Big (Bad) Realization

Somehow in the midst of all this term, I've gotten fat.

To keep this in perspective, I wasn't small to begin with. But I'd done a semi-decent job taking some weight off in the last couple of years, and I was horrified today to discover that I've actually managed to put it all back on, a majority of it since the start of this job search. That is, of course, a very anecdotal correlation, but still.

It's a strange moment to be this distressed at my appearance - and probably a bit late in life to be developing this sort of body image complex. But isn't that the joy of marketing? Sooner or later, we're all going to measure ourselves against the cover of "People" and find ourselves wanting?

Comments

5 Responses to “Big (Bad) Realization”
Post a Comment | Post Comments (Atom)

Notorious Ph.D. said...

Nope, never too late in life. I was startled at the amount of weight I put on over the course of a half-year shoulder injury (no exercise!) and the first half of my fellowship year in the land of endless winter.

Thing is, as we get older (full disclosure, I'm near 40), weight creep can actually become a health risk. So don't worry about being svelte, but it's definitely worth it to see if you can get into a healthy weight range.

Plus, you won't have to buy a whole new professional wardrobe!

(Plus I have tons more motivational, totally-not-vain things to say, but I won't push. E-mail me if you want me to go on and on about this.)

March 10, 2009 at 12:42 AM
Dr. Curmudgeon said...

I'm looking down the business end of 40 myself, so I'm right there with you. What's disheartening is just how fast it happens. Motivation is always appreciated.

On a related note, here's a useful grading of restaurants from Eat This, Not That.

March 10, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Notorious Ph.D. said...

You're right about "how quickly it happens." I put on 15 pounds in only 8 months, and only noticed when I could really, truly no longer button my work pants. I spent the better part of two semesters either in jeans (fellowship year!) or with my top button unbuttoned (first semester back).

So, for motivation, here are three of the many things I've noticed, now that I've turned things around:

1. My clothes fit. Really, really fit. My professional clothes look good on me, and I can put on my jeans right out of the dryer.

2. I've cut about 10% off my ride-to-work time, from 17-18 minutes several months ago, to 13-14 minutes now. Partly because I'm stronger, but mostly because I'm not dragging an extra 18 pounds of *me* up the hill.

3. I spend less. Seriously, switching my beloved lattes from a twice-daily to twice-weekly thing has saved me untold wads of cash.

Oh yeah -- and there's the hotness.

March 10, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Professor Zero said...

OK, I'll go work out right now.

People do not believe me but I should lose 10 pounds. They only do not believe me because I am choosing clothes carefully. They will agree when they see the re-thinned me.

I gained 10 pounds in the fall because I had lost 7 too fast in the summer (due to life in 3d world) and I was so. d*****. hungry. I am against weight creep, it just is not FUN and I am all about FUN. So on your diet, don't starve (in the 3d world, I starved inadvertently, would have eaten more and lost weight more slowly had it been possible).

The other reason I gained the 10 pounds so fast is because of chicken shawerma. No kidding. They put one of those gyro stands by my building and I started buying their food. It tastes healthy, if a little heavy ... and/but it turns out to have literally *thousands* (not hundreds) of calories in it. Therefore I will now click on your restaurant guide.

March 11, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Professor Zero said...

OK, I've seen the restaurant grading. It's all for these fast food franchises. It is totally frightening. I mean really, worse than one would even have imagined.

I'm going to the gym right now.

March 11, 2009 at 4:52 PM