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You Will Not Make Me Sloppy!
I don’t like being sloppy. I never have and I never will. And by sloppy, I don’t mean not paying attention to details on TPS reports or having a spaghetti stain on a dingy white dress shirt. I’m not referring to a cluttered bedroom with shoes and socks tossed about like a child threw a tantrum. I’m not talking about sweaty and drunk sex. And I’m definitely not talking about a McDonald’s cheeseburger wrapper balled up in the backseat of my whip and hidden from wifeykins cuz she doesn’t want me eating there…then again, that would be kinda sloppy. Come to think of it, that is exactly the type of sloppy I’m talking about.
There have been a couple stretches in my life where I’ve teetered on the brink of physical sloppiness because of poor eating habits and minimal non-bedroom exercise. During each of those stretches, there came a point where I found myself looking in the mirror attempting to flex feeble pecs as my nipples depressingly pointed downwards (Not a good look). There would be other instances where I’d be running to catch a bus or train and I’d feel my formerly muscular thighs slapping together (Not a good sound).
I was recently looking at pictures of myself from a little bit over a year ago. I was a slim and chiseled machine (this is part of how I picked my blogging alias). My abs were capable of activating a woman’s lubrication mechanisms from a distance. My eating habits and athletic work ethic were amazing. I was ready to be a track star again!! Then I looked down at my stomach and my depleted definition and quickly came back to the present. I lifted my hands to the sky and yelled “whyyy?!” before realizing I knew the answer to my current predicament and my situations past. My eating habits went to sh*t and for months I found myself too tired or lacking the time to go to the gym. So who do I blame for such atrocities?
My Job.
Yes. The thing that allows me to keep a roof over my head and clothes on my back has aided in turning me into an almost-slop bucket. In college, there was the freshman 15. That wasn’t an issue for me because my responsibilities were class and sports. The 15 that I put on freshman year was the good kind. I ODed and ate every and anything because I could. In the real world if you OD, you end up putting on the professional pounds. There’s no set number for the professional pounds. It can be anywhere between 10 and 40. And don’t think that because you did nothing and lost weight that you’re not still victim to the professional pounds. That weight isn’t gone, it’s just dormant waiting to go right where you don’t want it to go. Give it a few years. You’ll see.
I’ve worked for 2 companies since graduating college. Each with it’s perks and downfalls. During the periods where I wasn’t in good shape or at my healthiest, work was running my life. A lot of people would say that being successful at your job (depending on the industry) requires tremendous personal sacrifice. I thought I understood this statement, but I guess I didn’t quite realize that sacrifice meant more than free time. It meant my physical and mental health.
It’s hard to feel good when you don’t look good (according to your own standard). It’s also hard to do the things to look good when you have to shortcut your meals and roll with the efficiency of fast food, or your co-workers are constantly bringing in baked goods and inviting you out for drinks and more sloppy foods. If your job involves schmoozing, you’re probably screwed all the more and I don’t mean that in no nice way. And we can’t forget all those days where pizza is ordered to the office/class group meeting and it’s cheaper to eat that then go out and cop a salad or sandwich.
Nowadays I’m learning to adapt. I’m writing out meals for the week. I’m keeping a drawer full of somewhat healthy snacks even though I can’t kick the sour patch kid habit. I’m conditioning myself to go to the gym as early as 615am to knock out the workouts. I’ll even turn down social functions in and outside of work if I think it’s gonna throw me off track. I’ve promised myself that I won’t let my job and those around me make me sloppy. Maybe this is a sign that I do indeed need a serious career change…when the economy picks back up. We’ll see.
So for today folks, I’m curious what work has done to you? How has your job, or desired career path for those still in school, affected your health and well-being? What types of things have you done to overcome the supernatural being that is work/school?
Maintaining,
36 Responses to “You Will Not Make Me Sloppy!”
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Those road trips we take, BR! Fastest way to kill your diet..
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Man oh man, you are definitely preaching to the choir. The freshman 15 has nothing on what working 60+ hours a week will do to you. I had it easy in college. Big as campus was I always walking off the weight. And my eating habits were 10 times worse then. Now all day I spend my time chasing headlines, running from meeting to meeting and trying to turn out multiple articles before deadline. All this stress makes me hungy. Being a reporter is making me fat!
