Af-flu-en-za n. 1. The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses. 2. An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by dogged pursuit of the American Dream. 3. An unsustainable addiction to economic growth.
Below is a brief and somewhat comical soap opera-ish video on this disease.
In a poll released last week (there’s a poll and study for everything, which I find to be a waste of money, but then we’d have no numbers) it showed that because of debt “23 percent of people had severe depression, 51 percent had muscle tension and 27 percent had ulcers or digestive tract problems”. Debt not only affects people financially, but also physically.
I will admit, it’s not easy delaying pleasure when it comes to spending money and buying stuff. I love nice things, I want nice things, I feel I deserve nice things, but I’m not willing to go into debt (any more) to get them. Not wanting to continue making payments on stuff for the rest of my life keeps my Affluenza bug under control. How do you go about keeping your life simple or have you been bitten? Has debt caused you any health (loss of sleep) problems? If so, what do you plan to do about it?
According to this chart (click to view), I’m well within my weight range for my height and age [36 years old, 5 feet 10 inches and 168 pounds]. My ideal weight is 167 lbs and my maximum weight is 174 lbs. When I tell people I need to drop a few pounds, I get the screw face, looked up and down and dismissed! I’m not obsessed with being thin, I think my weight is okay, I just want my clothes back. For me, a 15-20lb weight gain wipes out 75% of my wardrobe!
So I have some lifestyle changes to make because frankly, I’m tired of crap not fitting anymore, buying new clothes doesn’t address the problem! I want to be able to bend over without my pouch getting in the way. I’m tired of looking for creative ways to tie my sneakers. I want to wear a belt and tuck my shirts in again!
On my side bar, I will be tracking my weight loss until June 30th. I plan to lose at least 15lbs of fat, this might help me with being able to get into my pants again and buttoning them up. Right now, my goal is to exercise at least 4 times a week, make better food choices and drink more water. If you want to express something that worked for you, please share it with me. Thanks.
Not that kind of pot, fortunately, I have never needed to go there. I’m talking about a Neti-Pot. I have been suffering with sinus problems for the past two days and several people have recommended everything from Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar to this little miracle worker. This thing has received some great reviews and success stories. Not sure where I can buy one, but I know I can get it online. What can’t you buy online? Are you a pot user or do you know anyone who has used a Neti-Pot. When I get one, I’ll report back!
How many of you eat better at your job than you do at home? I don’t mean junk food either. There has been so much food and dessert at my job these last few weeks, I’m considering filing a class action suit against my current employer for my weight gain. Okay I’m kidding just in case they get wind of this post, but I used to weigh 140 lbs. I don’t any more. I’m 5′ 10″, so I know how to hide some weight, just put on higher heels and appear even taller, but truthfully, I can see the difference. I looked at some old photos of myself and some new photos and I don’t like my new double chin.
We are always surrounded by food left over from client meetings, staff meetings, dessert trays, home made goodies, fund raisers. It’s hard not to indulge, I can’t walk past a cookie! On Fridays we always get breakfast. I say they are feeding us well to fatten us up for the slaughter. The food is great, but at least take away our chair, make us stand. Don’t feed the cattle and then send us back to our desk to sit down! Give us an exercise ball to sit on. Move the copier out into the parking lot. Instead of fire drills, ring a bell so we can all run laps around the office. Buy us a pair of blinders to wear around the office so we can’t see the tray of food to the left, to the left.
How do you avoid office weight gain? Do you have any solutions? The Nancy Regan Diet: Just Say No? I already ran my idea past a few people and they seem to be willing to blame someone else for our extra weight gain…or maybe we could all just roll ourselves to the elevator and go to the gym downstairs.
Maybe I could just calm down and give the gym one more try before I call my lawyer.
I haven’t been away from my computer, just unable to blog because of a headache turned migraine. I have been writing though, in my head, and I will be back to Thinking Out Loud real soon. This past weekend, I did update the look on my personal website, keeping it clean and simple. Why not take a look and use the shout box to tell me what you think of my new look. Otherwise, there’s nothing new to report. I’m dreading the east coast weather, mainly because I hate the cold. If it’s 60 degrees outside, it feels 45 degrees to me. I have my sweaters and thermals all lined up and ready for action. Stay warm if you’re not!
My name is Valerie aka Natural, and I love to write about whatever is on my mind or anything that is of interest to me. I love teaching, dialogue, opinions, motivational writing, helping people through public speaking and making people laugh. I never know what I'll share here but this is me, Thinking Out Loud.
How many of you eat better at your job than you do at home? I don’t mean junk food either. There has been so much food and dessert at my job these last few weeks, I’m considering filing a class action suit against my current employer for my weight gain. Okay I’m kidding just in case they get wind of this post, but I used to weigh 140 lbs. I don’t any more. I’m 5′ 10″, so I know how to hide some weight, just put on higher heels and appear even taller, but truthfully, I can see the difference. I looked at some old photos of myself and some new photos and I don’t like my new double chin.
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