Tag: weight gain

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HOORAY! BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC WEIGHT

It doesn’t take a whole lot to make me happy.  I don’t want to be rich and famous.  But I do want to be in control of my weight.  That’s what comes from being a hospital dietitian for so long.  But stepping on the scales after the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns was a downer.  I don’t have unrealistic goals.  What I weighed at 25 and even 55 is not going to happen again.  In fact,  elderly women who are slightly overweight have longer life expectancies.  So who wants to look like Jane Fonda? I’m okay with being at the far end of a normal BMI (body mass index), and have kept my weight about the same for many years—until the end of March , 2021.  But today,  I had to celebrate, just in time for the 4th of July.  Hooray! Back to pre-pandemic weight.

hooray! back to pre-pandemic weight
HOORAY! BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC WEIGHT. Don’t let 4th of July foods ruin your diet.

How did I gain weight last year?  We fixed the same types of food—lots of salads and weight watcher type frozen  dinners.  And we didn’t eat in a restaurant  for over a year.  However,  we did more carry out, which often had a side order of French fries.  Who can resist hot, steamy, fragrant French fries when they’re sitting right in front of you?  But more importantly, I didn’t get nearly as much exercise.  My frequent shopping trips were condensed to once a week.  Daily walks had to be outside, and were often canceled by rain, sleet, snow, and extreme heat.  The lesson to be learned here isn’t new.  If you want to lose  weight, eat less, exercise more.

But the pandemic didn’t affect everyone the same way.  In fact, at groups and gatherings, I’ve noticed that some people  actually lost weight.  I don’t know how they did that, but I’m thinking they didn’t eat out as often, and don’t really like to cook. Or maybe they invested in some type of home exercise machine.  Good for them!  I’m hoping they weren’t depressed, which could have affected their appetite and resulted in weight loss.  But it’s possible.

 I’m happy to be back to pre pandemic weight. However, new challenges are ahead this coming weekend.  Who can resist 4th of July food?  Potato salad, deviled eggs, baked beans…yum!

Happy 4th of July to all!

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SECOND SHOT RE-ENTRY SHOCK

I don’t care what Dr. Fauci says.  I have received  my second covid-19 shot, and I’m going back out into the world–wearing a mask, of course. However,  this week, when  doing normal stuff,  I realized  that  things aren’t quite the same.    Actually I felt a little bit like Rip Van Winkle, awakening after a very long sleep.  Guess  I’m having a second shot re-entry shock.

Here’s what’s changed:

People at my senior  exercise class look older.   Their hair is mostly gray or white. We were afraid to visit a hair salon (even though Nancy Pelosi did)  Unless you color your hair at home, you had to go natural. . Many may never color their hair again.

Women of all ages  have longer hair.  They’re either letting it grow, or cutting it themselves.  I cut mine for an entire year, and it didn’t look too bad.  But there were piles of hair all over the floor at the beauty shop today. .

My beautician found her biological father this year.  She’s in her 40’s and found him through a DNA test.  Turns out, he lives a block away from her home.  She had seen him, but they had never met.  Her birth was the result of a high school romance.  I wondered why her mother never told her, but it wasn’t my place to probe.

Second shot re-entry shock. Most people will have gained about 12 pounds during the pandemc.
Second shot re-entry shock. Most people will have gained about 12 pounds during the pandemic.

Most everyone has gained some weight.  (Not me, of course—ha). Faces look fuller, pants tighter.  Some lucky people have maintained their weight, but most haven’t.  The average weight gain during the pandemic is about 12 pounds.

Folks are friendlier and more talkative.  It used to be that people were too busy to stop and chat—they were always on their way to somewhere else. But after a year of solitude, most of us are hungry for conversation.  The store clerks, people behind desks, casual acquaintances—everyone you encounter is more relaxed and laid back.

We’ve acquired some new hobbies, or learned new skills. Knitting, sewing, crocheting—all are making a comeback.  My husband and I have discovered the fun of working jigsaw  puzzles together.  Neither of us had done them since we were kids. Puzzles are not just for fun–they’re good for the brain.

