Crazy things are happening all over the world and we are still worrying about how fat we look.

Earthquakes, tsunamis, people being killed, being dying suddenly, its seems as if the world is slowly falling a part. At these times, we either become selfless or selfish. I hope that for the most part, we reach a balance that lasts with us always and not only in times like these. There is a way to be selfless and selfish at the same time, it may take some conscious effort tho.

Some people who didn't know me before I moved to Israel don't know that I struggled with my weight all throughout my adolescence. People ask me how long I have been exercising and into health and fitness and the answer I give and the truth, is 9 years, come Pesach time. Before April 2002 I was fat. I didn't consciously over-eat, I just didn't move and ate what I wanted, when I wanted. I can't remember if it was triggered by anything, if it was emotional eating, or just that I ate and didn't exercise at all. I'm sure if I tried really hard to remember or if I asked my parents, then I would know but it isn't all that important to me now. What triggered the drastic change, and I call it that because it was drastic, compared to my lifestyle before April 2002, was a bacteria that caused an infection in my stomach and caused me to be in a lot of pain and discomfort whenever I ate. Solution = not to eat. It wasn't as simple as that, but that's basically how it started. Now, most of the people who have known me for the last 8 years, know that in the beginning of my life here in Israel, there was very little that I would eat. No dairy, no meat (which I constantly reminded people was not because I care about the animals not to eat them), very few vegetables, no wheat products............ it goes on. At the same time that I stopped eating, I started to exercise. I would go to the gym 3x a week after school to swim, run, use weights... I instantly felt the change. Obviously I lost weight, there was a lot to lose, and I was feeling better digestively. Oh, and I would drink lots and lots and lots of water. Now, I don't usually talk about my fat days, not because I am ashamed, I am proud that they are behind me, but exactly because of that, they are behind me and I don't feel the need to discuss them on a daily basis. Now, that does not mean that I don't think about them weekly, that I am not conscious of my body and how it is today compared to my high school days. I try not to let it rule my life, but being in the field that I am in and surrounded by health and fitness, it has become part of my lifestyle, who am I kidding, it has become my whole persona. I try not to impose it on others, I have come to the realization that "if you will it, it will come" applies to all aspects of life, especially health and exercise. You can't force anyone to be something that they don't want to be, it just won't work, you will get frustrated, they will hate you and the whole endeavor will be a failure.

Now, why did I decide to bring this all up today? Obviously it has to do with Runner's World. There was a great article written by Peter Sagal about how the "The memory of being fat never subsides—even after you become fit." And I have to agree with him. I liked this excerpt the most:

"If you've ever been fat, you will either be fat for the rest of your life or you will worry about being fat the rest of your life." I came across those words 20 years ago in the play "Fighting International Fat," by Jonathan Reynolds. A pretty obscure place to find the underlying thesis of your waking life, but one doesn't get to choose. That casual observation struck me with the profound power of its obvious truth, much like Kafka's observation, "The meaning of life is that it ends." Kafka did not then add, "...but once you're dead, you won't gain weight." Which I would have found comforting.'

You can read the rest of the article by clicking on the link below:

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-243-297--13846-2-1-2,00.html

So, I guess, the point of today's post is to remind all of you out there, that self image is not all there is in this world, there are more important things, like making sure you tell the people you care about, how much you care about them, show appreciation to those who help, be nice to people even if you don't know them................... It ain't easy, believe me, I am not "little miss sunshine" but I struggle and I hope that I succeed, just like I struggle and hope that I continue succeeding with my health and weight. And I try not to let it rule my life.

'Till next time.

Peace and Health :)