Photoshopping Thin

Much has been said lately about the media's mis-representation of female bodies. I think many of us who are recovering from morbid obesity can say we have been intimidated or frustrated with unrealistic images of women in the media. Common sense tells us that yes indeed, these photos have been altered. But still, seeing perfection on the glossy pages can be intimidating. I found this post over at

Losing 20 Pounds by Getting Off the Couch

Sally has lost 20 pounds by starting a modest running program and watching her diet. When she started jogging ten weeks ago, she could only run for about 90 seconds at a stretch. She's now surprised she can do half an hour. Her abs are starting to show, just based on the the regular jogging exercise.

She's been following the Couch to 5k (or 'couch to three miles') program. This shows you how to ease into running gradually. It recommends walking and jogging at first for 20 to 30 minutes three times a week. The objective of the program is to enable you to run three miles at a stretch in just two months.

As far as her food intake goes, she's made no strict rules, she is just trying to eat lots of vegetables and to deal with the cravings.


The above poster is a woman running through the desert landscape by Dugald Bremner.

The Natural Cure for Type 2 Diabetes

There's a good article today at NPR about the causes and cures for Type 2 diabetes. A large study has found that exercise and diet are more effective than drugs in preventing and reversing diabetes. The people in the study exercised for 2.5 hours a week.

They say that the high incidence of younger people getting diabetes is very alarming. It used to be only older people who were at risk.

See more about the benefits of exercise and diet in reversing diabetes here.

Strawberry Season

It is always good to see strawberries in the market - for me this means summer is close. As a WLS-post op I find strawberries to be well tolerated and an enjoyable seasonal addition to my diet. Here's what World's Healthiest Foods has to say about strawberries:Strawberries are in the peak of their season this week.This week we celebrate the fragrantly sweet taste of strawberries. They are the

Janet Jackson Keeps the Fat Off

Janet Jackson lost 60 pounds a year ago. At that time she was on the cover of US Weekly and that magazine cover sold more copies than any other issue in the magazine's history.

So now, one year later, US Weekly has Jackson on the cover again. This time the feat is no less newsworthy. Jackson has managed to keep the weight off for the year and she looks even fitter than last year. Jackson, age 41 says she now weighs 120 pounds.

Jackson's weight loss in 2006 was probably the most dramatic celebrity makeover of the year.

Janet credits Fresh Dining with helping her lose the weight.

What a HELL of a week!

What a flaming nightmare.

I have just been released from hospital.

Oh My Goodness!!

As you know Saturday I fell down the stairs.

Well SUNDAY, I developed pain in my stomach. I am not going into it all, but I was admitted to hospital Sunday evening at about 11:00pm.

I was poked, prodded, scanned, x-rayed, drained of blood and urine and shoved in a horrible side room. However, it was not as horrible as it could have been. They could have put me in the ward with the 80-100 year old men and women in varying degrees of continence. *shudders*

It was all mind numbing to be honest. I didn't know what was happening or wen I would get out of there. I was only able to see DH and DS for 2 hours on Monday afternoon and that was it. I was just on my own. It was awful. I was on a drip and nil by mouth for 24 hours.

They decided that it was a kidney stone. I never knew that it could be so painful. It was either that or I have diverticulitis or something, but I should not have that at my age apparently. So basically they don't know what it was, except that I thought I was going to DIE of agony. it was like giving birth without painkillers. I would not even wish this pain on Ivana. She's not hard enough to deal with it... *snide tee hee*

Anyway, they finally let me out of the place at 10:30am this morning. How close can you cut that? I have spent the day getting my nails done, and my toes and the bills paid and washing and ironing and packing and tidying the house. What a nightmare!!!!!!!!!!

I am still not done, so that's why I have to tell you that it is my last post for 2 weeks.
I am sorry I haven't been weighed this week. I really wanted to know how much I weighed before the holiday, but I was in the hospital feeling lousy with myself.

So bye bye peeps! I will post weight and photo when I get back because the day I get back is my 4 month bandiversary!! Woo hoo!

Losing 125 Pounds with Weight Watchers

Karen Ebbesmeyer weighed 275 pounds two years ago. That's when she got started on the Weight Watchers program as well as walking on a treadmill at least three miles a day.

She says she eats a lot more vegetables now. Before starting the diet, she says that if she opened one can of vegetables a week she was doing good.

Karen now weighs just under 150 pounds. She's gone from a size 24 to a size 6 and is flying to New York this week to do a photoshoot for Good Housekeeping magazine. She'll be featured in their August issue.

See the full story here.