Fat Woman Walking

At the risk of appearing trollish, I posted a version of the following on someone else’s Facebook timeline because I believe it’s important to educate others about the detrimental effects of fat shaming, even of public figures we dislike. I admit: I have been guilty of this, especially when it comes to our former president (2017-2021). However, upon reflection, I realize I don’t need to resort to slinging barbs at someone’s physical condition -- better to call out what they do and what they say. After all, we don’t shame Texas Governor Greg Abbott for being in a wheelchair -- we stick to issues at hand, even in our parodies. We intuitively understand it would just be a cheap shot to “wheelchair shame” someone.   Fat shaming is never a good look. There’s a lot to criticize about a certain political figure (to remain unnamed here) without resorting to her physical looks (it’s true that, in our culture, fat women seem to take the brunt of fat shaming). Obesity is not a cho...

  Because. It. Works. The Long Version

  Jennifer in 2010 -- Her thick neck in this photo is indicative of Sleep Apnea. ___________________ Diagnosis: Sleep Apnea. It was May 2016 when the Pulmonologist delivered the bad news. I weighed in at 196 – not my all-time high, but high enough (In the late 1990’s, I tipped the scales at a whopping 230 pounds, morbid obesity territory, given my small bone structure). Before the diagnosis, I had decided to stop dieting altogether – I was 65, after all, and after so many diet failures, enough was enough. Never mind that I was beginning to experience mobility issues and shortness of breath after walking just one block. And uphill walking? My heart seemed to pound against my ears. Still, these issues weren’t enough to send me to Dietland – I was having enough trouble navigating through the portal of Elderland without worrying about my weight. But Sleep Apnea? This sounds serious. Scary.   Moreover, I would need to use a CPAP, possibly for the rest of my life. ...

  Above :  Six years ago (March 2016), I was 80 pounds heavier (196 pounds) than I am now.  In May 2016, things got real. I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, and I needed to lose weight for health reasons.  I went back to Weight Watchers, and throughout the rest of 2016 and 2017, I lost about 67 pounds and got down to 127-130, but then I stalled out (Sound familiar?). I started gaining again. A familiar arc... Between 2017 and 2019, my weight jumped  from 127 to 155, and then I read about IF.  A game changer. ______________   Above :  In spring 2019. Before IF. About 35 pounds heavier (About 150 pounds). I had lost a lot of weight in 2017, but I could not keep it off. I was always hungry, it seemed, and my weight was ticking upward -- again.  In late 2019, I read an article about IF and decided to give losing weight one more shot. I started on January 2, 2020, just before the pandemic. ______________   Above :  After IF. 2022....