Skinny Girls Get Fat Too - Stop Skinny Shaming

"You should eat a hamburger."

"You look better with a little meat on you."

"It's easier for you because you're skinny."

"Oh you just have good genes."                                                    <--- lie, genetics only play like 25% of a role.

"You have a faster metabolism because you're skinny."               <--- massive lie, not true.


BULLSHIT.

I am at a healthy weight. I still strive to have more muscular tone. I am not too skinny. It is not easy for me to be thin. So stop skinny shaming me because I work for it.

Being thin is not easy. I think we can all agree on the fact that losing weight is hard. I gain weight just like anyone else, and it's time to celebrate people who work their ass off to be in good shape and have the body they want. The amount of times we must say no to something we want, or stop at one bite is unreal. The attention to detail we often pay to our nutrition plans. The extra time in the gym to gain muscle mass or knowledgeably make up for the extra piece of cake (a 30 minute run WON'T do). Calories add up fast.

In today's society, where there are so many options for food, and so little emphasis to lead a healthy lifestyle and be at a good body fat percentage, it is hard to be thin. Thin people, are a vault of healthy secrets. If they didn't know what they were doing, chances are, they wouldn't be thin. So instead of talking shit to them and saying they're only skinny because of their genetics or their metabolism (LIE!), go to them for advice.


Here's the bottom line:
If you eat more calories (in food) than you burn off (through BMR and exercise)...you will gain weight.

It doesn't matter how much you weigh. 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225.
Your body's basal metabolic rate varies depending on your weight, age, and height.
A person that weighs less must eat less, or they gain weight.

Let's look at me, opposed to a 200 pound woman-- Basal Metabolic Rate (activity slightly taken into account--results may vary depending on the calculator you use, there are much more accurate ones than this)=

Assuming I live a fairly light lifestyle, and don't workout much:  I can only eat 1664 calories or I will gain weight.
This 200 lb person, can eat 2055 calories to stay at their current weight.

Check yours here. 

REALITY CHECK!! Most people eat MORE than what their body burns!! That's why people gain weight.
It is not any easier for me to not gain weight, than it is for anybody else. In fact, it's harder in some ways because I get to eat less!!

I don't gain weight because I make a true effort to stay within my means and not gain weight. Self-control is a bitch, and I struggle with it just like anyone else. It's not easy.


My metabolism is NOT faster than yours if I weigh less. In fact, it is probably slower since I weigh  less. And no, you cannot eat a magical food to increase your metabolism to make enough of a difference to do anything.

Thin people work really really hard to be where they are at, and it completely discredits all their hard work when we hear comments like the ones I posted above. Use them as a support because they've got it figured out, instead of a person to point fingers at and make them feel bad because they've worked so hard to achieve the body that they have.


So, why don't we form a support network of how to properly be healthy, lose weight, and live our best lives. Fad diets= don't last. Miracle wraps= don't last. Vitamin patches= don't last.

Get informed.

This is not designed to make people feel bad if they are overweight. It is to say we're all in the same boat when it comes to the pressure of food and exercise. People don't think about the effects of skinny shaming, but hey, it exists.  I am not looking for an argument here either.

Stitch Fix Review

As many of you know, I have an obsession with subscription boxes. My new favorite is Stitch Fix, which is a personal stylist service. First, you complete a survey about your sense of style and the clothing sizes you wear. You are given a stylist who selects 5 pieces for you (usually 4 clothing and one accessory) and then mails them to you for a $20 fee (the fee can later go towards the price of any item you buy). These deliveries are called Fixes. Once you receive your Fix, you try on the clothes, keep what you want, and then send back what you don't in a postage paid envelope. You complete a survey once you get your box that allows you to provide feedback, such as how well the items fits, if you like the style, or if the price point is okay with you. You peg items as "Keep it" or "Return it." Items you keep are automatically charged from your card on file. You are given the opportunity to add comments, and then request specific styles or items for your next fix. Stitch Fix also allows you to paste in your Pinterest Board so that they can use that to help style you as well.


Now, to my review. I have received three fixes so far:

Fix #1:
I received 4 pieces of clothing and a necklace.

Item #1: RETURN IT. The necklace, I thought was hideous, strictly because it was just a long piece that hung straight down...there wasn't that rounded appearance around your neck that necklaces typically have--not my style.  ($28)



Item #2: RETURN IT. A blue dress, with white embroidery around the edges. While I wanted to like this dress, the embroidery rubs on my neck the wrong way. Overall, the dress was a great fit, and was even long enough for my longer legs (dresses are normally too short on me, and I told my stylist that). I couldn't find a picture though (sorry!)($48)

Item #3: KEEP IT. A light pink shirt with a design. Needs an undershirt, but thought it would go well both for work and for an afternoon out. Nice and breezy. Slightly tight around the arms, but overall I like it.  ($38)



















Item #4: KEEP IT. A grey and white striped 3/4 sleeve sweater. Fitted arms, lose around the torso. Super soft material, and comfy cozy. ($40)








Item #5: Skinny streth-fit jeans, with an elastic top. I first looked at this and thought....maternity wear? BEST DESIGN EVER. Soooo comfy for jeans, and the band was forgiving so I didn't have to worry about having too much to eat, or that my pants would fit if I was bloated or gained a pound. ($85)









All in all, I got three items, and spent about $170. While this is way more than I typically spend for clothes, I had to take into account the following things: 1. I didn't have to go shopping!! 2. The items were better quality than what I typically buy, and 3. I have horrible fashion sense and this stranger helped me figure it out a little bit more. Hahha.