But I refuse to be the fat reporter. So I’ve started modifying my eating even more. No more fried or fast foods. I ride 10 miles a day on my exercise bike, and I’m walking to interviews or meetings withing 15 minutes of the office.
Now if only I could find a way to get to sleep. Yeah the job keeps me up late at night too. The few times I do doze off, I often dream about work-related stuff.
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Although Slim is your namesake, those who know us know I’m truly slim. To combat the scrawny, I used to eat OD amounts of food and work out to maintain my Bruce Lee like cuts during the summer/fall, but like Mr. Jackson here, work and outside influences made me fall off.
I had the same experience, I looked in the mirror and saw more string beans than the vegetable aisle and my prominent lines dividing my six pack were dissolving like an Etch-A-Sketch. The only thing worse than a slim dude without the chisel is one with a gut. Bollocks!
After that personal intervention, I’m back on the wagon. I’m working hard and working out hard so I can show off my tats with pride this summer.
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Reign Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 10:00 am
“The only thing worse than a slim dude without the chisel is one with a gut. Bollocks! ”
Tell me about it! Same goes for females but with us it has an EWWWW factor.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Definitely does. As a lithe young man, I’ve usually dealt with the svelte members of the opposite sex. And nothing’s worse than a small chick with a tire. SMH.
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Southern Belle Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Good luck on getting bigger (pause.) It’s hurtful to see arm art on a stickly man so hopefully you get that together. If not, as long as you’re not walking around with some poetic word/slogan in a fancy script you should be able to get away with it. ::Walks away slowly::
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Vanessa aka Miss V Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
I’m with you here… I’m slim but the gut is starting to appear. I’m also planning on getting more tats this summer, so I HAVE to shape up!
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I actually gained my freshman 15 in the first 2 months of school lol, but lost it in a month but just working out an hour everyday after class.
But unlike you all I don’t sacrifice for my job… I hate it here, lol. So most of my weight is just not finding time between dropping the kid off at the bus and work, and when I get off work and picking the kid up. I just didn’t feel right about picking him up from after school care then putting him right back into the kid care at the gym.
But after seeing myself a few months ago in the dressing room mirror at Banana Republic…. my fitness game is on! I went from a 4 to an 8-9 in one year… yea seriously, the only positive to that is now I have a booty (Yess!!).
I love to eat so that’s not going to change, so just adding exercise and dancing back into my schedule has really helped me tone up. I’m not trying to loose weight anymore since I want to keep newfound assets lol, but I’m fit, curvy and losing inches. Our careers aren’t going anywhere so you definitely have to find time to keep yourself healthy and happy.
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Vanessa aka Miss V Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
hahaha girl, i feel you on the jump in dress sizes… OMG
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staying in shape takes commitment. its not something that you can just do. i remember there was a time and point where i could just go to the gym after school in the evenings. that stopped after i got my part time. so the only time i could go was before school. seeing as how i’m at school by 8 most days that means i have to get up at 5 to make the gym by 5:30. its a bitch but it has be to done.
i plan to never to be out of shape (if i can help it). this morning my workout kicked my ass but you feel so much better about yourself after you leave the gym.
i’m on the other side of the spectrum. i’m naturally thin so i have to eat a lot more to keep my weight up. i used to drink whey protein and eat a lot of carbs and protein in hopes of gaining more weight. now i’m comfortable with being just lean and in shape.
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Reign Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 10:02 am
I just hit that wall. I used to be able to eat what I want and not have to work out… well that is no more. I like to eat too much to go on some sort of diet so working out more is my only resolution. definitely takes committment on those days when you just want to go home and sleep or sleep in.
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Tunde Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 10:22 am
i hope i never hit that wall. my grandparents are in their 80′s and they are still very slim. hopes genes work in my favor in this case.
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OrangeStar616 Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Its definately about commitment and sacrifce as well as discipline, I’m up @ 4/4:30am to get mine in most mornings during the week….
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Well Slim.
