I thought I could avoid this when we moved to Mexico. I thought being here would effect a permanent change. I didn't think I would have to struggle with this anymore. I was wrong!
The doctor just told me that I am too fat.
What happened? I was doing so well. I even wrote about my progress in the book my wife and I wrote.
When we first moved to Guanajuato, I dropped about 40 pounds. This was exciting beyond my wildest expectations. We moved here without a car and vowed never to get another one. And we haven't. We ended up having to walk everywhere and everyday.
I was in Spanish classes, so I had to walk five days a week to and from classes. In addition, wherever my wife needed to go, I usually would escort her. We both became walking freaks.
I think another reason we walked so much is that we had a tiny apartment that wasn't all that comfortable. So, to keep from being bored and going stir-crazy we got out-a lot. There was also the issue of noise in that neighborhood. The people across from us had two yip-yip, demonically possessed poodles that barked day and night without end. This drove us from the apartment often.
We eventually found a lovely little house in a quiet neighborhood and snatched it. The only thing is that it is far away from anywhere. There is a downside and an upside to this.
Upside: To get to town, on goods days, we walk about thirty minutes to get to the park. We rest there, have a coke, and then proceed to the stores for shopping. Lots and lots of walking is required.
Downside: It is so far from anywhere that we are often tempted to take the bus or just not get out at all. Whereas we were walking 6-7 days a week at the other place, now we barely get our fat butts out of the house 2 or 3 times a week.
Result: Doug gained most of his old weight back and is now "fat, fat the water rat." In addition, my blood sugar is doing things it should not be doing.
Tsk! Tsk!
I admit it. I confess that I have fallen back into my old slovenly Americanized lifestyle of eating too much of the wrong kinds of foods and then not exercising enough.
When I told a gringo friend that my doctor told me I was too fat, he told me to get another doctor. Do you think that would work? Sigh!
So, here is the plan: I have to lose at least 2 kilos, according to my doctor, per month. He said to avoid all the foods and treats I adore and to walk my butt off. (I am convinced that's where most of the weight is located-in my butt.)
He told me to show back up in a month for a weigh-in. That was three weeks ago and I haven't lost one ounce. What am I going to do?
My options:
? Fast for a week.
? Find another doctor.
? Fast and jog for a week.
? Hide out from the doctor and then show up later claiming I lost track of time.
? Throw myself at the doctor's feet and cry for mercy.
? Tell him Weight Watchers only accept women in Mexico (Oh, wait! There is no Weight Watchers here.).
? Go for the office visit and introduce myself as Se?or Fat, fat the water rat."
? Send someone disguised as me who is really skinny.
Seriously, obesity is a serious problem and though I am struggling with this, I am determined to overcome it.
Write me at mexico03expat-guanajuato@yahoo.com and tell me about your struggles with weight. Give me suggestions and maybe I will use them in this column.
Doug Bower is a freelance writer and book author. His most recent writing credits include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Transitions Abroad. He lives with his wife in Guanajuato, Mexico. His new book, Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country, can be seen at http://www.lulu.com/content/126241
maide service in Lincolnshire ..Weight Watchers inspired me to change my eating habits, lose... Read More
Many critics in have attacked low carb diets for only... Read More
Fasting, when done properly, can be a basic part of... Read More
Most people who want to burn off some excess pounds... Read More
? Can you give me an exercise that will get... Read More
Getting Kids Moving - Help for Overweight TeensA residential school... Read More
Let's face when it comes to overweight and obesity there... Read More
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, writing... Read More
Have you ever seen an overweight rock climber or yoga... Read More
Before many Australians recently, a devastating story unfolded on a... Read More
Essential Fats for Weight LossOver the past few decades, the... Read More
If you're serious about losing weight and getting fit, you... Read More
On a little island half way in between Guam and... Read More
Welcome to bodybuilding weightloss exercise tips!This is the engine room... Read More
Do you struggle to maintain or lose weight? If so,... Read More
Many people (especially on the net) claim that you can... Read More
Whew! So how did you do on that last lesson?... Read More
I wonder how much it is generally known that the... Read More
When was the last time you focused so much on... Read More
Building a Perfect Body for Body Perfect Fitness and Health... Read More
Most of us are aware of the AA axiom of... Read More
How do we know what we know? Often, our knowledge... Read More
Recently, a Japanese study showed dramatic results of organ fat... Read More
First off, let me start by saying this list is... Read More
The Atkins Diet Seems To Never Go AwayFad diets come... Read More
cleaning lady near Deerfield ..Any weight loss or diet plan, including low-carb plans like... Read More
It is much safer to your long term health to... Read More
There are several ways to manage cravings. You can: ... Read More
Are you ashamed of your weight? Do you have a... Read More
One alternative method to traditional and tumescent liposuction is mesotherapy.... Read More
Are you considering a low carb diet? If so you... Read More
When you hear a doctor or a personal trainer say,... Read More
Make sure that no more than a quarter of your... Read More
Like many people I've been on dozens of diet plans... Read More
The problem isn't that you don't have enough will power... Read More
Carnitine is simply the safest and healthiest supplement you can... Read More
1. Drink 8-10 glasses of water each dayOkay, for many... Read More
It happens every morning when you mosey out of bed,... Read More
*Do you truly believe that not eating or cutting back... Read More
This year, we all made some of the typical New... Read More
Diet Fads-Forget about 'EmAnother fad "best diet" bites the dust.... Read More
The diet that worked for meI have had a lot... Read More
Everywhere we look in the western world we are inundated... Read More
New gastric bypass patients say they miss food, they grieve... Read More
For some of us, food is warmth and love. We... Read More
You have heard enough about losing weight with various means... Read More
When you talk about losing weight you're really talking about... Read More
It seems everyone is looking for that magic bullet -... Read More
When embarking on a weight loss program people will almost... Read More
America loves fast food. Last year, consumers spent billions of... Read More
Weight Loss |