware of and fight against size discrimination. We’re talking not only about somebody calling us names and making mooing sounds when we are trying to work out in the gym. (Although those things are truly horrible as well.) but also about our ability to make a living. $8,000 can easily mean the difference between being above or below the poverty line. $8,000 can pay for better health care or a college class or special job training. $8,000 could pay for a used car to get us to a better job.

Let’s continue to fight for the rights of people of all sizes to receive a fair wage. Let’s share the message far and wide that equal pay for equal work is just common sense. It’s a pretty simple idea. Heck, even a monkey can grasp it.

Love,
The Fat Chick