Put that cupcake down, Junior!

Fat. F-A-T. Fat. The other dirty eff word. Millions of Americans go to battle with it and next to quitting smoking, it’s probably the most loved New Year’s resolution.

I’m also guilty of falling prey to the big "F". I don my not-so-stylish workout gear, strap on the jog bra and Sauconys and off I go, sweating down one street after another. I even have a gym membership for days when the Puerto Rican sun kicks my ass harder than her streets do. That’s when a particular piece of news made me stumble.

Hear I was, cranking a solid 45 minutes on the elliptical, when my eyes just so happened to wander up towards one of the many 20-inch flat screen TVs suspended from the ceiling. Normally, workout time is when I unplug from everything other than my iPod. No television, no cell phone, no laptop with high-speed wireless internet. But that day, one particular news story just happened to catch my eye.

“Retailers to introduce plus-sized clothing for girls.”

Wha-?? My eyes are now glued to the screen as images of round not-so-little girls and boys whose chests resemble those of pubescent teenage girls flash by. I wait for the doctor/nutritionist/fitness guru to pop up and start his/her 10 commandments of healthy living, when this pops up instead:

“Expected to be a $35 million business.”

And that’s when I felt my insides start heating up and not because of the elliptical. I still wait for doc/nutri/fit guru to come on but instead, Britany Spears and yet another story of her custody battle fill the screen and all was lost again.

Only in America could $$$ take precedence over conscious behavior. Why isn’t more being done to stop this epidemic? And whose to blame? Is it parental lack of control? Their own bad habits rubbing off on their children? Have kids become wired to keep feeding themselves crap? Is it Ronald McDonald, the all-American pedophile, who's still molesting kids with Big Macs and Happy Meals?

Hell, I ate McD’s as a kid. But my folks made it clear that there was a strict line between “special treat” and “routine.” My parents also worked full-time. Having a family business is a 24/7 job, but my mom still made time to cook our meals from scratch using all natural ingredients.

Have parents become too busy to care these days? I know this generation of kids is spending more time on their butts in front of brainless crap TV, Xbox and MySpace. And if "Shaq's Big Challenge" weight-loss reality show has become the only source of inspiration to get kids up and moving and understanding the benefits of eating healthy, well, that’s just a shame. Shame on parents, that is.

It's hard to place blame on those who are still learning and understanding what's right and what's wrong, what's healthy and what's not. The job of educating children, setting guidelines and discipline, is that of adults. And if grown-ups can't get it right, what are kids to do?

Confessions of an unemployed wife.

Latley I've been throwing myself some pity parties. I'm usually the only one in attendance with the occasional appearance from my puppy. And as stimulating as our conversations are, I'm still left wanting more.

For instance, a job would be nice. Some place to go every day, y'know, kinda like a "routine." Get up every morning with a purpose. A somewhat clear picture of what my day is going to consist of. Hell, just to HAVE a reason to get up early (other than to walk the dog and workout) would be great.

But no. Not yet. Right now my days are filled with 1) walking the dog and working out (which I already mentioned), 2) getting my fill of Food Network and other life-enriching television shows, 3) surfing the net and obsessively checking my gmail, hoping some employer who said he/she thought I had a great portfolio would drop me a line saying how they couldn't wait for me to come work for them, 4) peeing, 5) trips to Walgreens/Starbucks/other major chains where I can waste my money on items I don't need, 6) napping, and 7) waiting for my husband to get home so I can have some human conversations in English (did I mention I live in Puerto Rico and know, oh, maybe five words of Spanish?).

Now before I get e-punched and told to e-"quit-your-bitching-you-live-on-a-Caribbean-island" let me remind you that it's much easier to judge when you're in some place other than my shoes. As I get defensive, let me also tell you that I do have goals other than finding employment. I want to learn Spanish, for instance, as well as French (there just happens to be an Alliance Française near my hood). I want to start painting again, experimenting with pastels and charcoal and channeling my hostility in a more artistic way. I want to become more diverse in my culinary skills (ahem, Food Network) and wow not only myself but my husband too, with all my savory creations.

I WANT TO DO ALL THESE THINGS.

Problem is, it's hard to get motivated when one major component is missing. A career is an anchor. And the right one will challenge you and make you want to pursue other things in life. Yes, work will take major time out of my week. But it will also push me to create time for all those other wonderful things I enjoy doing outside of work.

I know when my career is finally in full swing, I'll sometimes wish for a 25th hour in my day. And that's OK. Because I'll have achieved some much needed balance to my life.