Chewymom

A few days ago, I posted an interactive map that shows how obese we are becoming as a nation. Truly, it is alarming. If you didn’t see it the other day, click on this link and watch.

I will tell you that growing up, I was thin. I didn’t think I was thin, because I had hips instead of that trendy, boyish figure. But I was. I normally wore a size 8, and for a while in college I wore an unhealthy-for-me size 6. And then I got married.

I don’t know what exactly happens when people move to a different environment–for some it is the college “freshman 15,” for others it is getting married, or any other number of life changes, but weight gain seems to often accompany that. For me, I suspect it was the combination of walking less (Furman was definitely a “walking” campus) and cooking for myself. My meals weren’t really that fattening, and we were too poor to eat out much, but I added in things like canned juice from Price Club. Plus, I was cooking for two, but recipes are typically made for four, and DH and I often just finished off the dish, rather than putting some away as leftovers. Whatever the reason, I gained some weight.

And then I got pregnant with my first son. Interestingly, I gained very little during my pregnancy–only about 20 pounds. Most of that came right back off, but then slowly I started gaining it back. I didn’t really notice, because my clothing size had already gone up a bit before the pregnancy, and then again after between the no-longer-flat tummy and the nursing-sized chest. I was ravenous while I nursed, and I paid very little attention to how much I ate or what was happening to my figure. After I weaned DS15, I continued to eat larger portions than necessary. And then I got pregnant again.

The same thing repeated itself several times. I never did fall into the “obese” category, but I still to this day am in the “overweight” group of people. The interesting thing to me is that I know I look at thin people and admire their figures. I try to visualize myself wearing their clothing size or having their body shape. And yet, I am thinner than a large portion of the population. And folks, I know how I look naked, and it ain’t pretty. And if there really are that many people in my state (Alabama, where it is more than 25%) who are obese, then I guess I do look thin in comparison.

So on the one hand, I have the utmost sympathy for those who struggle with weight. I know what it does to your self image. And I know how hard it is to make it come back off. And yet on the other hand, I am grossed out. How is it that we as a nation are so heavy? Why? Is it the high fructose corn syrup that is in almost everything on the store shelves, including “whole wheat” bread? Is it the fact that we drive one mile to the store, rather than walk? Is it that we sit at our computers (ahem) and blog the day away? Is it our reliance upon fast food because we are so busy? Are we all eating because we are sad/depressed/angry/stressed? I don’t have the answer, and apparently neither does anybody else, or surely we’d see the rates of obesity dropping in at least one state.

I am on a quest to learn the most healthful way I can eat and feed my family. I do have teenagers, however, and I am aware that if I restrict their food too much, it could backfire. I am blessed to have thin children. Take DS14 for example. He is very skinny. He is a runner and very active. And yet, when we order pizza, he can put away a whole one by himself. DS11, who is growing by the second, has always been skinny. So much so, that to this day he needs adjustable waist pants, just to keep them from falling down. I often have observed him running around with his friends, with one hand on the back waist of his pants, holding them up. He sneaks into my pantry and eats cupfuls of dry cereal when he thinks I am not looking. DS15, who is especially skinny compared to most young men with Down syndrome constantly complains that he is hungry. These guys eat a ton of food, and I know that they are growing, active, and hungry. But I do wonder if they will know how to slow down their eating to match their slowing growth when that time comes. Or will they see their own weight start to climb when they hit their twenties, partially because they, like me before them, have never had to give food or amounts a thought?

Again, I don’t have the answer. But this is one American problem I would really like to solve before we all die of diseases specific to being overweight and in poor health.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 2nd, 2006 at 8:23 am and is filed under Healthy Living, Mommy Musings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.