Stress

I was going to discuss the environment and how it may play a part in our physical health, but I am still doing some research on that subject. I don't want to misrepresent any  issues. So I decided to do this next segment on Stress. Something I think we are all too familiar with.

Are you stressed? How can something like stress affect us physically? Emotionally? What causes us stress and why do we allow it to take over our lives? Is stress contagious? How do we react to stress?

Here is what I have seen. I know people, that take stress and invite it in. They either "need" or feed off of the stress in their lives or perhaps they don't know how to deal with the stress; whatever the case may be they are stressed. Work related, family related, school related, it does not matter where it comes from, it's just there. Now of all of those people in my life who are know are inherently stressed, all of them have a health issues. I'm not talking cold or flu susceptible, I am talking, cancer, Chron's, auto-immune type issues. Big stuff. I am such an advocate for stress reduction in a person's life. perhaps I am just lucky I really ever let myself feel stress. Oh I used to, then one day I made a conscious decision not to "sweat the small stuff" as it were; (my kids would probably argue this point, as they are a daily cause of stress but being a parent comes with some stress, how you deal with it is the story here). I needed to change my way of thinking because I did not like how it made me feel. Tired, achy, lethargic, depressed, anxious; do any of those words invoke a warm fuzzy feeling? No! I eat more when I am stressed, I exercise/do less, I retreat my my "own little corner of my own little world", I am just not happy. I also know that when those folks who are stressed are around other people, I can see a change take place. Stress can be "contagious". There is no doubt in my mind that if one person is unhappy enough, then many around that one person become unhappy. I have seen it in action. I try very hard not to fall into that trap, that web of stress and discontent. Knowledge is power people. If unhappiness can spread than imagine what happiness can do! I will add here that I do try and help those who are stressed. I keep my voice and demeanor calm, I listen and talk to them, I try to get them to relax just a little, take a breath and get through it. Sometimes it works....sometimes it does not. Either way, I always try.

I have to tell you, I LIKE to be happy. In my mind, it takes way more energy to be unhappy and miserable and blue than it does to be happy and genuine and content. I am not saying "bounce off the wall", "always on the go" happy, just happy; at peace with oneself; genuinely in a good mood. Ask anyone that knows me.... I am a content low-maintenance person. I guess even if it's only in my own mind, it still works for me.

Everyone reacts differently to stress. I eat, others cry, some crash and burn, still others drink or smoke or abuse; any way you look at it, I am not sure of anyone who feels that stress is a positive force in their life. I do know a person or two who use what they think is stress to push themselves harder; to me if the action is to push yourself, and that may seem like a positive, stop and think about what it is really doing to your physical being. How does pushing yourself affect you emotionally? How does pushing yourself affect your family or personal or work life? I think we still get to the same conclusion, no good can come from stress or from pushing yourself because of stress.

Here's my homework for you....Find your happy! When something or someone puts you in over-load mode, stop and think about how significant it REALLY is. Is this moment in time, this miserable little piece of life going to change and shape your world forever? If the answer is "no", then get rid of it quick! Take ownership if you need to, do what you have to do and toss it away. Don't let it come back, don't allow it the opportunity to take control of your life. You should be in control, not your negative emotions or negative people or negative thoughts! If your answer is "yes", then get help! Don't take the weight of the world on your shoulders alone! Do your best to show others happiness, to feel the love. What a world this would be if we all could just relax a little. Relax and think about that for a little while; I guarantee you will feel so much better even if just for a moment.....Peace, love and happiness friends!

