Weight Doesnt Matter

Weight Doesn’t Matter If You Are Healthy

I take an intense session of water aerobics three to four times a week, and, to be honest I think it is one of the main reasons why I am alive, with low colesteral and good blood pressure three years after my bypass. It is also a factor in the fact that, in spite of a neuropathy that has at times been crippling, I hardly ever use a cane anymore, and the last time I used a walker was when I had ankle surgery last summer.

That said, water aerobics is interesting. Most of the participants are females who are approaching my age range rapidly (there are a few whippersnappers, but….) and they come in ALL sizes. During my participation in the class, we have had several instructors, most of them VERY good, a few, kind of “iffy”. Most of them have been nursing, or exercise therapy students from the University, and generally they are small. Our current teacher/coach is a former competitive gymnast, with thighs about the size of my upper arms. She has frequently lectured us on the above topic. If you are healthy and feel good about yourself, weight doesn’t matter. She frequently belittles the TV ads for step aerobics, pilates, and even classes in those kinds of things. Exercise will make you healthy says she, but it won't really take off weight. She says that, even though she both takes classes and teaches classes in these disciplines.

Last week, she suddenly went into a mini tirade (as we were doing “jumping jacks” with water weights in our hands) about the number of calories in a donut. Chatter went on about the Suzanne Sommers diet, Weight Watchers, Atkins, etc. When I challenged her as a bit of a hypocrite, she explained.

Her brother is getting married in June, and she is to be one of the attendants (of some kind, she didn’t clarify). A week or so ago, her brother went out and bought the dresses for herself and her sister. (She didn’t mention how this affected her sister, and it would be interesting to find out). The last time her brother had purchased clothing for her was about five or six years ago when she was actively competing in gymnastics. At that time she was a size one (She could fool me into thinking she was a size one now, but. . . ) Of course the dress her brother bought was a size one. She says that she can get the dress on, and could wear it, as long as she didn’t have to walk, or sit, or move, or any of those kinds of things. She is now deep into diets, is taking twice as many exercise classes, and is determined to fit into the expensive dress by the wedding. Oh well, so much for just being healthy and feeling good.