1st thought? SUCCESS! Ready for Stitch #2....and 3. I'm addicted!!

Fix #2, I had a different stylist, and quite honestly, I returned the whole box except for a necklace (see the necklace I have on in Fix #3). With the $20 styling fee that I could put towards the price of the necklace, I only paid $8 for the necklace.


(Stitch 3 addressed in the next blog....!)


Want to try Stitch Fix? Help me out and use my referral code please!!! :)
https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/7270638

2016 is HERE! The Year of Fit Starts NOW!

It's January 1st...what are you doing to prioritize YOUR health today?

As I sit here in Rocky Point, Mexico, overlooking the sea of Cortez, it gives me opportunity to reflect and find peace. Boy is it beautiful. It is also my final days off before I go back to work, so having a plan is essential. It's time to map out more morning, and next week...

The last blog post detailed the key meals I planned on focusing. A note on that--You may have asked "why didn't you include calorie counts or a detailed list of ingredients/amounts? My diet is my diet...I do what I need to help myself. You are going to have slightly different needs, and you want to make sure you are enjoying the food you eat as much as possible. Granted, feel free to model your meals after mine.

My last deluxe dinner was garlic mashed potatoes (potatoes, garlic, butter, salt, water), salmon (poked with spears of garlic while cooking) w/ teriyaki, and sauteed bok choy. I cook as lean as possible, but use plenty of spices to make up for flavor in place of extra fat. I only used a tablespoon of butter in my mashed potatoes, and only even went that far because I no longer eat dairy and couldn't put milk in. I am NOT saying to cut out fat...in fact, that's the last thing you want to do, but it does add a lot of calories simply because 1 gram of fat is 9 calories, while carbs and protein are only 4 calories a gram. Refer back to former posts for a few examples of my meal plans. The key here, that is so powerful, is that you need to be doing these YOURSELF. Awareness is everything. And keep tracking your food!

Back to my plan...Meals are roughly sketched out. It's more important to plan out the types of workouts I want to have so I can accomplish this. Instead of saying "Monday is this...Tuesday is this..." I like to create a list of the workouts I want accomplished by the end of the week, and allow myself the flexibility to choose the one I want each day, as unexpected situations may arise and I may not feel like doing arms after moving 40 jumbo desks in my classroom.

A rough sketch looks something like this:
3-5 days of core/abs
3 days of arms/shoulders/back
2 days of legs
3 running days

These will all take place on a total of 5 workout days, so I will cut and paste as I feel. For example, legs with running one day, but upper body with running another. Of course, for each day, I have a series of workouts that I typically do. I will further discuss them as we go along, but for now here are a couple of them:

Upper Body Workout Day
3 x 12	Bicep Curl
3 x 12	Tricep overarm bend
3 x 12	Hammer curl
3 x 12	Tricep kickback
3 x 12	Bent Over Row (10-15lb weight)
3 x 12	Shoulder press (5-10 lb weight)
3 x 12	Shoulder rotation (5-10 lb weight)
30	Rear back lift (5 lb dumbbell)
3 x 12 each side	Side arm lifts (3-5lb weights)

Lower Body Workout Day
3 x 12	Squats - shoulder width
3 x 12	Hamstring - Deadlift
10 ea side	Lunges
Hold for 15 pulses, each side	Pulse lunges
15	Squats - sumo style
	Leg lift circuit

Total Body Workout Day
	Shoulder Width Squats
	Narrow Squats
	Sumo Squats
	Biceps + Triceps
	Shoulder Press, Shoulder inversion
3 x 12	Dead lifts w/ bent over row
3 x 15	Upright row (5-10 lb weight)
30 each direction	Calf Press

Commit by taking 15 minutes and planning out the list of workouts you plan to accomplish. Also include the time you plan on accomplishing them, and the last case scenario time. For me, I plan on doing short workouts in the morning before work, but if that doesn't work, and I don't get to the gym, I will do a workout at about 6 pm on my yoga mat in my living room. PS....if you don't feel the burn, you may need to step it up a notch. Beneficial workouts are often uncomfortable-- if it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you. I recommend consulting Pinterest for a few workout ideas, or blogilates. If you sign up for the free newsletter, you receive access to monthly workout plans. These are services I can provide for a fee ($8/week each for workouts OR meals, $15 for both), but I don't deny free is better for some of you. The benefit with paying, is it will be more designed specifically to you and your needs.

Today's workout plan for me is as follows:
1 mile run on the beach (sand will really kick it up a notch)
Lower body circuit - 3 series squats, lunges with weights, thigh circuit, bridges, donkey kicks
Abs circuit - 5 minute plank series (get's some arm workout in there), flutter kicks, holds, russian twists, bicycles, v-ups
Biceps - 10-15 lb dumbbells, bicep curls - 3x15.

I just had my cup of coffee, I believe I will take an hour to get some work done, and enjoy the beautiful morning sunrise, and then off to the beach! ....don't get too jealous, it's only 65 here. Brrr!