Class Assignment

Sawasdee!

Up enthusiastic to start the day and finish out this Ladies Alive Convention for Advocare. I've heard so many great stories and even more inspired and empowered than I was before I got here. I definitely plan to post and share about all the wonderful things I've written in my journal since I've gotten here!

I wanted to share a post from my class blog for an assignment I did a few weeks ago. I felt like I needed to share this.

"Discuss how the issue of food and weight were discussed in a girl's home. Was it ever a control issue or a point of conflict? How much influence do you believe a family has on the way a woman feels about food and her body today? You may use pseudo names to protect her identity."


This is a great topic point and I wanted to share a personal story about this actually. Growing up my family never talked about food or weight. My parents both worked and I grew up in a military home so my dad was gone a lot. My mom worked also so her go-to route for food was hot pockets, frozen pizza, ramen, cookies, chips, zebra cakes, honey buns and etc. I never knew the importance of healthy food or ate much of anything nutritious. And I always grew up being itty bitty. My parents are also pretty small so we never worried about our weight or anything.

But between starting college, hanging out with friends, and working at IHOP I slowly started to pack on weight. And I never felt uncomfortable in my own skin or thought I looked bad. I went from being a size 0 to a size 3 and then a 5. Being 5'3", while this didn't look bad, it didn't look great either. I started getting sick more and feeling sluggish and taking naps all the time.

We took a trip to Dominican Republic for Spring Break in 2011 and when we got home from the trip I overheard a conversation between my parents whom are divorced but still friends. My dad was showing my mom pictures from the trip and said something about my weight. Specifically he said I was starting to look a little chunky. Some words were exchanged and I threw on tennis shoes and ran out the door exclaiming I was chunky and going on a run. Man did they feel horrible. If it wasn't for that extra push though I wouldn't be where I am at today or found my passion for wellness. This was the first step to wanting to pursue health promotion and be an advocate for an overall healthy lifestyle.

I never thought I would care so much about my weight but hearing my parents discuss it not only hurt, but made me want to look better and while I am not obsessed about it or what I eat, I made a lifestyle change and always strive to work hard in the gym and with my eating habits. At the time my parents really didn't realize their "private" conversation would have such an impact on me. I was emotionally affected but physically and mentally motivated to learn more about nutrition and exercise. I guess deep down I don't ever want to hear a conversation like that again. And sometimes my dad asks if I actually eat because I did end up losing 20 or so lbs. And even THAT hurts my feelings because of course I eat, I eat 6 times a day. And I still have my occasional beefy 5 layer burrito from Taco Bell or candy and soda at the movies because you have to live life..

But it goes to show you can never make anyone happy, not even your family. I feel good in my own skin and whether they think I am chunky or anorexic, I've learned that as long as I am comfortable, that's all that matters.

With all that being said, I wanted to add that if it weren't for Advocare...I wouldn't be able to maintain my metabolism, energy level, muscle tone, or weight. 

I also wanted to add that although at the time what my parents said hurt, I am so very thankful for it. It compelled me to live a better lifestyle and our family is even closer than ever because of the domino effect my healthy lifestyle choices have made on them. So of course I am not mad at them, and I hope to reach out to a few of you and leave you with this:
Don't let people who bring you down discourage you. Use that as a platform to build yourself with and grow. You decide who you want to be. You define you. Don't let anyone, no matter who they are to you, take away your light. You are a snowflake, and that is beautiful! 

(Next blog post will be about Ladies Alive & include the reasoning behind the "snowflake" metaphor)

xoxo ciao,

Cheyenne Peluso