I don’t do work luncheons, pot lucks, happy hours and fattening sh*t they bring in here on the reg, nor did I do that @ my last agency.
Do I get funny looks and hateration etc? yeah, LOL, do I give “what”
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Most of these people here are overweight and out of shape and I see why from just whats consumed here at work. SMH.
I maintain healthier eating habits most of the time and consistent workouts including weight training…I’m not playing, I refuse to get big cause I’m getting older, thats Bull and doesn’t have to happen if you actively counter that effect….
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Ever since entering the professional world, Iâ??ve noticed most of the successful men within my company have THE CORPORATE GUT! SMH! I think that goes hand-in-hand with the sacrifice for success as you noted. I personal would rather look and feel healthy then be successful and unhealthy with the possible chance of my stomach blocking the view of my shoes when I look down. I think the discipline of monitoring what we eat as we get older is the key. Iâ??ve personally traded the scrambled eggs, white toast and beef sausage (pause) for the eggs whites, turkey bacon on wheat toastâ?¦-BBW aka â??Anti-Corporate Gut Member on the BALCO workout planâ??
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“How has your job, or desired career path for those still in school, affected your health and well-being?”
Hmm…
I work out all the time, running is the eraser to the chalkboard that is my life. College men in the gym are sexy and serve as my motivation to keep it tight (pause.) But then again, I’m in Syracuse and sexy is a relative term–but back in Miami, ::breathes:: HEL-LO!
In terms of my well-being, work makes me angry and school makes me apathetic. So I’ve become a lot like the emo goths you went to high school with, minus all the dark clothing plus showers.
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Before I got my full-time job, I used to work at this art center and I thought that was the hardest obstacle in terms of turning-down pastries. We have this lovely bakery in my neighborhood and these mofos would bring FREE freshly baked dozen-donut boxes and plant them on the front desk where I worked. Couldn’t turn down one.
And then when I got here, I thought I’d escaped. Naw, we have potlucks, candy-lucks, pastry lucks. One time we had a salad-luck, though. LMFAO. We’re a young bunch in my department so we often have socials that revolve around food. If I partake in such heaven, I usually try to deprive myself of anything else that day and work my butt out ’til I’m sweatin’ like a whore in church. At least we do have some health-conscious people here where we don’t have them too often.
Know what’s worse than the job adding the pounds? The job plus Chicago winter. Winter in and of itself presents a toll on your workout/healthy eating plan, so combine the two and it’s hell. I’ve slipped a bit this winter, but it wasn’t as bad as last winter. Probably because I caught myself earlier. Hopefully next winter I don’t slip at all.
The freshman 15? I probably gained a bit of that when I was living in the dorms, but as soon as I moved out of that overpriced closet, I lost that and more. I got pretty thin during college days because I was poor and ate nothing but sandwiches and Ramen noodles (without the juice…I don’t like that salty mess). It was when I returned and was able to buy real food that I gained it back. I want to get more toned, but I’m not sure if I want to get that thin again (I lost too much of my ass…unacceptable) and if I do, not the way I did it in college. I wasn’t getting all my nutrients I knew that for damn sure.
Here’s to not falling off the wagon!
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I definitely feel you on this one! I gained about 10 lbs. my freshman year in college, but I like to call that my “grown woman weight.”
But, when I graduated in 2006 and started sitting at a desk 40-50 hours a week, I gained 20 lbs in a year and half! This was a big deal as I am only 5’4″ and was 165 lbs. (I prefer to be around 135-140).
My commute was terrible (live in Atl) and I was always eating fast food and going out for happy hour. But, it just got to the point where my “fat” pants were too tight. So, in October of 07, I joined Jenny Craig (::insert laughs here::).
Now, most people laughed at me because even though I thought I was fat, I didn’t really look that big to the average person. But, it was a pride thing. I knew I wasn’t at my best and I needed to fix it.
I did Jenny for 3 months and lost 20 lbs.
Talk about an ego boost! I stayed at that weight for a year or so and continued working out and eating decently to maintain my weight. I just got a trainer in March to tone up, so I’ve lost another 5 lbs. doing that.
