Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Origins

It’s a radical title, I know.

Again, I’m not saying we all have full-blown, clinical eating disorders, specifically Anorexia or Bulimia. (For a discussion on Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, stay tuned.)

But, most of us have eating/body image/exercise concerns that puncture our lives in more ways than one, and, in a hopeful attempt to defuse, I’d just like there to be some dialogue about that.

Imagine a day, or even a meal, without thinking or questioning:
-What have I eaten already?
-Does this make me look fat?
-I wonder how many calories this has.
-I’ve had too much.
-I hate my [body part].
-What’s she eating?
-Have I exercised today?
-I shouldn’t.

We’d have so much else to think about. A group of women and I realized the other day that when we’re not connecting over how much we’re eating/how much we hate our bodies—or about men (dating/relationships/husbands)—we’re not sure how to connect.

I know there’s so much more to talk about (books and politics and animals and our emotions—all of which require significantly less self-hatred), and I, for one, would hate to think I overlooked a smile, an interesting conversational thread, or an expression of love because I was too focused on the size of my hips.

2 comments:

PTC said...

I can't imagine 5 minutes without having any of those thoughts. This coming from someone who did 110 minutes of cardio this morning, even with a concussion. (granted, it's just a mild concussion).

Now, I sit my ass on the couch with my eyes half closed feeling like I'm being a lazy fat ass, but not being able to do much else. The only good part, the lack of appetite.

I can't wait for your ednos post!!

Anonymous said...

I think you're right about the women connecting part. And after reading it I was happy to realize that the women who I feel closest to, are women with whom I tend to not have those conversations. But don't get me wrong, we've discussed those topics too.