Comments on: Talking about diets

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:13:36 +0000

I was wondering where you get your recipes? Do you care to share any of them? How did you begin the process of finding what to cook? I have tried some pretty awful recipes. Thanks for sharing. Chris

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:20:06 +0000

As an overweight woman I always ask people what they are doing to lose weight. It’s because I’m hoping someone has finally found an easy, fun, pleasant way to do the most tedious, unpleasant thing in the world – for me, anyway.

Usually the answer is some new fad diet, but sometimes it’s the tried and true eating less and moving more.

My sister thinks that adult exercise equipment should be large scale childrens’ playground equipment. Children always seem so happy whirling and jumping and climbing and swinging on playground contraptions and adults in a gym never seem happy, much less excited to be counting reps on the weight machines. There is a fortune to be made for someone who will develop playground equipment for adults.

By: elizabeth

elizabeth — Sun, 11 May 2008 16:20:24 +0000

i like the statement about normal size clothes not how much you weigh i need help and just found out about this website via the today show……i need some correspondence and motivation i know i am addicted to carbs because it tastes good is quick and easy help me start something thanks :)

By: Nanette

Nanette — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 12:24:17 +0000

I’ve noticed that some people–and they don’t have to be close friends, just people you say “hi” to at work–once you’ve exchanged a few words about your diet will appoint themselves diet coaches or, even worse, diet cops. These people feel free to ask (well, more like demand) progress reports, comment on what I’m about to stick in my mouth, or even have the affrontery to comment on my weight loss to others and try to draw them into the lets-keep-an-eye-on-Nanette brigade. That’s why I don’t say a thing to anyone but two close friends anymore about my weight loss. If anyone else asks if I’ve lost weight, I just say, “No, but I notice you’ve lost a few pounds.”

By: kc

kc — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 04:12:03 +0000

Wow. Your post is really making sense in a lot of ways. Thanks.

I personally hate the “Wow, you’ve lost weight! How’d you do it?” question because it reminds me that others are keeping tabs (or at least noticing) my weight loss. And if they can notice my weight loss, then they also noticed my weight gain. And… well, I would really like to forget the fact that I’m fat.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 20:04:48 +0000

WOW you are right on it in this post! I have only just discovered your blog, wish I had ages ago. I have lost 90 pounds and live in a small town and I am so over “the how did you do it?” questions. I have found too that they actually don’t really want the true answer, they want a one or two sentence quick fix solution!

I have now resorted to saying, if you really want to know, give me 30 minutes of your time and I can go through it with you! I have even had a few takers! And I now feel far less annoyed :)

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 15:59:35 +0000

It’s a good book–and the author’s currently working on another book about the psychology of weight relapses.

By: Jan Bridge

Jan Bridge — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 15:41:42 +0000

All: PQ’s comments concerning the socialization of young girls/women vis-a-vis FATare most interesting. My’guess’ here is that those of us who were deemed FAT as children/teens had VERY different socialization experiences than did those of us who were deemed ‘normal’ or ‘thin’ as children/teens.

But the question for each of us who were once FAT, and now are working to achieve a lower weight body – and to live in in – is: How do I relate to being ‘normal weight’ or ‘not-FAT’? There is a book that has been recommended to me – title: Passing for Thin – that I am told addresses the challenges

By: Matrishka

Matrishka — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 08:40:31 +0000

One of the reasons why I’ve told no one about my blog is this: if people know, they’ll always ask “how are you doing on this ‘diet thing’ of yours?”

Diet thing. Like it is learning to play the piano, or a hobby like bungy jumping.

And that always adds even more pressure on myself ~~~ and trust me, I put enough on myself.

Also, I haven’t told anyone I’m “dieting.” Why you ask (I heard you)? Because I’m not perfect. And getting healthy means you can’t have cake. Period. I disagree. If I want cake, I’m going to eat cake. And I don’t want anyone to say to me, “Are you supposed to be eating that cake? Do you think it’s a good idea to eat that if you’re on a diet?”

I can eat cake. I just can’t eat the WHOLE cake!

When I get to my own goals, then, MAYBE then I’ll be able to say, “Well, if you want to know, really take the time to understand what I’ve done, then here, here’s my blog address.”

I used to beat myself up every time I would sit down at dinner in a restaurant and order a regular meal. A healthy, regular meal. I felt that because I was overweight that it offended people if I ate anything at all. I may not be saying this right. It’s almost as though if you are overweight you aren’t entitled to eat, period.

Because then you are just validating “their” opinion that “see, this is why she’s overweight, she eats.” Nevermind it’s fish with steamed vegetables. Just the fact that I eat at all was not allowed.

I hope I said that right.

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 01:39:03 +0000

pastaqueen,

I have nothing to contribute to this conversation, but I have to say that I LOVE reading your blog posts. Being a skinny white boy, who has recently put on an extra 20 pounds or so (but have been putting of dieting for some time now) I have never even glimpsed inside the world of a fat girl. Keep on doing what you’re doing.

Jay