Do thin people think differently than you and me? Have you ever wondered if thin people tend to show different behavior towards food?
From personal experience I can attest that thin people definitely think differently from the rest of us. This knowledge can help children and those of us who struggle with food and emotions.
When I was growing up I was of average weight. But something happened. When I was around 12 years old, I remember feeling plump and overweight. I would only wear a one piece swimsuit. I became very self-conscious. Looking back, I wasn’t overweight, but somehow the thought that I was heavy gave me a kick.
Was this because my mother had food and eating problems and I was exposed to these from the beginning? Was it because I played with Barbie dolls? I was only 12 years old. I have no idea why I felt this way.
When I was 18, in 1973, I remember my father telling me “You have to lose 5 pounds.” I felt crushed. I didn’t feel heavy. But it bothered me when he told me this. I immediately signed up with the local Weight Watchers. I was 5 feet tall. 2 inches and weighed 124 pounds. Was he overweight? No. Target I FEEL overweight. I FEEL I had a problem with food.
Consequently, over the years, my belief that I had a problem with food became a reality.
While smoking cigarettes, I kept my weight under control. I used to smoke whenever I felt bad, sad, frustrated, lonely, depressed, angry … name a negative emotion, and in response, I smoked.
Unfortunately, when I stopped smoking, I was unaware of the benefits of replacing smoking with another habit – a healthy habit like drinking water. So when I left, I had no way of handling my emotions. So I did what a lot of people do. I ate.
(As a certified hypnotist, I now make sure that every client who wants to quit smoking has a healthy habit that replaces the old unhealthy habit of smoking to avoid my experience.)
Many years passed and now I am the mother of two teenagers. I’ve been very careful to do everything I can to make sure I don’t pass eating problems on to my children. When they were upset, I made sure to help them feel better without using food. I never said “Here, honey, have a cookie, you’ll feel better.” I made sure that finishing everything they had on their plate was not important. If they weren’t hungry, they didn’t have to eat.
So how do my kids think and act differently about food?
When my daughter is dealing with stress and other negative emotions, she finds healthy ways to deal with these emotions. She doesn’t run to the fridge. She does not smoke or drink. She will call her friends or figure things out herself.
She even keeps an ongoing journal and has been doing it since fourth grade. What a great way to release negative emotions.
My daughter frequently overlooks dessert. “I’m full. Mom. Maybe later” is something I hear frequently.
(Those of us who have food problems rarely pass a dessert.)
Thin people Think differently about food. They find other ways to handle negative emotions and don’t use food as a way to feel better.