Old Ideas Never Die(t)

My mother was always on a diet when I was growing up. I inherited her obsession over the years as I struggled with issues of weight control. As I have aged and no longer worry about managing my weight, I have recognized the enduring messages over the years about body image and dieting.

Mom talked about faddish diet strategies and yet, always came back to the basic idea that counting calories was the answer to weight management. She did not have major weight issues as I recall but perceived that she did. Her obsession got passed to me.

I was a chubby baby but of “normal” weight as a child mostly due to being active. I gained the typical college freshman ten pounds despite being a letter winner in field hockey (fall) and volleyball (spring). My weight increased after college when I was less physically active. I was a stalky gal. Going to graduate school in my mid-20’s was a turning point not only in the education I received but the start of a 40-year running routine.

I also established a new relationship with food at that time. Growing up on a farm, I experienced the need for a big breakfast to prepare for a day of labor. Lunch also needed to be substantial. Dinner was more like a light supper. Yet, when I moved to the “city,” dinner also became a big meal of the day.

My relationship with food began to change when I took a behavior modification class. I learned to eat when I was hungry and that I did not require three large meals a day. I wasn’t that hungry in the morning so eating something high protein when I felt the hunger was better than having a farmer sized breakfast. I also emphasized healthy eating. I gradually lost weight over the years until today I am at a consistent weight.

In the back of my mind, however, I do not fully accept that my body image is OK. When I hear about the new GLP-1 weight loss drugs, for a fleeting moment, I think I should try that. Then I recognize I am reacting to an outdated image of myself. Old perceptions die hard. Today I put my priorities on healthy eating and living, and try to let go of the past.