Sometimes I think that there is a gap in understanding between the sexes. Yesterday, as I spent the day holed up with Achilles in his apartment to wait out the snow storm the conversation turned to weight, weight gain, weight loss, genetics and The Biggest Loser.
While to me weight gain and loss are very complicated things, things that take an emotional toll as well as a physical one, I found it really hard to explain this to Achilles. He sees a personal trainer 3-4 days a week, exercises on his own the other days, exists solely on eggs, protein powder, yogurt, Trader Joe’s frozen chicken Tikki Masala, and new addition turkey. His thoughts went something like this “If people are fat why don’t they just stop eating so much. My trainer says I should only eat turkey and yogurt, then that’s what I’ll eat for the rest of my life.” Okay, so that’s not a direct quote, but it’s close enough.
I had a really hard time explaining that for many people, for most people, food is everywhere, it’s tempting, it bombards us in every aspect of society through advertising and availability. We live in a very tricky society; on one hand we are told in many senses that eating is wrong that we should all eat like Achilles and be happy to do so. On the other hand, we’ve been sold sugar laden drinks and cereals since birth, food is a part of every major celebration in life, fast food is affordable while fresh fruits and vegetables can put a serious dent in your savings, and being considered a foodie or gourmet is a sign of prestige. It’s a very confusing world.
I tried to explain that, and also that not everyone is perfectly content to eat the same thing day in and day out (I was so craving a vegetable or fruit yesterday!) I also tried to explain that some people are just more genetically predisposed to weight gain than others.
We all know people that eat like they’re hording for a long hibernation, only to fit into the same jeans they wore in middle school while the rest of just look at a doughnut and gain weight. Many people really have to work to lose weight, it’s a life long struggle, it’s work forever.
It always makes me angry when I see comments on websites or on TV when people blatantly say “if you want to lose weight, just stop eating, tubby.” It’s not so simple to just eat less, it’s life consuming to eat less, to find foods you can eat, to be a normal member of society and just say no to food. It’s a struggle, and I wish more people understood that.
Having said that, here’s what I ate yesterday, which wasn’t much because Achilles doesn’t have any FOOD!
Breakfast
2 eggs, 1/2 avocado, whole grain bread
Grande soy latte
I have to give the boy credit, he braved a blizzard to bring back Starbucks
Lunch/Dinner
Turkey & whole grain bread
That’s about it. I did hit his building gym in the evening, I went for a 15-minute run and 30-minutes on the elliptical. Afterward I took a shower and played guitar hero which was surprisingly a good forearm workout. You know how I’m always trying to build up my forearms 
Girl, you need to teach your dude how to eat.
And maybe make him watch Food Inc.
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Kimberly Rae Miller Reply:
February 11th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Ha, I’m trying Aline, but he only listens to what his trainer says. He even told him that I’m jealous because he won’t listen to me, but will listen to Mr. Muscles. I’m hoping I can at least show him the wonder that is produce at sometime in the near future. Yummy, crunchy, nutrient rich produce. A girl can dream.
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Guys are WEIRD like that. I’ve always thought it had somethig to do with the fact that girls often grow up with a weird attitude about having to restrict food, and guys just eat when they’re hungry. I have guy friends that do the little variety/lots of protein thing, too, and I think it’s nuts. Maybe the reason they don’t seem to mind is is that “guy diets” usually entail eating certain foods, but still eating plenty, whereas “girl diets” are more restrictive and leave us unsatisfied. It’s easier to ear yogurt and poultry all the time when you’re never starving, you know? Also, girls diet to lose weight, whereas a lot of guys are tryin to “get jacked.” Yes, I am friends with people who say that. Oh, life…
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So, while Matt doesn’t exist sole on yogurt and turkey, he is the same as Achilles in that he doesn’t “get” that people can have emotional issues with food. To him, it’s just food, and nothing more. It boggles my mind.
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Today Curtis and I caught some Tyra show. It was about women who obsess about certain parts of their bodies or looks. One lady was absolutely disgusted with a rose port birth mark on her face. She had covered it with make up and hidden it from her husband for four years. Her behavior was baffling because she was a really pretty girl but HATED how she looked because of a small birthmark to the point that she was sobbing about it when she saw a photo of her as a kid with the birthmark. While it was baffling to me, it was way more baffling to Curtis. You see, I have sobbed about my weight before and how “disgusting” I look. I’ve cried about my nose, the shape of my legs, how short I am, the list could go on and on. The only difference is that for the most part I’ve accepted that this is me and I don’t hide it from people. So, though I thought the girl was kind of over reacting to a small birthmark on her very pretty face which sat atop a very adorable and enviable petite figure, I knew her pain. Curtis couldn’t even begin to relate. Things like this baffle him too, though, after years of listening to me and reading blogs and articles I have sent him, he’s kind of starting to get it. It still baffles him, but he at least knows that emotional eating exists. So, he compassionate about it. PS My house has been void of fruits and vegetables for over a week and I was going insane. Today I made Curtis take me to the store to get produce. I love produce. How can anyone not love and adore produce? HAVE A FUN TRIP!
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