Thu 11 Sep 2008
I found out through the grapevine the other day that a bunch of my coworkers are waiting for me to get fat. That’s right. Gym Trainee said these people don’t realize that I didn’t make physical fitness a priority just to bag a man, I did it for longevity. (I mostly did it for vanity, but I didn’t correct her.) While it is true that personal health is more important to me than attractiveness, my health is usually not in jeopardy so I have the luxury of not having to think about it much. Hence, the goal had always been to look cute in a particular outfit or dress or…bikini. =P The way I see it, the awesome blood pressure, low bpm, ability to do stuff without being winded, all the other health benefits are just side effects of working out and looking good. Who could fault that? Altho…if I’m gonna get sucked into or apart at a black hole in the very near future, maybe it wouldn’t matter cuz I couldn’t even leave behind a hot corpse.
Anyway, I asked whether people are expecting Mr. W to get fat, too. And I was surprised to learn that indeed, some people ARE happily awaiting him to meet that fate. Why? Cuz apparently that’s just what married people DO. They get fat together. “What makes them think we’re just all of a sudden gonna get fat when we’ve worked out together before we were engaged, during the engagement, and even now?” Mr. W asked absurdly. On some level I think the people who are expecting and hoping for this need to. Cuz it makes them feel guilty every lunchtime Gym Trainee and I pass by them on our way to the gym and they’re on their way to Jack in the Crack or MickeyD’s. Cuz watching me maintain my figure and watching Gym Trainee lose fat, tone up, and get hugely improved blood test results at the doctor’s make them feel like they need to get off THEIR lazy butts, too. But they don’t want to, so if they see us fail, they can say, “See, they worked out that hard for that long, and see where it got them? Nowhere. I’m glad I stayed put and just enjoyed my food.”
This morning while sitting around the break room table at the hospital one of the ultrasound techs looked at me and said in a smart ass tone “WHY are you eating THAT?” I had my 70 calorie Activia yogurt and about a cup of dry Special K cereal. I told her because I tried to eat healthy and I liked to save the majority of my daily calories for ONE meal, which is usually supper. There were 3 other people at the table, one who weighs about 300+ lbs, a guy who weighs probably 200, and the ultrasound tech who claims she is a size 10, but looks to be more of a 12-14. I just kept munching on my HEALTHIER than their breakfast and glad I was…until it was time to order lunch and they got MEXICAN while I ate my deli chicken and zero calorie Jello. ugh…sometimes this stuff is HARD. But no married people do not always gain weight, especially if they maintain their same lifestyle as engaged.
M actually lost weight after we got married cuz he was eating square meals rather than fast food and other random stuff all the time.
Many people lose weight because they are getting married. Such persons will probably gain weight after they are done with the wedding.
The other thing to consider is that with ALL people, your metabolism changes with age which leads to weight gain. This has nothing to do with “letting yourself go,” but more to do with the simple process of aging. Now, there are many people out there who are very aware of this and make a concerted effort to eat less/healthier as they get older. Sadly, these folks are in the minority.
Finally, as I experience today, it’s SO MUCH easier to eat poorly. I had a business lunch appointment so I’m sure I had 1000 calories there. We were out and about after work so we went to Outback for dinner (another 1500 calories consumed here). I haven’t been to Outback in AGES, but it was obvious that their food was extremely salty. Even the baked potato (sans toppings) was salty; I think they soak all of their vegetables in brine prior to cooking.
Now the man wants to go to Starbucks for a coffee run. 500 more calories here…
I may end up a size 14 soon!
Flat Coke – I get that a lot, too. They try to knock your lifestyle, criticizing you for being “too thin” cuz it makes them feel less fat if something’s wrong with US for not looking like them. I get “What’re you tryin to do, disappear?!” and the other day “Why’re you going to the gym? You’re MARRIED now, you can relax and gain weight now.” The latter was said by a coworker friend, so I’m sure it was mostly in jest. Eating well and being healthy has benefits beyond just looks, so good for you.
anny – I think that’s happening to me, too. Cuz Mr. W is force-feeding me breakfast regularly, and he packs a big fruity lunch for me by the time I come downstairs in the mornings. (By “fruity” I mean that it consists of a variety of fruits, not that it’s gay of him to make his wife lunch.)
Vicky – that’s what I was thinking. If I were fat all the way up to the engagement, and then went on some crash diet and lost weight right before the wedding, then I obviously just lost weight for the wedding day. But come on, I’ve had this gym membership since 1995! What makes them think I’m gonna do a mental 180 and pack a whole bunch of weight on? Looking back, the only time I’d ever wished I were heavier was when I was 6 and weighed in at 44 lbs.
You’ll be fine, you’ve got some room to spare after your recent weight/fat loss. And there are healthier alternatives to order on every menu.
Many thanks for the data on this blog, it is informational in the somber periodof weightloss.