Comments on Wonder Mom: 158

Hi there,First of all, I stumbled upon your blog a...

2007-02-23T16:06:00.000-05:00

Hi there,

First of all, I stumbled upon your blog and am really glad I did. Second - wow. I can totally relate. What really struck me is the way you described your family's eating habits while you were growing up; you might as well have been describing my experience!

I think yes, there are things we could ALL improve upon, and living a more active, healthy lifestyle is probably at the top of the list for the majority. I know it's on mine; as a sugar fiend I have to keep myself disciplined.

However, I think our society as a whole has become so fixated on weight, "good foods" vs. "bad foods", appearance, "hard abs" and "wrinkle-free faces - WOW! - at 40!" that we've left little room for just feeling GOOD. Yes, it's one thing to want to get back in shape to feel good; to live a fuller life with more energy and zest. But being in shape and feeling good doesn't mean you have to have tight abs, small thighs, Botox brows, and shiney, clean hair all the time (ha!).

I guess my point is that yes, adopting a healthier lifestyle is a worthwhile goal. But by focusing only on foods and numbers on the scale and pictures you'll only get so far. Those are good tools to map your "progress", but I really don't think they're the starting point for so many women who, like you and me, grew up with a very warped relationship to our bodies and food. As someone who had those same awful thoughts as you did growing up (but took it to the next level of bulimia), I've learned that changing the way I approach food, changing the way I value myself and my life, is the piece that made the biggest difference. One thing that got me started was just sitting back and marvelling at the human body itself. How awesome is it that we're able to run and jump and bend and twist; that cuts can heal, that babies can be born. Your body is an amazing thing: it's more than Snickers bars and stomach rolls; it's LIFE; your children are evidence of this! Start thinking of and treating it as such and the rest will fall into place.

Good luck, and I'll definitely keep reading!

I hear you, hard, hard, hard, and I feel uncomfort...

2007-02-21T19:35:00.000-05:00

I hear you, hard, hard, hard, and I feel uncomfortable too. How I want to be a healthier weight. I'm doing weight watchers. I LOVE the program. It's still HARD!!! but we can all walk for 5-10 minutes a day, and how transforming that little bit of time is...jsut the fact that you're doing something nice for yourself. The realistic food amounts and choices.. and the support of the meetings when you find a good leader. Throw in cookbooks to make yummy food that's healthy and then you can actually feel excited about good choices.

Try it! Though I've been on and off when I follow it as a healthy way of life I lose and more importantly feel so much better!!!!

I suppose it doesn't help to know that you are not...

2007-02-15T14:10:00.000-05:00

I suppose it doesn't help to know that you are not alone. Right now, I am feeling so demoralized about the process of trying to lose weight that it's paralyzing. I started to read "You on a Diet" and instead of inspiring me, it just depressed me more.

Good luck on your quest. Good luck to us all.

Very much understand. And I know what I need to do...

2007-02-14T19:35:00.000-05:00

Very much understand. And I know what I need to do (exercise and less junk), but I'm so tired it's hard to go exercise...and I know if I'd do it I'd feel better/have more energy, but it's SO hard to get started again--I did last summer and have now gained back more then I should have. And the clothes don't fit well again,and I refuse to buy the next size up, but really I should...so yes, I understand you.

Wow, I totally could've written that. I completel...

2007-02-14T11:42:00.000-05:00

Wow, I totally could've written that. I completely understand how you feel. And all this "diet" and "lifestyle change" stuff is hard. Just hang in there.

Yup. If only the clothes fit. I totally understand...

2007-02-14T10:28:00.000-05:00

Yup. If only the clothes fit. I totally understand.

Good luck. I wish looking good from other people's perspectives is what really matters because you'd be beautiful...It's how you feel about yourself though. I totally get it.