TheFATladyBlog

Plus Size Blogger's BoobsInvite Terror Threat Mishap

Fat people have problems that others wouldn't imagine. A recent trip to New Orleans found me the subject of a round of  "pat-down" searches that made me miss a plane connection. A problematic under wire on my 44D bra (photo at left) tripped the sensor at the security gate, and a subsequent round of patty cakes with the security sentries missed hardly an inch of this rotund torso. I'm presently booking a flight to San Francisco for the annual The National Assn. of REALTORS^®  convention. This time I'm opting for a row-of-small-clasps-at-the-front support model (photo at right), hoping that a reduction in metal alloy will grant quicker access to air transport. My other option is to forego the bra altogether. That may be the ticket. Advice from other plus-size women with similar dilemmas is welcome. The Transportation Security Administration has lots of good tips about travel, but avoids the metal uplift issue altogether.

Legislation Puts Health Care At Risk

See what's happening in Washington that threatens our health care. Contact your legislators today.

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Dodging The Diabetes Bullet

I added a new link today for a site that I stumbled upon, Death To Diabetes. It looks interesting. Here's an excerpt:

"Three years ago I went into a diabetic coma with a blood glucose level of 1340 -- more than twelve hundred points above normal. Despite a set of complications that included severe hyperglycemia, dehydration, two blood clots, pneumonia and four insulin shots a day, I was able to use my engineering and biochemistry background to methodically and completely wean myself off the drugs to lower my average glucose level to 88.5 mg/dl and my hemoglobin A1C to 4.4%, reversing my diabetes and requiring no drugs of any kind -- all in less than 4 months."

The Beach Boys Have Good VibrationsFrom Flower Child To Golden Girl

It is the summer of 1970. The Beach Boys take the stage at The Schaeffer Music Festival in Central Park, NYC. A flower child, 18 years old, blond hair to her waist, rocks and rolls to cheerful melodies born in Southern California. There is a faint perfume of sweet cannabis and the crowd dances on chairs and in aisles. Fast forward to the summer of 2005. The flower child's tresses are barely shoulder length, with blond highlights straight from a bottle, and the surfing sounds of Brian Wilson and company come from a boom box CD in the cavernous swimming pool of a local YMCA. A determined group of aquatic calisthenics disciples includes silver haired gentlewomen, portly females, and otherwise weight sentient ladies. There is a faint perfume of chlorine and the crowd lifts Styrofoam barbells and consummates jumping jacks in rhythm with the music. Some things never change. Music is a universal balm that stills the restless spirit and kindles merriment.

People Magazine Article On Weight Loss

Don't miss the People magazine article on weight loss this week. It's about real people who lost lots of weight the old fashioned way, sensible eating and exercise. There's no surgery, miracle cure, or drugs touted in the piece. It's a good read.

State College (PA) Wedding Countdown

I have the number right on the refrigerator door. In less than a year Jens Holger Thorsen and Rebecca Pangborn will tie the knot in State College. It's a great tool to stay temptation. Tomorrow morning it's "Hydro" at the YMCA pool. I hear it's a deep-end program. I'm finally recovering from Thursday's "Aquablast" session. Anything that hurts this much must be working, right? I wonder how long it will take to pare down four dress sizes.

I'm Taking My Swim ExerciseUp A Notch With Aquablast and Hydro

See that scale? That's six pounds closer to the goal, and now I'm kicking things up a bit in the exercise department. I was feeling too good after those laps, not enough pain. I registered for two cardio workout classes at the YMCA, a shallow water program with weights (Aquablast), and a deep water program with belts (Hydro).

I had my first Aquablast session last night, a full 60-minute cardio workout program that must have hit every single muscle group. Cross-country skiing exercises underwater, jumping jacks, jogging, stretching, and constant movement. My sister, Linda, my personal telephonic nurse advisor, suggested that I bring water to rehydrate. I thought, "Rehydrate? I'll be in a pool!" I could hardly believe that I could work up such a sweat in a swimming pool. What a great round of exercise! Talk about an endorphine rush!

I'm Finding Absolute LuxuryIn The Simple Things Of Life

Luxury does not have to reside in a limousine, a four-star hotel, or an exotic destination. One of the lessons I have learned is the luxury that is intrinsic in self pampering. And it's the little things that count the most. Here's a great example. I'm a double-coupon shopper. I've been using the best coupons for hair care products for years. Never gave it a second thought. Recently, a friend treated me to a shampoo and conditioner gift. Talk about Vavoooom! What a difference a day makes when you start with a hair wash like that! Besides adding protein, rejuvenating the scalp, adding volume, yadda yadda yadda yadda, this little change in my M.O. for the day makes a difference. And every little bit helps, believe me! Find a way to pamper yourself. You'll find it's good not only for you but for the people around you.

Support Breast Cancer Bill

There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home hours after surgery against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.

PLEASE!! Sign the petition by CLICKING HERE. You need not give more than your name and zip code number.

Please send this message to others to help spread the word. Never send a message from a blog? Here's how. Find the "Permalink" text just below this post and click it. It will open this post with its own address in the browser....highlight the URL, copy, and send it in your e-mail. It's as easy as that.

Diet Plans Encyclopedia

Here is an online repository of diet information with reviews, outlines, samples, and investigation of over 80 diets. We really should start using "weight loss" and other synonyms here...it's just not right to push DIET when the first three letters are D-I-E. Let's collect some good synonyms for our weight loss lexicon:  weight reduction plan, abstinence (nah!), fasting, xerophagy (for the William Buckley wannabes, no doubt).