I rarely write about anything that has to do with me or what I look like but a surfer caught my attention and commented that I am just most likely obese and out of shape. Mind you, I am neither. The criticism came from an article about skinny models, anorexia in the modeling industry and of course my views on it.
I was a bit alarmed that 1) someone thought being 6 foot tall and 98lbs. normal and 2) that I was basically bitter because I am overweight.
The truth. Really!
I am around 120 lbs, sometimes 125, others 115. Anyway, totally and completely normal for my height(average). My weight always fluctuates within 10lbs it seems, not that I ever weigh myself. I just know this by how my clothing fits. I have worn the same size for a long time and some months my jeans are tight and other months they fall down if not belted. No biggie, it just really has to do with my level of activity.
With that said here is where I gain and lose weight. When I am more active I tend to eat more and I have noticed that eating less often actually makes me gain weight. That is in line with everything the experts say about eating more often to raise your metabolism, no crazy diet secret there.
But here is what I did notice as I came home today…
My next door neighbor is about 50 lbs. overweight. She is my height and I would guess about a buck 70. I ran into her as she was taking out the trash and I was pulling in. We both live on the second floor. The building has an elevator, but since it is only a flight and faster to run up the stairs, I never take it.
Anyway, I, out of habit, opened the door to the stairs and she, out of habit, pushed the elevator button. I was home before the elevator even came down to get her. Now, a flight of stairs is not much… maybe 10 calories burned? However over a year its a couple pounds.
Maybe that is the problem with obesity in the U.S.? people got lazy and would rather stand and wait 5 mins for an elevator than take the 30 second trip up the stairs.
My conclusion… hah ha, my impatience keeps me thin. Seriously. I hate to wait and would rather run up a flight of stairs quickly than wait for the elevator. Tiny life style changes can make huge differences over time. I gotta admit, if I was overweight, I would never even want to take the elevator, but rather run a few laps up and down the stairs just to do it. Seriously, if taking the elevator causes someone to gain 2 lbs. a year, over 10 years its 20 lbs that could have easily been avoided without any dieting.
Actually, I am glad that I eat everything and anything I want and use the stairs rather than staying on a diet just so I can use the elevator. Screw the elevator, Pizza is so much better!
