Does anybody read these?

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Taking the plunge

So, I'm going to Weight Watchers today. They are having a special -- 10 weeks for $99 -- so I figure for $9.90 a week, I can try it out and see what happens.

I'm not sure about all the points and that shit, but I know this: I need to get back into a routine of weekly accountability and working toward being healthier. I would rather go to TOPS because it's cheaper and I do well with it, but the WW office is across the street from work, so I have access to more than one meeting a week.

I can tell already that we are going to have a throw-down about my goal weight, but I'm not going to worry about that right now. I can tell that, because it's physically impossible for me to get to my goal weight. Why? Because I'm a big girl with an athletic frame. That won't change even if the frame is not covered in fat. The high weight for my height on the infamous height-weight chart is 128. When I had my body fat tested a while ago, my skin, bones and muscles weighed 131. Needless to say, 128 is never going to happen for me. As much as I bitch about my period, I'd much rather have it than look like Leann Rimes.

This blog won't be about losing weight. It's still about whatever I want it to be about. And nine times out of 10, cupcake recipes are more exciting than weight loss. And losing weight doesn't mean I'm giving up cupcakes. Not happening. We'll work around it, even though my body at 35 is way different than my body at 25. At 25, I could go to the gym and work out for an hour and eat whatever I wanted. Now I have to work out for an hour and eat lettuce to lose weight.

I'm trying to get back on track with a lot of things, and, of course, I'll keep you posted. I'm just hoping this won't be a complete and total waste of $100. It could happen.

Monday, September 05, 2011

Labor Day

I'm cooking up several blog posts, but I needed to stop for a minute to reflect on Labor Day.

In this day and age, it's easy to lose sight of the contributions of organized labor to our society. As the attack on the American worker continues, we need to remember our history and move forward as a nation, never losing sight on what others went through in order for us to have basic rights.

Child-labor laws. Health care. 40-hour work weeks. Safe work environments. Fair wages.

All of those things exist because organized labor stood up for all of us. Men and women lost their lives to organize their industries. And we take that for granted. Day by day, the rights of the worker are eroded. Companies have back-room plans to thwart labor efforts. Customers and workers cross picket lines. No one "looks for the union label" anymore.

9 percent of our workforce is unemployed. Every day, American workers train people in India to do their jobs. One-third of our population is uninsured.

Yet, we're buying cheap crap at Walmart. We're driving foreign cars made in non-union shops. We want everything cheaper, and we don't understand why we're losing our rights as workers.

Even if we're not in unions, we need to stand up for those who are. If the last few years have taught us nothing, we should know that we can't trust corporations to do the right thing. Labor unions hold them accountable. Without unions, those working today wouldn't be making holiday pay. No one would have health insurance at work. Those of us sitting at home wouldn't have a paid holiday. We wouldn't earn fair wages and our workplaces wouldn't be safe. Because big business doesn't give a shit about people, they want to make money and will do it at any cost. If that weren't the case, companies wouldn't have secret plans to stop union activity at their businesses.

Buy American. Look for the union label. Take a minute today, between your pool parties and barbecues, to thank organized labor for your holiday.