So I posted yesterday about how more people would choose a perfect body over a million dollars. I just can't get it out of my head. So it got me thinking. 66% of American's are obese. It's one of the (if not the very top) contributing causes to death. How sad is that? And please don't think I'm getting all high and mighty about this. I was fat too. I am barely (we're talking the difference of only 5 pounds) within a healthy weight range for my height. So many women are depressed about their weight. They feel trapped by their weight. My own husband has weight issues, so I know it isn't just about women. But seriously, if you or someone close to you has ever been affected by alcoholism then maybe just stop reading here. I by no means intend to trivialize that disease at all. But I am going to draw a parallel that I see.
Where this all began was during that lunch errand yesterday. I ran over to the Weight Watchers center to purchase a book. When I was leaving I saw these two women walk in together. I started thinking how WW's is about meetings, so is AA. These two ladies were on the journey together, supporting each other. In AA you have a sponsor! So then I started looking into it some more. How are these two things the same? Why are they both successful?
On the AA website it has this list of questions you're supposed to ask yourself. If you answer yes to four or more questions then you have a drinking problem. Well in this case I'm converting it to an EATING problem. See for yourself:
1. Have you ever decided to
stop drinking go on a diet for a week or so, but only lasted for a couple of days?
2. Do you wish people would mind their own business about your
drinking eating habits – stop telling you what to do?
3. Have you ever switched from one kind of
drink fast food to another in the hope that this would keep you from getting
drunk fat?
4. Have you had to have an eye-opener upon awakening during the past year?
5. Do you envy people who can
drink eat without getting into trouble?
6. Have you had problems connected with
drinking poor eating habits during the past year?
7. Has your
drinking eating caused trouble at home?
8. Do you ever try to get “extra”
drinks food at a party because you do not get enough?
9. Do you tell yourself you can stop
drinking eating bad any time you want to, even though you keep getting
drunk fat when you don’t mean to?
10. Have you missed days of work or school because of
drinking eating?
(okay that one was a stretch)
11. Do you have “blackouts”?
(I've certainly blacked out on that whole bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs I just ate)
12. Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not
drink overeat?
Now isn't that fascinating?? I agree some of them are a bit of a stretch. But I could EASILY find four things in there that my answer was HELL YES! Obesity can ruin lives just as much as alcoholism can. It can feel just as lonely. Really how different are these things? Not so much.
Saint Francis of Assisi said:
Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
I accept that I cannot change the spider veins on my thighs and therefore will never wear short shorts.
I have the courage to make what I put in my mouth a choice.
I have the courage to sign up for a 5K and push myself to complete it.
And on good days I like to think that I have the wisdom to know the difference.
I don't expect that I'll get many "Comments" on this post.
I'll either have offended people, which I really don't intend to.
Or people just don't want to talk about it.
Or maybe they think I fell off my rocker.
But if you aren't afraid. Tell me what you think ...
Am I the only person that sits and ponders these things?
So tomorrow maybe I'll be back with the adorable preschool graduation pictures from last week that I haven't made the time to gather up into a real post.