When the pandemic is over, we will find  the world  a different place than the one we knew before.  Maybe that’s a good thing.

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SHOULD YOU ASK SOMEONE TO LOSE WEIGHT?

The media has taken out after poor Meghan Markle again.  This time, they’re saying that she had the nerve to tell her husband to lose weight.  On top of that, they claim she’s started picking out his clothes.  Where do they come up with all this supposedly inside information?  Was a reporter hiding in their bedroom closet?  Maybe someone noticed Prince Harry  had dropped a few pounds , and concocted this story.  But it does present a moral issue:   Should you ask someone to lose weight? Should you help your husband pick out new clothes?

Body shaming is another matter.  It’s harmful to make fun of someone’s size.  My sister struggled with overweight as a young adult, and was often  the target of ridicule. She ended up taking so many diet pills that it affected her mental health for the rest of her life.

Should a wife tell a husband to lose some weight
A caring wife may ask her husband to lose some weight.

On the other hand, what is so terrible about a concerned wife suggesting her husband lose a few pounds?  Seem to me, it’s the caring thing to do.  My husband has bad knees, and must walk with a cane.  When he starts complaining, I’m apt to suggest he take off a few pounds to relieve the pressure on his joints.  Maintaining a normal  weight is also important for heart health.  On top of that, he’s a diabetic.  Is  a wife supposed to ignore it when her husband starts packing on the pounds?

Research has shown that the loss of 10 pounds can lead to a healthier life. Benefits may include:  1) 50% reduction in heart disease.  2) 60% reduction in diabetes risk. 3) 50 % decrease in arthritis.

What’s so mean and terrible about that?

About the clothes issue:  My husband always wants me with him when he buys new clothes.  I can tell him which colors are unflattering,  or when the shoulders of a jacket or sweater are too saggy—things he doesn’t always notice. By the same token, I want his advice on what to wear for special occasions.  Seems to me that’s one good thing about having a loving spouse or partner.

So I’m asking the media: please leave Meghan alone.  It won’t hurt Harry at all to lose some weight.  And it might inspire others to do the same.

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STOP! DON’T WEIGH YOURSELF TODAY

The holiday is over, and now you’re ready to step on the scales.  How much weight did you gain after all that dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, rolls and pumpkin pie?  The average Thanksgiving meal contains about 5,000 calories, which is more than you ordinarily consume in a couple of days. But,  before you take off your shoes, stop! Don’t weigh yourself today.

Thanksgiving meals are loaded with salt and sugar.  Both will make you retain fluids.  You may be holding an extra three or four pounds of water  in your body tissues.  It takes awhile to get rid of all that extra water, assuming that you resume your healthy , low sodium, low sugar diet.

Too much salt causes a flud buildup
WHY YOU SHOULD WAIT A FEW DAYS TO WEIGH YOURSELF

In addition to the big family meals, you may have been on the road for a day or two visiting family.  How do you eat when you’re traveling?  Fast food, of course.  Who wants to waste time sitting in a restaurant when you are anxious to arrive at your destination before the weather gets worse.  Maybe you don’t ordinarily eat French fries, but they smell so good when you walk into Burger King. And how good are fries without salt?  Lots and lots of salt.  There you go, more fluid retained in your sluggish body cooped up for hours on end in a car, and no exercise whatsoever.

And so, if you step on the scales the minute you get home, you’re apt to be in for a shock. You don’t need that guilt trip just yet.  It could make you so depressed that you reach for a candy bar just to cheer yourself up.  For the rest of the week, eat lots of salads, vegetables, and lean meat.  Walk at least 30 minutes a day.

Okay, on Friday, it’s safe to step on the scales and find out how  much you weigh.  You may have gained a pound or two, but that’s doable.  It’s easier to diet away one pound, rather than four.

Now, you have a few weeks to prepare for those Christmas parties.   Reduce your caloric intake, and fix some carrot and celery sticks to keep in the frig in case you get hungry. Take advantage of sunny days to walk in the park.  The average person gains a total of six pounds over the holidays.  But that statistic needn’t include you!