| Journal Analysis: About Me |
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I was a farm raised child which means plenty of farm food
and a health conscious mom. My mom had received a loose weight
recommendation from the doctor. My two sisters were also chubby
and so Weight Watchers began in the family. When I left home for Nursing College I roomed with my sisters and some cousins. I was walking to university ( 1.2 miles) but had never been exposed to all sorts of new things like McDonalds and large quantities of chocolate so I went temporarily overboard. I began seriously dieting and restricting calories that year. I was influenced by a behaviour management study that was going on at the time by one of the professors “Habits not Diets”. I began a single life with relatively healthy habits but eating at the sink cause I lived alone. I did have many bouts of dieting and calorie restrictions. When I married my husband’s food expectations were fat and fast. Frying and cream on cereal, in coffee on fruit. No whole wheat anything. He had as great a culture shock -- veggies at every meal, no salt on tables and consistently late meals. I survived our financial crisis by eating and reading for comfort. I gained much weight during my pregnancies and try less and less often to diet -- aware of yo yo effect. Have bought a variety of exercise equipment depending on what is popular that year. So now I am the mother of two boys 10 & 7 They are physically busy but have been put in front of the TV too often. I’ve been married to Bob for 15 years. He has been grappling with a family business failure that happened four years ago and is currently employed in a similar field. He is sad and bitter about the losses. I’ve been a public health nurse for over 18 years. I work full time with a 45 minute commute to work. I use that time to listen to HUGS tapes and other audio tapes to help deal with the stresses and challenges of life. I’ve used food in the past as a comforter and soother. With working and driving, I’m not physically active -- always had the excuse -- “no time”. I am very familiar with the need for activity for physical health and mental well being but until I noticed my boys growing roots in the living room floor... I woke up. At work I’ve met preschoolers who have put themselves on diets. I’ve met mothers who through kindness but a diet jaundiced eye have started that cycle with their children. |