The Hormonal Hassle

These days people are plagued with various forms of hormonal issues. For me, it's been gradually becoming more worrisome as I age. With my first pregnancy I gained 85 pounds. At her birth my hormones decided to take a Thelma and Louise trip throughout my body. After her birth I went about 4 months without my menstrual cycle. Believe me, at the time I was not complaining but little did I know it was the start of my hormonal hassle. A little over the 4 month mark, I got my cycle, or a close simile anyway. Then I had that cycle everyday for the 4 months. This became the norm; four month off, four months on. By the time I really wanted to visit these issues it was three years later. At an gynecologist visit we decided it as time to have a test done to see what was going on. During the amenorrhea, he felt I was not ovulating and that is why there was no cycle. During the cycle he thought my body was over compensating for the lack there of. So we scheduled a test on a new machine he just got in the office. The day of the test and the standard pregnancy test took place to make sure I was not pregnant, and lo and behold during a 4-month period absence, I was indeed pregnant. It's a strange question when your ob/gyn. says to you, "how did that happen?" My quick response, "well doc it all started with the birds and the bees...."
The test was never done and with the birth of my son came some "normalcy." Cycle returned, I had little to no weight game with his pregnancy, and I felt good.
How does all this play into why I am over weight? Here's my train of thought.My hormonal imbalance never really went back to normal; the new normal, after the birth of my son was as normal as I was going to get, 30 days, one week. First two days real heavy, after that normal flow. But you see this was not MY norm. My body never recovered from the significant weight gain from the first pregnancy. It has been 10 years since my son was born and I am  not an ounce heavier or lighter. I ate okay, got a work out with the kids being so little, and joined Weight Watchers. So my okay eating habits became good eating habits. But nothing changed, and I got frustrated. Within years I even saw a family illness pattern developing. Darn genetics. My then 25 year old sister was diagnosed with colon cancer; yes at 25 years old. Through her bout (and she is still in treatment), my mom developed a brain tumor and lost her battle with that 6 months later. My older sister was diagnosed diabetic and I was diagnosed diabetic a year or so later. Now even my other sister has been diagnosed diabetic (the 40's are rough on us sisters). Yes I am one of four sisters all together. That colon cancer, brain tumor, diabetic rampage may be all related. The tumor throws me off a little in the sense that we are really not sure what caused it, all I know is it was probably developing for years before we ever saw any of the symptoms appear. Same for my sisters colon cancer. My daughter had juvenile arthritis since the age of 1 and is now, as a teenager, heading into more of a fibromyalgia trend and I have a niece diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Are these genetic issues or could they be more environmental in nature? How does a twenty-five year old get a disease that is most common in people over the age of fifty? Could it be the food we eat? The air we breath? The water we drink?I know there are studies out there but those studies are not related to my situation at all. I need to seek my answers, for me and my family. That's what I aim to find out. How do a person's hormones play out to environmental issues? Why are there more incidences of autism, arthritis, diabetes, birth defects then ever before? I am willing look for answers! Next up, What is the environment up to and how can we fix it? Until then, peace love and happiness my friends!

Why I'm here

I'm here blogging because of my weight. I am here for myself, for my kids and for all of you struggling with a weight issue. The conversation that appears on my profile with my doctor actually happened. And I am pissed off about it! Surgery! How did I get here?
Here's what I want you to know about me: I do not over eat; I get what I like to call "everyday exercise", meaning I am not a couch potato (I'll explain that more later); I was an active athlete from the age of 9 to the age of 29 (when I had my first child); I have NEVER eaten a whole box or carton in one sitting of anything; I'm beautiful when I smile; I have never been "thin", I was always referred to as "big-boned"; I  never eat past 7pm; I do not drink soda or drink alcohol and I do not smoke.
So why am I fat? I have my theories and, lucky you, I am going to share them in case there are many more of "me" out there! I feel my weight is a hormonal imbalance impacted by environmental factors (no emphasis on mental please). Do I eat right 100 percent of the time? - NO. Do I eat too quick and not give my food time to digest first - YES. Are there reasons why within my control that I am not 130 pounds? Hell Yes! But they alone could not, would not, in my mind cause me to be over twice my "suggested weight".
Okay - I need to back track a little; I quoted some words here - "Thin" - my definition of thin is not the same definition as say the modeling industry. I do not want to be skin and bones, nor do I want that for my kids. I feel that those overly thin women have the same issues with food that I do. None! It's environmental for them too! (I am not versed in that subject, this is an opinion and not based on any fact or conversations I have ever had.) "Big-boned" - what healthy weight girls who are not skin and bones are called. "Suggested weight" - those pesky charts that tell you your ideal weight based on height. In my opinion those charts are too old to be useful. Women are not stay at home housewives any more. Women can vote people! Women can run mega-corporations and be a political force to reckon with! Women do not need to be 130 pounds at 5'3" tall. At least, I know I will never be that. I am shooting for 170 lbs; still considered overweight by all doctors for my 5'3" frame but when I felt my best, my college years! Healthy, happy and fit! I long to be there again!
Okay - now you know why I am blogging and what my goal is. p.s. My goal weight would be a 155 lb weight loss for me; if you do the math you will figure out how much I currently weigh. I am not going to give that number any satisfaction by jotting it down here! My next post will be more about why I feel hormones and the environment are more the cause then I am. Am I at fault, yes but only partially! Once I get to the truth and the science behind it, I am hopeful I can beat it! Are ya with me? I hope so! Peace, love and happiness my friends!