| I realize I’m one of the lucky ones. I grew up without a weight problem, I developed a healthy body image (in part thanks to my mom who did not detract from it), and also thanks to my mom, had healthy food habits instilled from the start. To me, that means I was taught the value of fruits and vegetables as being healthy and necessary, we were given a variety of foods every day, and food was never used as a reward. |
| We were indeed given “sweets” as after dinner treats almost every night, but rarely were they introduced throughout the day. Still, I recall eating half a sleeve of Oreo’s from time to time before the age of ten and indulging in graham crackers and milk before bed pretty often. But I also remember munching on raw peppers and carrots before dinner while my mom chopped them for salads and being told to “eat my broccoli” or no dessert. So I did. |
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| Given that I grew up in the 80’s when packaged and convenience foods reigned supreme and my mom was a seasonal self-employed business owner more than half the year, I’d say we didn’t do half bad for a working, middle class family. My mom cooked dinner most nights and only caved to our fast-food needling on travel days. (That was actually a weekly thing during the spring and fall months). |
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| While my food intake wasn’t exactly exemplary, the instilled attitudes and emotions surrounding food were balanced and I suppose genetics were on my side. But something else I realize looking back was there that has carried through today: I acknowledged my hunger and satiety cues. And I never felt guilty about eating something yummy, and I certainly don’t ever feel that way today either. |
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| I may have downed 20 Chips A’Hoy in one sitting as a pre-teen, but then those extra calories were balanced out the next meal (or maybe even day) when I ate a heck of a lot/ less. I would never have eaten that many cookies for dessert after a full dinner….I only would have eaten them after school when I was <em>hungry</em> and stopped eating them when my belly was full. |
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And as an adult and a fitness professional, my weight has fluctuated +/- 8 pounds outside of pregnancy over the last 20 years, with my body consistently wanting to stay at a fixed weight. |