I learned from that experience that if I don’t take care of myself FIRST then everything else in my life would suffer. So, I made adjustments in my lifestyle (eating, working out) to make sure that my health came first.
I know that when I work out and eat right, I’m a better worker, a better friend, a better daughter (and one day a better wife/mother). When you’re chubby and miserable, no one wants to be around you and you don’t have any energy.
It’s depressing…
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Southern Belle Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 10:49 am
“I know that when I work out and eat right, I’m a better worker, a better friend, a better daughter (and one day a better wife/mother). When you’re chubby and miserable, no one wants to be around you and you don’t have any energy.
It’s depressing…”
Cosign.
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Slim Jackson Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 11:04 am
This comment is actually inspirational. I just took a deep breathe of fresh air and then realized I was still at work. Back to sighs until I get to the gym at 6pm.
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Ash Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Haha! Glad I could inspire! Good luck with that 6 p.m. gym appointment…
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I work in the hospitality industry (aka Schmoooooze city!). In the past week and a half, I’ve attended four receptions, gone back and forth between three boats with free booz and food, three sales employee breakfasts/lunches, etc. Not only did this mess up my entire work out schedule, it impeded on quality time with my booboobear. Who knew talking and eating/dranking could be so exhausting!! Working in such an industry makes free food and drank too easily accessible. Work will not get the best of me…it will not.
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“I work in the hospitality industry (aka Schmoooooze city!).”
I CONCUR. SCHMOOZEVILLE ALL DAY, EVERYDAY!
It’s all about food and drank in these here parts. “Go to this reception. Eat our beefy sliders (Can I get a pause?). Drink our 3000 calorie Cabernet. Taste my caramel pastry. How bout the tenderness on that tenderloin! Come out for drinks after work; Johnny’s got a great hookup at the new lounge that just opened up!” IT’S LIKE GEEEEEEEEZ MAN! Can I just say I’ve put on a nice 20 pounds since I’ve graduated college? I mean…it could be a good twenty pounds since I’ve always been “washboard” thin…but still…I should not be making deals and negotiations with my work clothes on a monthly basis.
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Nyela Goodness Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 11:46 am
“I should not be making deals and negotiations with my work clothes on a monthly basis.”
lmao
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I know what you mean Slim.
Our Alma Mater made it extremely easy to gain weight. I gained 12 pounds only during the 6 week summer before freshman year. I gained about 2 more pounds during my first semester. I had never been around such an abundance and diversity of pretty decent tasting food. So many dining halls, so little stomach capacity! I was practically addicted to the buffalo wing calzones at Nasty’s LOL during the whole first semester. I wasn’t really all that big since I was still slim with more curves. Now in grad school in the South, I find it easier to stay physical fit and I am even slimmer now. I am more motivated to spend time in the gym since GA has substantially more days that permits skin revealing outfits as opposed to upstate NY. My motivation for fashion has me kept me in shape. When I was enduring freezing temps for 9 months a year, gaining a little weight didn’t matter since I was wearing 10 layers. Plus, nobody saw me naked except my straight female roommate.
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Slim Jackson Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
The summer program you speak of gave me a solid 15-20 lbs. Food plus weights=muscles. Felt like a monkey on my back when I started the track season though.lol.
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Yeah Whatev Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
“Food plus weights=muscles.”
Wish mine were muscles. I gained 12 lbs. of booty and thighs but unfortunately the cup size remained the same. I guess only way to grow that is to get preggers and then I will have a whole new body issue to worry about, LOL.
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“I’ve promised myself that I won’t let my job and those around me make me sloppy. ”
I am definitely with you on that resolve. I love my job, but sitting in a cube for 9-11 hours a day does not a Sexy Britt make. And with wedding season and bridesmaids dresses looming my options are to either get my mouth wired shut or substitute my chicken and gravy for salad.
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I love sour patch kids toooo…but they “trans fat free” right?
I go through ups and downs…one week I’m so tired and stressed that I visit the fried chicken joints and stock up on twinkies then the next week I’m mixing green smoothies and cooking home cooked meals…ugh!
