Sunday, January 28, 2007

The Basic Rundown

This is Tiff's entry for Part 1 of The Assignment

Here's a basic rundown of why I now HATE the weight I've put on over the past several years.

1) It is a physical manifestation of a period of much anxiety in my life, in which I wanted to avoid emotional closeness and so ate and drank my way into unattractive padding, which I thought would shield me from unwanted attention. That's a move that backfired, and left me feeling terrible about myself.

2) I still think of myself as average size, and yet the camera doesn't lie. I have never ever ever liked having my picture taken, and the extra weight doesn't help my attitude any. Combine the fat with the effects of aging, and I can almost not stand to look at myself in the mirror some days. This is sheer vanity, I know, yet there it is.

3) Extra weight sequesters estrogen. The extra estrogen can set the scene for breast cancer to grow. This, as anyone can tell you, is not good.

4) Extra weight predisposes anyone to developing type 2 diabetes, particularly as one ages. I am nearly 45. I am overweight. There's not much math needed to figure out that I am just asking for diabetes. I do not want diabetes. My grandfather died of diabetes. Diabetes is bad.

5) There are hosts of other reasons I hate the extra weight. I don't feel attractive. I don't feel sexy. I have muffin tops the size of hoagies. My thighs are dimpled, and that's not cute at all. My upper arms sway, and hot shit nobody wants to see THAT. My chin is birthing a twin, and ruining my profile. I want my old body back, or as close as I can get to it. I want that so badly that I'm excited about losing weight this time.

Lots and lots of reasons I hate hate hate the extra weight. So, instead of spending any more time writing about it, I'm going to go work out, then drink a bunch of water, and take a long hot shower as my reward.

4 comments:

Biff Spiffy said...

Well done and very clear. I don't want any estrogen sequestering on me either, that sounds dirty.

I'm looking forward to Part 2, because I like the happy-joy stuff... but sometimes it pays to look into the ick.

utenzi said...

That's a very well stated and reasoned explanation, Tiff. It's almost enough to get me to shed some weight too. I have the same amount of extra weight as you do, and a grandfather that also died of complications from diabetes.

rennratt said...

Having lost 4 relatives to breast cancer (or complications from), I can heartily agree with number 3.

You can do this!

tiff said...

I've printed this out and am keeping it in my desk drawer. It's a useful reminder to myself when I want that Hershey's kiss or other little goodie.

OK, maybe when I want the THIRD Hershey's kiss.