On Body image, and grandmas...

Hi Everyone!

I have lots to tell you! As you know I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus, but you can expect posts on Tuesdays and Thursdays from me, and one from Taj on Wednesdays from now on.

My grandmother has come to visit after three years.

For those of you who used to read about my Shape Up! escapades on Glamour.com, you’ll remember my troubled relationship with my grandmother, weight, and body image.

While I certainly have made strides in this area in recent years, I def. still have days, and sometimes even weeks where I struggle with the way I look or think others might perceive me.

Of course I am old enough to own my emotions and thoughts, so I can’t just blame grandma for these issues for the rest of my life. (Just note to all the future grandmothers out there – don’t let weight/weight loss/weight gain be a recurring topic of conversation with your young grandchildren…)

Anyway, in those three years, I lost a little bit over 60 lbs. I was actually a little nervous for grandma to see me, but it’s OK.

The funny thing is that she still talks about weight ALL the time. How much did you lose? What pants size are you now? I can’t believe you lost all that weight…

She’s also asked me and my mom several times if we think she looks fat or not, etc., etc.

I realized the other day after she asked me for the third time if I thought she had gained any weight that this body-image issue can plague even 80-something year-olds.

And I kinda felt sorry for her. I also feel sorry for all of my extended relatives (cousins, aunts, uncle…) whom Grandma promptly informs whether they are fatter or skinner from the last time she saw them. Aah!! This is also totally a cultural thing--where my family is from in Latin America, it's not rude to tell someone that they've put on weight.

I've been thinking a lot about my kids lately. Especially the daughter I hope to have one day. I want them to be healthy in body and mind -- I don't want them to inherit any body image issues from me; but it's a little harder to control what other people--friends, family--will say that might affect them.

How about you? Has anyone ever said something about your weight that really upset you? Or on the flipside of that, do you think we're too polite about issues about weight and body image? Should we just "get over it" and accept ourselves as we are -- chubby, skinny, in between?