Category Archives: Health

Designing the Weight of the Union

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Over the last month, I have been working with a team at work to produce this infographic. This is the third edition of The Weight of the Union report. This year, we took a different approach. We looked at the macro view of the country in comparison to other countries.

Did you know that we are the wealthiest country in the world, but we aren’t healthy. Bloomberg rated the United States #33 on their “healthiest country” list. Sad, right?

Well enough chit-chat…here is the infographic. Enjoy!

Weight of the Union 3 Infographic

Infographic via Anytime Fitness

Retailers and Plus Sizes

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So I wanted to preface this story with the fact that I recently saw a piece on TV about J.Crew and their history. I was fascinated because I love J.Crew. But I was sort of shocked when the CEO responded to a woman emailing the company about not having her size. And that is where this all started…


As I walked into Forever 21, I could just tell that nothing was going to fit. And after looking at all the cute clothes, I was instantly depressed. All I could think was, “why don’t they make this cute stuff in my size?”

And you know what, that isn’t fair to Forever 21. I have cried, and cried about shit like that. Stuff doesn’t fit, and I go home and cry. I started shopping at Goodwill because of it…where most send their clothes post weight-loss (at least I did).

Sure, some stores adapted their styles to fit people like me. LOFT increased sizes to 16 even 18 online. I was able to buy a dress. Finally, I thought.

But then, I wanted to go back to Forever 21.

The retailers did me both a favor and an injustice. Forever 21 encouraged me to lose weight, even though, I didn’t really care for a lot of their clothes. At the end of the day I just wanted the option to buy their clothes.

LOFT provided me an out for not losing weight. They said, “No, Amanda, you’re fine, come in here we have your size.”

But here lies the problem,

I was overweight. I couldn’t fit into a 16, at some stores. And it was depressing. But for a long time I did nothing about it.

And for those of you who complain about a regular* store not carrying your size, think of it as a wake up call. Being overweight is not healthy. Curves are beautiful, but being overweight or obese is not.

Please don’t take what I say as rude and mean because I have been there. I know how annoying it is not to be able to buy that cute outfit because The Limited didn’t have my size. I get it. But what I don’t get is our ability to put our health and self-esteem on the back burner.

Live your life the way you want but don’t complain to the retailers because you can’t fit into their* sizes. Take this opportunity and go for walk, and start your journey to health today!

*And by their sizes, I mean regular sizes (2-14) not the couture or runway fashion sizes, because (let’s be real) a very small selection of the population can actually fit into those!

 

What do you think? Am I totally off base here? Or do we need to take a longer look at our health?

McDonalds: Love and Hate Relationship

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As I was driving home tonight I saw a McDonalds sign and instantly thought, “that sounds good.” But then right away I thought, no that is bad for me…I don’t need that right now.

Sure many of you could say to me that I can find healthier alternatives at McDonalds and while you are right the alternatives aren’t what I want from McDonalds. I want my McChicken meal with a diet coke. And usually I also want a hot fudge sundae. Why would I order the thing I don’t want (a salad) instead of the things I want? Even though I know it’s healthier.

So what do I do? I keep driving knowing that I can eat something both healthy and tasty at home.

I don’t know a time without McDonalds. Ever since I was little, McDonalds has been there. We used to go there every once and while when I kids. I have good memories. My weight does not.

They get a lot of crap from the media for being “unhealthy” along with a lot of other adjectives. And while I do agree they aren’t the healthiest, it is us (the consumer) who makes the choice to eat there. So don’t blame McDonalds for your weight gain. But they do a great job of making me hungry just by seeing their signs. And for that I just do everything in my power to resist going in or driving-thru.

Do you ever have to play two roles in your head?

photo credit: Thomas Hawk