Theresa’s Take – Take 14 “Justice for All?”

Ladies, Gents and Janet Jackson Wannabes, have you ever thought about weight based discrimination?

As I entered my polling place on Primary Day, a freedom from discrimination poster caught my eye. The poster featured the Statue of Liberty,  with bold wording – Justice For All , followed by what to do if you need information on discrimination. As a former “Fat Chick,” I thought how fitting it was that the designer of this poster chose Lady Liberty, a robust woman, to discourage discrimination.

The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from the people of France, to celebrate our independence. She symbolizes freedom, standing over 111 feet tall and tipping the scales at 450,000 pounds, with a 35-foot waist line. The folks on my side of the tracks would say, ”Baby Got Back.” Think about it, a female with such grandiose features could not have been made in the image of a skinny chick.

Contrary to the freedom she represents, those broken shackles of oppression at her feet are not reflective of how obese and overweight people are often treated in the United States. There have been headlines that companies threaten employees to either lose weight or lose their job. In 2009, the Associated Press ran a story titled – HBC (Historical Black College) forces overweight students to lose weight to graduate!

Society has found comfort in believing that most obese and overweight people are the cause of their condition, therefore they should accept the consequences, including ridicule. Not so, says the National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance (NAAFA). This civil rights organization lists on their website that they are dedicated to protecting the rights and improving the quality of life for fat people.

Some people who are so obese and want to get healthy don’t even want to leave their homes for fear of ridicule and public humiliation.  There was one such woman who had a YMCA membership for three months and never used it because she was too insecure to work out in front of people.  When the Y called her and asked her why she hadn’t been coming, she explained that she was fearful people would make fun of her. So after reassurance from multiple staff, and a commitment for one employee to join her every time she came in, she finally made that first step in the door.

There are people of every size on the road to health. Big people that can run a marathon and skinny people that can’t even get off the couch. It’s not about size, so why as a society do we continue to look at it that way?  Join me and lady liberty today, and light a torch of health promotion, inclusion and acceptance, so that we may truly experience justice for all.

Theresa’s Take – Take 13 “It’s Out of Bounds!”

With raised eyebrows, jugular veins protruding, and facial despair, the voice of Rocco, (my tennis coach) could be heard in slow dramatic motion, echoing off the 100-foot ceiling, “Theresa, don’t hit the ball, it’s out of bounds!” No, this is not a scene from “Nightmare on Wimbledon Street.” This was the last session of my Tennis in No Time Camp. Although I had no advantages, it was not all faulty. In the beginning we used a larger, softer ball that was easy to volley. Deuces and all led me to believe that I may be kin to Venus and Serena. The sessions that followed questioned my blood line, and had nothing but LOVE for Theresa.

Lucky me, this Tennis in No Time Camp was my prize from a company health and wellness lottery. It guaranteed to turn beginners into players in three weeks.  I’m sure this camp had much success until my court appearance. Rocco tried earnestly to teach me the basics: the serve, forehand, backhand, scoring and net play for singles and doubles. The problem was that every time a ball came near me or within running distance, I would attempt to hit it. Tennis is a game of control. You must control your racket, your return and your attitude. One session, I handled the racket so poorly Rocco jokingly asked if I had indulged in adult beverages before class. Yours truly was not led by the Williams’ family instinct to show him my backhand or tell him where he could strategically place the racket. His comment reminded me of my weight loss journey. I spent too many years out of control hitting at everything that came my way. Fad diets, fat compression belts, diet pills, I even purchased a vinyl sauna suit. My plan was to wear it to bed at night, so that I could wake up skinny. Thank God the YMCA and Weight Watchers brought my weight loss journey inbounds.

Each summer, the Y offers a free instructional tennis program for Rochester City youth ages 8-16 years old. The program, called Love 15, is designed to teach tennis skills, rules, etiquette, life skills, and positive values. The program runs for six weeks, July 5-August 12, Monday through Friday at three different locations – Genesee Valley Park, Edgerton Park and Baden Park. Contact Sam Chhoeun at 277-1654 or Sam@rochesterymca.org for information.

