How to Lose Weight Growing Up in a Food Equals Love Household Dynamic

This trick likely will not work for everyone, but if you see yourself in this pattern then it can really help you.The trick is to think about what you eat before you eat it. Yes, I know, the Nobel Diet Award will not be going to me this year, but please keep reading. Many of us grew up in a house that food was associated with love, gifts, affection, holidays, and comfort. You do not have to end up overweight for this to alter your adult perception of food and what you eat and when you eat it. A Grandparent or parent that grew up in the Great Depression is likely to take pride in being able to provide ample food or treats to later generations that were often scarce in their childhood. What might have been a Christmas treat for them becomes standard Sunday fare at Grandma's house. Such relatives often are so excited to provide food in such abundance and even have extra portions that they eagerly urge you to eat, so much so that many of us took extra portions without really wanting them.

Growing up, our house was a food based rewards house. Grandma made lots of desserts as a treat, and she did it constantly. When Dad packed your lunch for school there was an extra Twinkie (or two) in there and portions were really more suited for a grown-up than a grade school student. Good grades, exams, achievements and good report cards got trips to the ice cream shop or McDonald's for fries and a shake. Candies would frequently be brought over by family friends as a treat for kids. Uncle always brought ice cream for the kids and specialty candies for the adults. The holidays were completely out of control in the abundance of food. And then over course, there was Cookie Monster from Sesame Street who seemed like he could always have another cookie. Who was I to question his blue furry wisdom?