Ignoring the bigger issue

In a recent Huffington Post article, the writer discusses how “Jennifer Lawrence body-shames you more than you realize.” She writes how J-Law can get away with bashing diets because she is already slender while Melissa McCarthy, an overweight actress, could not.

When Jennifer Lawrence says it’s “dumb” to go hungry to make other people happy, she’s saying it with the carefree attitude of a woman who probably will never have to make that choice to conform. Yes, she’ll be asked to diet for a role, and she feels the same pressure to meet cultural expectations as everyone else. But a woman who looks like Jennifer Lawrence doesn’t have to shop for her clothes in online stores because no physical storefronts carry her size. A woman who looks like Jennifer Lawrence probably isn’t going to have a stranger try to stage an impromptu intervention in a Pizza Hut because they’re so, so concerned for her “health.”

Click to read the full article

Here is my response:

While I do agree the double standard that Jennifer Lawrence gets praised for eating McDonald’s while Melissa McCarthy would get shamed is wrong, I think there is a bigger issue here. The issue is that we are ignoring the problem of health. Of course all women are real women whether they have curves or no curves, boobs or flat chested, short or tall, wide or slim. But by ignoring the issue of being overweight or obese, we are encouraging extreme health problems. That issue cannot be ignored, it must be addressed.

One thing that someone told me when I began to lose weight was “you might be a little hungry at times.” A little hunger is okay as long as you’re not starving yourself. You shouldn’t be starving yourself to lose weight, you should be adjusting your food intake and adding exercise to your daily routine.

I do agree that all women are beautiful in their own way and it is very important to recognize all body types as beautiful. However, it is also very important to recognize that if you need to shop for clothes online because they are not available in store, some changes should probably be made to achieve weight loss. Being that overweight will lead to health problems if you do not already have them.

Everybody is built differently and is beautiful in their own way. The important thing to focus on is not how one looks but on their health.

ValedFITorians – Ma & Dave

This week we have 2 ValedFITorians…my mom & Dave!

They were cooking up a Fit U approved dinner of sauteed escarole & Dave’s famous salmon. Escarole provides dietary fiber, vitamins A & C, and plenty of antioxidants. Salmon provides tons of protein and most importantly, omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are essential fats that help reduce inflammation, reduce risk of heart disease, and boosts brain productivity, among many other benefits. So when you eat salmon, you get 100% of the benefits with 110% of the flavor!

What are you cooking for dinner tonight?

The inevitable rut and how to get out of it.

Sometimes we fall into a bit of a rut. There’s no real rhyme or reason for it but it happens. The most important thing we can focus on is not why we fell into that rut but how we can get out of it. This task often seems impossible. But, hey, nothing’s impossible right?

Don’t end up like this guy with no way out.
[Click for source]

1. Evaluate. Haven’t been to the gym in two weeks? Having pizza for dinner one too many nights the past month? Lacking any fun in your life? In order to fix a situation you must acknowledge where it currently stands.

2. Set goals.  Once you’ve figured out where you are, figure out where you want to be. Set a goal. Set two. Be able to state those goals out loud.

3. Re-evaluate. You have your goals set. Now how will you reach those goals?  Make an appointment with yourself and the gym, pick up some vegetables at the grocery store, find a new hobby. Whatever it is you need to do, get moving in some way in an effort to reach your goals.

4. Have fun along the way. The best way to reach your goals is to have fun getting there! Try a new form of exercise, discover a new recipe of your own, try a hobby you would never expect yourself to try. Grab some friends and make an event out of it. Have a blast!

What are your goals?

What do you do to get out of a rut?

Have A Fit & Fabulous Friday!

Is getting old getting you down?

This man is 74 and ROCKING IT. Don’t fear age, embrace it.

Workout, eat healthy, and live a fit life. You will maintain muscle and look better at an older age than you do now.

Hope this serves as some inspiration to have a fit & fabulous Friday!

ValedFITorian – Carl(y)!

Carl(y) is this week’s ValedFITorian! 

I was training legs with a friend recently when we ran into Carl at the gym. She joined us for some killer sets of walking lunges…100 lunges per set! Let me tell you, that burn was felt for the next few days. Working out with a friend is always more motivating and fun so grab a buddy and hit the weights!

Pumpkin Protein Donuts!

Up until recently, Fall was never a thing I experienced. Apple picking, changing leaves, pumpkin patches were merely things I dreamed about. Now, I am living Fall to the fullest!

Fall = Pumpkin Spice.

Have yourself a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks or a Pumpkin Pie Donut at Dunkin.

Have yourself a Protein Pumpkin Donut at Fit University.

What You’ll Need:

5 egg whites

½ cup oats

½ cup canned pumpkin

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

2 teaspoons Stevia

Blend all ingredients to form batter. Pour into donut tins and bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes. Makes 6 donuts.

Enjoy with coffee and some friends on a cool Fall day!

ValedFITorian! – Aaron

Aaron (my old prom date!) is this week’s ValedFITorian! 

Aaron was cooking up a Fit U approved vegetarian stir fry this week!

Have you gotten in enough veggies today? Fry em up like Aaron!

TBT to Senior Prom!

 

 

How to: Survive Chipotle

Let’s get real here…Chipotle is fantastic. In the great debate of Moes vs. Chipotle, Chipotle wins all. But you walk in, wait in a long line that moves impressibly fast, and scarf down a burrito as big as your face. Then you sit for a second and feel like you’re about to explode. It doesn’t need to be that way! You can have your Chipotle and eat it too! No way, you’re thinking, it’s impossible, she’s crazy. I might be crazy but it’s true! Hear me out:

How to: Survive Chipotle

Step 1: Order a salad. The burrito itself is 290 calories, 9g fat, 44g carbs, 670 mg sodium. Woah.

When you order a salad, your base is romaine lettuce so you skip out on the empty calories of the burrito. Skip the dressing, an extra 215 cals you don’t need.

Step 2: Ask for half the portion of rice and beans. Half of a Chipotle portion is probably the size of a real portion, if not more. Personally, I skip the beans and get fajita veggies instead. Delish.

Step 3: Choose your salsa. I go double on the salsas…mild for the fresh tomatoes, a little bit of hot for some extra spice.

Step 4: Choose your toppings wisely. This is where the extra calories add up. Do you really need a cup worth of sour cream? Nah. Do you really need 1/4 pound of cheese on there? Not really. I’m not a fan of either so I skip it altogether and just get some extra lettuce. But if you really want the sour cream and cheese, ask  for just a bit and avoid the unnecessary calories.

Step 5: Guac it out. If you want guac, ask for it on the side and only use about half of the container. You’re not eating 5 avocados worth of guac and you have some for tomorrow!

Step 6: Enjoy your delicious meal and be grateful that you can still walk once you’re finished!

Burrito vs. Salad Nutrition Facts

1200 Calories, 53g Fat, 121g Carbs, 2870 mg Sodium

440 Calories, 12g Fat, 50g Carbs, 1675 mg Sodium

What do you think…Moes vs. Chipotle?

What do you order from Chipotle?