When I look back over my teen years after entering college, I realize I must have made an unconscious decision to lose weight by eating less, walking more, which was not difficult to do on a large campus, dance at the local hangout called “The Barn” and feel more attractive in my 5”2” frame.
I was not a heavy child until about 16-years-old. Then puberty hit and I became what my grandmother called, “zaftig”. It is a Jewish word meaning a woman who is attractively curvy or has a voluptuous body. I learned to HATE that word!
My old destructive habits of coping with the pain of my parents’ separation and eventual divorce led me to over-eating at night-time, then, in the morning I’d find another way to avoid my feelings by hiding out in my garden instead of going to school. Mid-day boredom was another difficult time for me.
In time, my self-worth and confidence moved up the Richter scale with every pound I lost. Fortunately, I never went to extremes and became anorexic or bulimic. I became a champion of self-care. I read up on nutrition and learned ways to avoid my afternoon slumpish feeling by staying hydrated or mixing the right number of proteins and carbs. When I felt stressed, my body craved a quick pick-me-up like Haagen Dazs coffee ice cream. I learned to recognize what triggered my behavior. To avoid feelings of guilt from over-eating at night, I forced myself to move away from the television (as I did tonight when I wanted to finish my story) or eat something that wasn’t destructive to my psyche. Fruit with some yogurt or popcorn were good substitutes. If I was feeling confident that night, I could eat one cookie instead of three. Most times, it was best to stay away completely.
It’s National Nutrition month and it is a good time to celebrate the new and inventive ways we can learn to eat well, stave off disease, such as diabetes and heart disease, or lose weight and feel better about our bodies. I promise it can be a great confidence booster! Sprinkle in more physical activity, keep it up and watch what happens.
At Lori Michiel Fitness, we have specific programs to help get you started with a new round of physical activity if you’re not sure how to begin. Boost your confidence along with improving your balance, breathing, flexibility and strength too. You can call 818-620-1442 or contact me. I will respond within 24 hours. You can also follow us on Facebook, or LinkedIn for important research and fitness updates.