Weight loss

Just a quick update. Down 10 pounds in 2 weeks.

Day 18 for quitting smoking as well.

Celebrity Weight Loss/Gain For Movies

I thought this was interesting. Some of these are insane. 

I think I would be able to lose weight or putting on muscle for a role and would be okay with it, like in the case of Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, or Hilary Swank, because I feel I would be improving myself or would be able to go to a revert to a less extreme state again with less work.

However purposely putting on tons of weight knowing I was going to have to take it off again would kill me. Renee Zellweger is the one that really gets me because she gained weight twice when she obviously is big on being thin and toned. And Jared Leto just for health reasons.

Christian Bale is intense for changing his weight so many times for various roles.

Nicotine Patch and Weight Loss?

I recently decided to finally quit smoking after about 6 years.

I signed up for a program offered by my University where they offer free nicotine replacement therapy, ie. the patch and gum.

I was always a little concerned about the potential for weight gain when quitting smoking, given what everyone says but I'm actually really liking the patch so far. The weight gain seems to come not just with quitting smoking, but partly with quitting nicotine.

A quick overview of what I've gathered is that the patch provides a constant supply of nicotine. Nicotine raises the metabolism, causes the body to release glycogen and suppresses appetite.

So far on the patch I've noticed I haven't really been hungry at all nor have I had any real food cravings. Old habits die hard so I'm using this to my advantage for weight loss at the moment.

Hopefully I can pull this off....

I do fear gaining weight once I'm off the patch but that won't be for 2-3 months and by then I will be resuming a physically intensive job, which will hopefully prevent that from happening.

Either way, having hunger and cravings more under my control hopefully I can prevent binges, eat healthy and lose weight.

The sick part of me is screaming for me to restrict and fast.

In the past 48 hours all I've had is coffee, tea and soup, and nothing today.

I'm just going to focus on how I'm making myself healthier by quitting smoking, rather than on the re-emergence of some old, persistent demons.

Quitting smoking is very important to me and linking the quitting process to weight loss helps motivate me, as weird as that may me.

Smokers

Not smoking

Dove VS Victoria's Secret

The image below has been subject to some controversy due to the conflicting body imagery in these "body positive" campaigns.

Some argue that the Victoria's Secret campaign is promoting a certain body type, namely that of a thin, fit woman whose body may be unattainable for most. Others go as far to say that it does not empower women but rather makes them feel poorly about themselves as they do not look a certain way.

I feel this evaluation of the Victoria's Secret ad may be a little harsh as it is trying to send a message for women to love their body, and simply uses the models and images that are so closely associated with its brand. 

The Dove campaign is known for its "real women, real beauty", sending a message that women who do not have the "perfect" body or who have curves are beautiful. However it has also been argued that this campaign may actually be just as harmful as it only shows a select subset of women and body types, just as Victoria Secret does. 

There has recently been a media movement against being thin and saying "real women have curves" and are real women should not be stick thin, but this is just as body negative as saying a woman is not beautiful if she does not have the perfect body. I understand that the effort is to reduce idealizing being overly thin but there are a variety of natural body types, one of them being thin. 

I think that there has been a great overcompensation for the negativity surrounding being "fat" or not having the perfect body. Criticizing any woman (or person) based on their body, be it fat or thin, is incredibly harmful. I think what should matter is if a person is happy, comfortable and healthy. There is a large range of "healthy" weights and much more comes into play than just weight when considering health and happiness.

I personally find myself wondering why people think it is not acceptable to criticize women for being larger, yet still think it is acceptable to criticize women for being thinner. Everyone is entitled to their personal opinion on the matter it is just that these criticisms being out out there have a negative tone and are incredibly pervasive. 

I myself have made comments about the weight and appearance of others but this is due to a personal preference or opinion of mine. In these comments I am never trying to send the message that my thoughts about a particular person applies to anyone else, or women in general. This is why I take issue with these other posts. 

Regardless of body type no woman should be made to feel badly about how she looks. I don't personally take offense to either campaign, but I did raise an eyebrow seeing the lack of variety in both. 

The second image posted however does irritate me as it is one of many similar images that have a negative feel to them about what is deemed to be attractive. I don't care who they are saying is more attractive that whoever else, I just hate the judgement and that is feels like it is trying to send a message to women about how they should look.

I like the body positive campaigns, even though they aren't perfect its a nice step in the right direction.

Regardless of how you look, your weight, your body type, your flaws, learn to your yourself. 

Ain't no Wifey

 Love this picture. Love that shirt. 

Sometimes I think I should buy a shirt like that so men finally get the hint.

No, I don't want to cook you dinner.
No, I don't want to be YOUR woman.
No, I don't want to be "domesticated".

Maybe its just me. I don't take issues if other women want to have these things because I feel everyone should be free to make their own choices but for what I want in my life, being someone's "wifey" definitely doesn't fit the bill.

I'd much prefer to take care of myself, having my own career, and an equal partnership. This may be the independent streak and career ambition talking lol. (Not trying to say that being married negates these things).

Either way, the picture made me chuckle to myself.