I ran into someone I haven’t seen in a while at a local restaurant. She took one look at my plate and asked, in disgust, “Are you STILL on a diet?” My response, crickets. Confusion gave way to amusement gave way to annoyance. I assume that she assumed I had lost weight, reclaimed my life and my sanity and somehow managed to maintain the new and improved state by going on a diet.
It annoys me because G-d forbid this person actually consider that this dog learned a new trick. Beyond that I think I was hurt that she was not thrilled that I’ve continued on this journey. Paranoid as it makes me sound, I think she would have been happy as a baby at the teet had she found me devouring a double cheeseburger and french fries while inhaling a chocolate malt, sitting at a booth, butt cheeks hanging off the ends of the bench.
Does this look like the face of someone on a diet? Left to Right: Baby, Non-dieter, Baby
I know there is a segment of the population, particularly fat acceptance groups, that hates the term “lifestyle change” but that is exactly what I did, changed my lifestyle to change my health and fitness status. I did not go on a diet, stop eating a particular food group, eat mass quantities of grapefruits, drink special diarrhea inducing lemonade or deprive myself completely. Instead I determined my energy requirements and began eating within those parameters. As time marched on I began eating with purpose. The purpose was to fuel my body, as a result my food choices changed. I still enjoy a piece of chocolate cake on occasion, key word being: occasion. Diets, as the majority see them, are temporary, so the results obtained will be temporary as well. If I go back to eating fat filled treats, snacks and foods I will return to my previous state. I actually resembled what I ate, a cream filled donut. I was round, soft to the touch and if you squeezed me too hard I’d probably burst! I’ve heard it all from, “What don’t you eat” to “How long did it take you [to lose the weight]” and the majority of the people asking are un-fit, over-fat and cheating themselves out of feeling good. The response to my answers range from “I don’t have time for that,” or “Yeah, but what don’t you eat?” and even, “My husband likes the way I look!” Whatever. Excuses. Change one behavior today. Do the same tomorrow and the day after. You’ll be surprised how the smallest changes reap the largest rewards. Anamaria Grabowski© 2009 Anamaria Grabowski
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