As luck would have it, Maury opened the envelope an announced that Richard Williams contributed no natural talent to my Tennis game. Since Major Wingfield now resides six feet below the lawn and can’t simplify the game anymore, I will have to follow Rocco’s suggestion to try tennis again on Wii. Ladies, Gents and Janet Jackson Wannabes, you just can’t win hitting at everything that comes your way.  If you are beyond the age requirements for the free tennis camp, and find yourself out of bounds with your health and fitness goals, consider the many exciting programs the YMCA has to offer.

Theresa’s Take – Take 12 “Weight Watchers @ Church”

Weight Watchers has just started a new meeting at the East Henrietta Road Church of Christ. You are probably saying to yourself, really, why? Think about it, the church is the place where believers in Christ come to equip themselves with the tools needed to overcome sin.  Weight Watchers teaches a healthy way to live. Weight Watchers @ Church is a perfect combination. How many times have you heard someone say, “Eating too much is just a sin?” Well, if that is true, some of us have eternal reservations for a really hot spot.

My understanding of the biblical scriptures is that gluttony is a sin.  The sin of gluttony encompasses more than just eating too much at one meal. It is more indicative of behaviors that need to be corrected. The pearly gates don’t slam shut just because you ate a whole bag of Oreos. Gate closure begins when you take your kids’ allowance to buy the Oreos. They continue to close when, with cookie crumb lips, you tell those kids that you donated their allowance to charity.  The Angels will hang a “do not enter” sign when you smile as you hand the cashier an expired coupon to buy one pack of Oreos, get one free.

Weight Watchers does not endorse any religion, however, it does teach healthy behaviors. This at-church meeting works by transforming the worship place into a supportive and healthy environment to lose weight. Success is achieved by eating healthier using the Weight Watchers Points Plus Program, moving more and becoming mindful and smarter about food choices. The members will address common church eating challenges such as the Building Fund Fish Fry, and the Ladies Day Pound Cake Bake Off. The beauty of Weight Watchers is that no food is off limits, not even cookies! You just have to calculate your food choices into your daily points plus allotment.

USNews and Reports ranked Weight Watchers the #1 best weight loss diet plan, and the #1 best commercial diet.  Follow the link to see how yours truly corrected her behavior to find success on and off the scale.

Ladies, Gents and Janet Jackson Wannabes, Weight Watchers works!

YDPP: A Life Saving Recipe for Change

Diabetes is a complicated disease that has reached epidemic proportions. It is one of the leading causes of kidney disease. My diabetic father developed kidney failure, was on dialysis 12 years, and is now deceased. Due to uncontrolled hemoglobin A1C levels, my husband recently had diabetic ulcers and neuropathy on his feet, and was on disability for several months. I was overcome by fear for the past couple of years and often worried about what I could do to stop or slow the risk of developing the disease for myself and children. Repeated attempts to go on fad diets, lose weight quickly, or engage in rigorous exercise regimes, all resulted in short-term results and long-term disappointment. My doctor said I must lose weight or anticipate developing diabetes. I thank God for my daughter who alerted me to the YDPP program. YDPP’s ingredients: food selection, plus physical activity, plus peer support, result in a lifesaving recipe for change. I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their odds of not getting diabetes.

My daughter & I joined the YDPP program together after witnessing far too many family members suffer from the debilitating effects of diabetes. Our experience is saving our lives. Learning how to be a calorie and fat detective, as outlined in week 2 & 3, was a turning point for me. The rigid tracking of food and beverage intake is critical to sustainable success. I am amazed at how simple portion control and replacement of foods such as fast food breakfast sandwiches with oatmeal or low-calorie/fat cereals, and sweet tea or pop replaced with seltzer water or diet pop actually melt away the pounds. I remain motivated to increase activity because the YDPP encourages non-traditional tracking of physical movement (dancing while doing housework, shopping is considered walking, chair exercises is just as good as “work outs”); keep it moving all counts and really burns calories and pounds. I can’t say enough about the last ingredient. Positive encouragement from peers, our coach Rose, and intern Mary serve as a constant reminder that we can do this! We developed an unbreakable bond and no one is afraid to share the highs and lows of making a permanent life style change.