I always make sure to drink plenty of water, and on those days where you to get down with the grease…have green tea right after..and not the “bougie” shyt go to the asian markets (the smelly ones) get that jasmine tea…the shyt with writing on it that you cant understand
I also walk a lot..when I am outside i feel instantly recharged and i dont feel like its a workout because I’m always on my way somewhere….
I heard that 30 minute walk a day can help you lose 5-10 lbs in a month (just heard i dont know if its true lol)
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Cheekie Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
“I love sour patch kids toooo…but they “trans fat free” right?”
Oh, forgot to show the sour patch love. Yes, the “trans fat free” is what I tell myself everytime I gobble them down too. I like a lot of those “kiddie” trans fat free sugar-filled candies, though. And that is how I rationalize eating them. Trans Fat Free, TFF for short. It’s a revolution.
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I know I’m real late to the party today but I might be one of the few people who having a 9-6 makes them lose weight. As a division 1 defensive tackle, I had to compete daily against mofos that were at least 290lbs but who could get up to 330lbs depending on who we were playing that week. Ppl complain about losing weight, but I’m with Seattle that gaining and maintaining good weight is sometimes harder. Do you know how hard it is to be 310lbs when your body doesn’t want it to be? I was doing some real strange things to pack on the calories. They had me adding cheese and cream cheese and all types of fatty sauces to all my foods. They had ppl doing the workouts that will only get you big and bulky. It was real. Now that I’m done playing football, I can do all the curls I want and no squats. I can say no to the extra helping of mash potatoes. I run upwards of 6 miles a day (ya prolly think I’m lying but I do 1.5 in the AM, 3 when I first get to the gym and 1.5 right before I leave) and I lost 40lbs since June. Ya boy is now a lean 6’1, 280.
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Slim Jackson Reply:
April 15th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
everybody knows you don’t take no shhh
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OMG Slim… I’m def going through this very same problem. I’ve been fortunate (and unfortunate) enough to be skinny without having to work-out or go on a diet (holla at that fast metabolism!). However, lately I’ve noticed that I’ve been putting on the pounds in all the wrong places (read: the gut and love handles are starting to appear). You know why? My job! As I’ve mentioned before, I travel on a weekly basis for work, and as a result, I eat out 3X a day…. crazy, I know! I also find that as I bang out those process maps, powerpoint decks, and/or spreadsheets, I’m also munching on a snack or three. I’m trying to cut back, even considered hitting the gym, but I’m hoping that once I quit my job, I’ll slim down to normal…
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Great post SJ. I had the same problem. My job has me in a hotel room anywhere from 2 to 4 nites a week, and on an expense account. It’s hard to reign yourself in when the company is picking up the tab. I packed on 20 lbs in the first 6 months before I realized I had to do something asap. Playing company soccer did the trick. That and switching to some healthier stuff on the weekends. Granted, summer is coming…time ot hit the gym a bit harder for the homestretch.
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ok people…I have freshman 15 like 5 times…try on the freshman 50 for size…yeah I typed it! 50 muhfuggin lbs…and I have never been a slim chick…thick muscular cheerleader + fiddy el bees = not to hot! I got pregnant and LOST WEIGHT and have been a ri-THICK-ulous chick rocking a few extra lbs ever since…I’m SEXY!! well I was…I don’t feel so good now…since being laid off in September, I have gained almost the 30 lbs of it back! I feel uncomfortable as hell but I can’t let it show…I own my own business…I am an Intimacy Consultant is something I love to do! I teach oral technique, positions and striptease in addition to selling adult accessories and intimate massagers and I am always being told how SEXY and confident I am….SEXY is a state of mind and I know my shit when it comes to “the dance” so my business thrives in spite of my weigt gain…but I gotta get back down to my pimpim weight to feel like the good ole GOODY again! lol
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Man… I feel you slim. My issue is being skinny and banking on that. Before y’all start kcking rocks at me let me explain. True I have been blessed with fast metabolism, but I know need to work out. Abs dont come naturally. The hours I keep at the libs give me a poor excuse to eat badly and late, and not work out. I will not be
the loose skinny girl with a baby gut. Vanity will save me from myself. Well that, and my personal trainer.
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