Sometimes a memory is so vivid that you feel liked it just
happened yesterday. You know what I mean? You are sitting
at home and you hear some music on the radio, and suddenly
you are transported to a different time and place, without
ever leaving your chair. The following story is a memory
from over 30 years ago. It was triggered by the smell of
chlorine, when I was cleaning my bathroom.
I was in my apartment, having finished a six month trip to
Israel. It had been an amazing experience, new friends, new
sites, new foods-and I had gained 15 pounds. One of my
oldest friends, Joan, who I hadn't seen in several years,
called me on the phone. "Let's get together at the Jewish
Community Center swimming pool. We can get together for a
little while, and go swimming and then go out and have a
cup of coffee!" It was such a good idea, and I really
wanted to see Joan. But I remember telling her I was busy,
sorry, I couldn't make it, I already had plans, maybe
another time.
Do you know what my real excuse was? I felt I was too fat
and didn't want to be seen in a swimsuit! Here I was,
sitting in my apartment, doing nothing, and deciding
against seeing an old friend because I was afraid of how I
looked! I thought she would judge me, and, believe it or
not, stop liking me because she thought I was fat. I just
knew she would think I had become sloppy and lazy, and I
was no longer worthy of her friendship. And do you know
what I did next? I punished myself by staying alone and
eating, proving that I was not worthy of being around other
people.
How many moments have you missed because you didn't like
how your body looked? Rather than getting together with
family or rekindling old friendships, we stay home by
ourselves- punishing ourselves for a crime we believe we've
committed: the crime of not looking the way society says we
should look, the crime of wanting to eat foods we'd like to
enjoy, but can't because we feel guilty.
Becoming "at peace with food" is a journey that involves
developing a new relationship with food. Instead of being
marked by frustration and disappointment, by fear and
competition between you and the food you eat, food takes
its place as one of the many activities in your life, along
with family, friends, working and being active. And, like
these other activities, it becomes pleasurable.
In order to be at peace with food, you need to learn about
yourself and why you have the relationship you do with the
food you eat. Like all relationships, your relationship
with food took time to develop, and it will take time to
change.
And when you become at peace with food, you will not being
afraid to be around your friends, your family, and the food
that often accompanies these get-togethers.
Life is too short. Please stop missing out on those
significant moments in your life. Go swimming with Joan.
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For free tips to becoming At Peace With Food™, articles,
and links to nutritional resource websites, visit
http://www.AtPeaceWithFood.com/freetips.html
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