In summary, diabetes is a critical health concern and complications could be deadly. YDPP’s approach is effective in reducing weight, therefore reduces the risk for diabetes. I learned how to make healthier food choices (lower calorie & fat), increase activity, and engage in peer support. Each participant adds something special to the basic recipe; we are now ready for maintenance and continued improved health.

Diabetes can be stopped; I encourage others to save their lives and join YDPP!

YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program Testimonial

Most of my family is overweight.  Growing up the thought was that I had “big bones”, or that being overweight was my family build.  Coming from a large family, diabetes is prevalent.  My maternal and paternal grandfathers had the disease.  My maternal grandfather passed due to residual effects of the disease, and my paternal grandfather lost a limb.  Currently the disease resides close to home in my father.  My father was recently on disability due to necrotic ulcers on his feet.

I can recall the first YDPP meeting.  I have to laugh, I was late as usual.  Our instructor Rose began with a prayer.  I remember thinking; great she is one of those over the top religious types.   I did not sign up for bible study for Saturday morning, there are other things I can do, etc…  I had gathered a list of excuses not to continue the program.  But then Mrs. Nichols spoke of what she has overcome in her own struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle and weight, and she inspired me.

As stated earlier I’ve always been what some called a “healthy” child, however, my eating habits and lack of exercise did not speak to a healthy life style.  When diagnosed with Hodgkin’s, the major concern was weight loss.  That became my crutch to keep the weight on. I then became pregnant and was placed on bed rest at 19 weeks. Although I only gained twenty seven pounds during my pregnancy, being on bed rest set the precedence for inactivity.

I would be dishonest if I stated I’ve tried to lose weight in the past, I have not.  I’ve always been ok with my size. However, seeing the ulcers on my father’s feet scared me.  At that point, I decided something has to give and I need to try to make a life style change that will not only be for the betterment of me, but also my child.

The YDPP program helped me understand what a healthy lifestyle is.  It encouraged healthy eating, increasing daily activity.  The lessons spoke to factors in life that can deter you from maintaining a healthy life style.  Such as managing stress, understanding what triggers you to be unhealthy as well as understanding what habits you may have.  The lessons in the program not only helped me with beginning a healthy life style; they also have helped me with managing stress in my personal and professional life.  I can honestly say after the program I have a different perspective on life.

I cannot say that I have given the program 100%, I did commit to 80%.  I have begun to eat healthier; however, I am still working on documenting what I eat on a daily basis.  This is the most active that I have been in my life. In addition to my normal walks, house work, etc… I also work out every evening for a minimum of 20 minutes.

If my son decides to sprint away from me, I can run after him and not feel winded.  I can thank the YDPP program for this.  My clothing is fitting me a little looser, in some items I have purchased, I was able to purchase a smaller size; I can thank the YDPP program for this. I don’t think I would have completed this program if it were not structured the way it is.  I feel a fellowship amongst the members as well as our instructor and the YMCA staff. This fellowship has helped me through the program.

Thank you.

Anonymous

Theresa’s Take – Take 11 “Nobody Exercises in this Neighborhood”

A couple of weeks ago I took advantage of a rare occurrence – great weather in Rochester in the month of May.  I put on my workout gear, laced up my sneakers and hit the pavement. I do a combination power walk/jog throughout my northeast neighborhood some evenings. Too often the gift of gab interferes with my workout, and I stop to chat with neighbors, friends and strangers. I give health and wellness advice – wanted or unwanted. Many times people stop me, to encourage me to keep up the good work.

On this sun shiny evening, I was getting it in. I had picked up some speed was finally in the fat burning zone. I jogged past a young man no more than 10 years of age. He yelled out to me, “Hey lady, are you on probation?” I was puzzled by this question, as I couldn’t think of why he would ask me such a thing. I gave myself a once-over to see if anything in my appearance seemed alarming or probation-ish.  Finally it hit me, the kid thought I was running from the police.

As I continued with my workout, I came across some friends of my late father. I stopped to chat again. As we were reminiscing, another man joined in the conversation, alerting everyone that I was the police. Despite my denial of a career in law enforcement he insistently stated, “Don’t be fooled by her looks. She is the police. I’m telling you, she is the police because don’t nobody exercise in this neighborhood!”

