Dyana
It was 1971 and I was 10 as they called me up to the front of the room to introduce myself to the group. A branch of Weight Watchers opened up in the recreation centre above the local strip mall. Mom thought it was a good idea. After all, she had two other children who didn't have this "chubby affliction". The doctors said it was simply baby fat. It will go away when she hits 3 - 4-5-6.... It wasn't going away though. "Go on up to the podium dear," the lady said. I was a child in a sea of adults. It was my turn to confess my fat to the masses. I was to introduce myself, confess that I was too fat and return to my seat. All eyes were upon me...likely moreso because I was just a child . I was the only one...and frankly, I didn't understand the content of the meetings anyways.I still feel the nausea in recalling that memory. It was the first time that I felt as though I would faint. Mom had to force me to go to the weekly meetings. Every Wednesday there was a barage of hysteria at the prospect that I would, again, have to stand at that podium and announce my losses and gains and then withstand the cheers or jeers of the crowd. I think I lost a total of 17 pounds in the 2 or so months that I attended. I didn't even feel pride in my achievement. I felt I was being punished and never really understood why. I hadn't formed a body image yet...I wasn't aware that my weight was an issue, except to my mother. Weight Watchers has transformed and reinvented itself many times over the years. I went back for about 3 more failed attempts in my adult life. Perhaps the stigma of that first experience damaged me for the group.
It was the beginning of what seemed like 1000 attempts at losing weight over the course of my life. There were the diet aids...such as Ayds appetite suppresants, slimfast shakes, protein bars...the gurus and gimmicks...Deal a Meal, Susan Powter, Richard Simmons, Tony Little...the books, Scarsdale diet, the T-factor diet. Hi protien, Low carbs , no fat, no calories, gym memberships, aquafit classes, exercise equipment, Weight Watchers, Herbal One, Bernstein, The Diet Centre. Fad diets, fad doctors, fad everything... I'm a failure! Ohhh I lost weight....I lost 1000 lbs but its back with a vengence!
TBC
