You could call it the American woman omnivore’s dilemma: the luscious cake with frosting that thick pictured next to the latest diet. It screams from the magazine covers every single time we hit the checkout stand at market.
Even the cover of Oprah Magazine often pictures delectable desserts next to “how to lose weight over 40” article headlines. Gadzooks.
It’s an oxymoronic juxtaposition that has us all scratching our heads.
The story behind the picture
This set of street signs (picture above) just down the road where we are visiting in Marin, California, drew us like a magnet for a snapshot to underscore the point. After driving past it a dozen or more times, we decided we must bring our camera on a downtown walk yesterday so I could strike a quick pose for a picture to post here.
Yup, that’s me in front of this landmark set of signs: the Diet Center right next to “Cake Art”.
Hello frosting, it’s me, Lani
On my long and colorful path to fitness freedom, I was once a Diet Center customer. I stuff-starved my way within 4 lbs of Diet Center “goal weight”. It lasted about 6 hours, until I started my way back up again.
Don’t get me started on my Diet Center experience.
OK, you twisted my arm. [superemotions file=”icon_rolleyes.gif” title=”Rolling Eyes”]
Diet Center was one of my last desperate efforts many years ago to get a grip on my spiraling weight and roaring hunger. My first point of alarm should have been during my induction interview with the Diet Center “counselor”.
When I dissolved in tears while trying to explain to her my utter desperation at finding myself time and time again in my car stuffing down a full bag of M n M’s, her nervous quizzical looks should have tipped me off that I was in the wrong place.
My second point of alarm was in the next stage of the process: setting my goal weight. The counselor simply asked, “What would you like to weigh?”
I answered “125 lbs. “
No matter that I weighed 124 lbs. in the eighth grade (not fat then, mind you) or that I was born weighing 120 (as I like to say). I was wedded to the fantasy that somehow I should match the weight of my petite classmates, all of whom were between 5’2″ and 5’4″ to my 5′ 7″ and climbing.
Nope. My “counselor” never “counseled” me on my weight goals. She simply put down 125 lbs as my goal and it was set in cement. No turning back now.
In retrospect, I am grateful for my Diet Center experience. It was such a painful process that it forced me to seek out the shift in paradigm that has become the foundation of my own fitness – and eating – freedom, and the scaffold for the Women’s Fitness Blueprint program. Yes, there is a solution to the omnivore’s dilemma that presents itself daily to women.
Still, the ubiquitous mixed message – as in the image above – confounds and saddens me. Even while it is great fodder for a photo op.
© Lani Muelrath 2009 All Rights Reserved
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Oh, Lani. How this rings true. I, too, was a member of Jenny which was actually two doors away from Imo’s Pizza. I remember leaving Jenny’s after weighing in and immediately treating myself to that wonderful St Louis style pizza.
I am 5′ 4″ and did reach my goal weight of 125. I think it lasted all of 2 weeks. Of course, now I weigh almost as much as my hubby and think 135 would be a good weight. But if I keep on T-Tapping, then who really cares what the scale says as long as my clothing is fitting better and I’m feeling better about myself? Thanks for your many encouraging words and life-relating stories.
@Nita: Hey Nita, yes, someone who can relate! I love your story of pizza-post-Jenny. I’m guessing we are NOT alone!
Sounds like you are doing well with your body shaping quest! Thanks so much for stopping in to comment, I really appreciate it!
Lani
Hi Lani. Love this article! I have done both Jenny (reached goal of 110lbs to gain all weight back post-Jenny) and also Slim4Life (reached new/revised goal of 120 to gain some of it back post-Slim4Life). I just can’t continue to pay that kind of money for results that I can’t make last once the program ends! I recently found T-Tapp and although I haven’t reached my inch-loss goal yet…I have no doubt I will get there! I already feel so much healthier with a MUCH firmer body than I did at either of the above weights. This go-round I choose health with a slim body! Thanks for the article!
@Phyllis: Hey Phyllis, I’m so glad you enjoyed this and am thrilled that you stopped in to tell me. Congrats on your T-Tapp venture, it sounds like you are on your way!
Lani