In 1971 Marvin Gaye released the song “What’s Going On.” This social commentary ballot inspired by the Vietnam War included the lyrics,

“Mother, mother there’s too many of you crying,

Brother, brother, brother there’s far too many of us dying,

We’ve got to find a way to bring some understanding here today.

Come on talk to me, so you can see what’s going on.”

Forty years later Americans cannot wave the flag of victory on our deadliest war ever, OBESITY. The ill effects of poor eating habits and lack of exercise have mothers still crying and brothers still dying. What’s going on in the streets Rochester that exercise has become so foreign that yours truly is thought to be on probation, and accused of being the police for simply power walking and jogging? If nobody is exercising in your neighborhood, Ladies, Gents and Janet Jackson wannabes, will you?

Theresa’s Take – Take 10 | “It’s Not Always About You”

How many times have you heard sayings such as, “What’s in it for me?” or “What have you done for me lately?”  I even have “GIVEMEME” on my license plate. For me, it means give me only what I deserve. However, many people have interpreted it as a badge of selfishness.

Over the past few months I have not been feeling well. Exhaustion had me jacked up physically and mentally. I’d come to realize that I’ve been living in survival mode. For years, I’ve been working sixty plus hours a week to clean up some poor financial decisions and to finance my daughter’s college education. She graduated, but that Parent Plus College Loan has eternal life. I’m going to update my will and leave the outstanding balance to my ex-husband.

I went through a very bitter divorce, the loss of both of my parents, and the death my precious catVernonwithin three years.  I finally decided to stop looking for the man in the red car that hit my cat. I’m sure that he couldn’t have known that he killed a small part of me when he tookVernon’s life and kept going. It was an accident. Had he stopped, I would have tearfully accepted an apology. I know that he kept going because he was more worried about himself than a silly cat, or even the person that loved him most, me.

In my life’s journey I’ve always had a drive for excellence. I have high standards and I strive to be the best at everything I do at all times. It is not uncommon to see me grocery shopping in a dress and heels. I don’t go anywhere without my Mary Kay, including the Y. Recently my family members have shared with me that my unrealistic standards and drive for excellence has often left them feeling inadequate or unable to measure up. Because I was so focused on self-actualization, obtaining more education, earning more money and getting a better body, I didn’t acknowledge their pain. I just kept driving.

I’m so thankful that they loved me enough to tell me that I needed to change. Today I’m in a much better place spiritually, mentally and physically. I still have my goals, but they are much more considerate of others. Ladies, Gents and Janet Jackson Wannabes, as they say, “do you” but please consider others while on the road.

FATS – NOT ALL ARE CREATED EQUAL (And not all are bad for you!)

What is fat?
Fat is a nutrient found in many of the foods we eat. Of all other nutrients, it has the highest amount of energy. Fat is most commonly found in foods such as dairy products, oils/butter, and sweets such as chocolate. Fat is an essential nutrient, which means that a minimal amount is needed in the diet!

What does fat do?
Everyone needs to include some fat in their diet to be healthy! Fat has many benefits, when consumed in the proper amounts. Besides providing energy, fat also helps to insulate the body, provide cushioning which protects many vital organs, aid in the body’s absorption of certain vitamins, and much more! However, too much of the wrong kind of fat can cause complications with cholesterol levels, blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and even some forms of cancer.

Types of Fat
Not all fat is bad for you, especially when consumed in the proper amounts. It is important to know which fats you should include in your diet, and which ones you should avoid:

• Monounsaturated Fat: This type of fat is found in foods such as olives, avocados, olive oil, vegetable oil, peanuts, and many other sources. Monounsaturated fats can help to lower your cholesterol, and does not cause “bad” cholesterol to increase. About 10% of your daily calories should consist of monounsaturated fats. This means if you eat 2,000 calories per day, only 200 of them should come from monounsaturated fats.
• Polyunsaturated Fats: This type of fat is found in oils that are made from fish, safflower, sunflower, corn and cottonseed. Polyunsaturated fat can help to lower total cholesterol, but has also been shown to lower “good” cholesterol as well. Polyunsaturated fats should make up no more than 10% of your daily calories. This means if you eat 1,500 calories per day, only 150 of them should come from polyunsaturated fat sources.
• Saturated Fat: This type of fat should be consumed minimally. Everyday food sources of saturated fats include meat fats, shortenings, and high fat dairy products (such as whole milk, butter and cheeses). Saturated fats should only make up 10% of your daily calories. This means if you eat 1,800 calories per day, only 180 should be from saturated fats.
• Trans Fat: This type of fat should be avoided. It is most commonly found in trace amounts inside of foods such as processed and baked goods, as well as margarine sticks. It can have a negative impact on the body by increasing “bad” cholesterol while lowering “good” cholesterol. Less than 1% of daily calories should be trans-fat. This means if you eat 2,000 calories per day, at the most you should have 20 calories from trans-fat.

