I'm probably way behind the times on this issue, but I want to give my two cents. I think it's very interesting and intriguing that my brother and I, who grew up in the same house eating the same foods, have very different body types. He is not overweight, but is not what one would call "skinny". We have similar food preferences, and probably eat about the same amounts, depending on the meal. Some may perceive that he is not "healthy" and that I am because I am "skinny". Which makes me very uncomfortable and actually quite angry. My brother is probably more healthy than I am, considering I go to 5 doctors throughout the year, and he probably goes to 2. When people comment about how skinny I am, they are not really seeing who I am. And everyone is guilty of judging people based on looks, but I am here to challenge perceptions, including my own. People assume that I don't like food, or that I throw up my food after I eat, or that I can wear whatever I want, and can find any clothes I want in my size. News flash: I HATE throwing up. I LOVE FOOD. I don't binge eat. Shopping for clothes is kind of frustrating. When I get stressed, I sometimes forget/don't take time to eat. I love to eat snacks. Whole milk is a guilty pleasure from time to time. I want to work out, but I hardly do.
Interestingly, I do a lot of research on healthy lifestyles. I have a somewhat secret desire to become a nutritionist because I want to help people live healthier lifestyles. I have friends and family members who I want to encourage to live healthier, as well as work on myself. I like to find what foods are good for people, depending on their personal needs and I want to educate people about healthy food proportions.
*Warning: rant below*
At a local Sam's food store, I saw a young couple who had a toddler and a baby buying nothing healthy. Since this is a bulk store, these are obviously things they eat a lot of. I saw their items as they checked out: 5 (large) boxes of unhealthy cereals, large boxes/bags of candy, fruit snacks, vienna sausages, beanie weenies, ketchup, mustard & relish, and tuna (at least that's healthy, but i'm sure it will be mixed with lots of mayo). The young children with them do not have any kind of control or say in what they adults buy at the store...I am just baffled.
*End of rant, thank you.*
I am intrigued as to how and why the American culture somehow promotes unhealthy eating. One of the problems is oversized portions at restaurants, in which most families eat multiple nights a week. When we eat these oversized meals, we perceive that it is a "normal" size. And then you feel you need to eat the whole thing so you don't "waste" it, and tummies get stretched, therefore making you feel hungrier at your next meal. It is a sad, sad cycle that doesn't seem to be breaking any time soon. This makes me sad because of the problems that obesity causes, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, bone loss, and more.
My hope is that people who are having these issues realize they need to do it not for themselves, but for their friends and family. There is nothing sadder than standing by helplessly while watching a loved one hurt themselves (whether it's by abusing food, alcohol, drugs, or tobacco).
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