Growing up on the East Coast, I lived in a culture where being thin, what you wore, and how you looked defined a woman’s/girl’s sense of self.
I was part of a large Jewish family where food was central to any social gathering. My maternal grandmother’s philosophy was if you aren’t as big as a house, you're too thin!
I remember when I was little, sitting at her kitchen table crying because she pressed me to eat everything on my plate, including liver kugel! Don’t get me wrong, I loved her and spent a lot of time with her growing up, but I was turned off by the constant focus on food.
I was a pretty skinny kid. But, as I reached pre-pubescence things started to change. My mother was anxious about my gaining weight, and when I went off to summer camp, she asked the camp nurse to monitor me. In addition, my mother’s sister, Goldye, was obsessed with being thin (we later found out she was anorexic), and she would take me out to lunch and instruct me to only eat half of everything I was served.
By the time I was in middle school, I was modeling with my best friend and started becoming aware of what society was saying about thinness. I was an avid reader of Teen magazine and the messages were clear.
I started to obsess about my weight and looks. My mother always bought me beautiful clothes, and I noticed the thinner I got the more positive attention I received from the people around me. This started me on a lifelong struggle of crazy dieting and becoming more restrictive in my eating.
Dieting affected my moods, sleep, and energy. According to Sheppard Pratt, a non-profit that specializes in mental health disorders (including eating disorders), diet culture is all around us:
"Celebrities market products that promise to ‘slim’ and ‘shape’ us. Food items are advertised as void of sugars and fats, and flawless filtered faces stare back at us from our screens.
Because of diet culture, a lot of disordered eating is masked as okay, or even impressive. Approximately 30 million Americans will have an eating disorder in their lives and that statistic is on the rise." 1
Over the last few years, I have made it my goal to be a healthy eater and to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Many in the medical community have changed their stance on BMI (Body Mass Index), particularly for older women. Now it is being stated that having a little extra padding can help guard against bone fractures. For those with cancer and advanced kidney disease, having a few extra pounds helps with energy levels and the ability to tolerate various therapies.
The National Institute of Health recommends healthy aging through a nutrition-based diet and exercise program. According to a study by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, older adults are more at risk for heart disease and other chronic conditions.
“Eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy improves diet quality as does cutting down on added sugars, saturated fat and sodium. In addition eating enough protein prevents the loss of lean muscle mass." 2
Now in my upper 60’s, I have more energy and vitality as a result of keeping a constant stream of calories in my system on a daily basis to prevent low blood sugar and fatigue. I do strength training twice a week to increase muscle mass, and my trainer lovingly calls me his RBG (Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who regularly worked out with a trainer).
I have learned that focusing on numbers on the scale steals my joy and prevents me from being attentive to the people around me. Feeling good and taking care of myself have enhanced the quality of my life.
I am a creative individual, a lover of G-d and people, and that is my passion. Love is my superpower.
May you thrive and be in good health and find a lifestyle that is fitting for you and your body. It is always wise to consult with a doctor or nutritionist before embarking on a diet.
Wishing you joy and peace and a long happy and healthy life!
1 https://www.sheppardpratt.org/news-views/story/hiding-in-plain-sight-lesser-known-eating-disorders/
2 https://health.gov/news/202107/nutrition-we-age-healthy-eating-dietary-guidelines