What does this mean for your diet?
Fat needs to play a part in everyone’s diet, even if it is a small role. Fat should be used sparingly, and should come from monounsaturated and polyunsaturated sources. A diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and lean meats is key, and can be very healthy for your heart!

Mary Gallagher, Rochester Institute of Technology Dietetics Student

Theresa’s Take – Take 9 | “Stuck”

Have you ever found yourself stuck? Webster Dictionary defines stuck as “baffled, stumped, to remain in a place, situation or environment, glued, blocked, jammed, to hold fast, and unable to proceed”.

Truth be told, I have been stuck a time or two – stuck in bad relationships, stuck in unsatisfying jobs, stuck financially, and stuck with fitness. However, I must admit that 99% of the time when I’ve found myself stuck, it was because of poor decision-making on my part. Just like the day I got my truck stuck in a snow bank. I had just taken the 2011 Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics, and became impatient after waiting almost an hour in a parking lot traffic jam. I got the bright idea that I would drive over a large snow bank to bypass all the traffic. As pictured below, the snow bank proved to be brighter and bigger than me.

Your probably wondering why I’m smiling in this picture. It’s because I’m never stuck for long! You don’t have to be either. Within 10 minutes, a group of kind souls hitched my truck to theirs and pulled me back to a straight way. We had a good laugh, and they promised to display this mishap on YouTube.

Are you stuck with your fitness goals? Is that last five pounds holding fast to your glutes? Are the first 50 pounds blocking the vision of a thinner you? Do you have so many fat rolls, you can’t see your toes? Did you eat the whole pack of Oreos again? Have you done 10,000 sit ups, and still don’t have a 6-pack? Do avoid the word exercise? If you are unable to proceed, jammed on your fitness journey, let the YMCA be your hitch to better health and wellness. Group exercise classes and/or joint personal training sessions offer the support and encouragement you may need from others in a similar jam, to help you move forward.

Ladies, Gents and Janet Jackson Wannabes, getting stuck is an occurrence, staying stuck is a choice. Call (585) 546-5500 or visit www.rochesterymca.org to find a Y near you.

Take 8 – It’s My Birthday

It’s my Birthday and this year I got just what I wanted! There I stood in the crowded room admiring its shiny white paint with silver and black trim. The design was so sleek, I was surprised it could hold so much. Seemed as though half of Rochester was out, searching for it. Truth be told, star-studded advertisements really work. As I waited patiently for my turn, I took note of the smiles and frowns of the customers before me. This was a clear indication that their numbers were good or not so good. None of us was lucky enough to get it free from Oprah. In sheer delight that I wasn’t getting a lemon this time, I was almost too afraid to climb on. I was told this baby could go from 0-200 in two seconds. God forbid that should happen, somebody please stop me.

Bet you thought it was a car. The only thing I wanted for my 43rd birthday was a scale to register 155 pounds. The aforementioned scenario was a Weight Watchers weigh-in. For those of you keeping track, that’s 80 pounds off. Never thought I would be rocking a size six like this!

If your birthday wish is a number on the scale, a smaller dress size, to fit into the Superman Roller Coaster seat, or better health and wellness, consider joining the Y. The YMCA of Greater Rochester has been voted a leader in health and fitness programs, and has helped hundreds – if not thousands – of people just like me reach their wellness goals.

Ladies, Gents and Janet Jackson Wannabes, a wish is just a wish without action. So, what are you going to do? BTW, I’m having cake, ice cream and Zumba!