Finding a Diet that You Can Live With

I love my family, but often wish I had inherited some skinny folks genes. I have spent 50 something years being told what I pretty face I have. But never have the words been echoed about what a hot bod I have!

I recently started to work on my family's genealogy, and met some second and third cousins for the first time. No surprises to find that they also are struggling with the battle of the bulge. I have never had that internal voice within saying "You're full! You're full!"

As a child in the fifties I was just slightly chunky, which I seemed to outgrow during the early teen years. High School was a little more problematic. The summer between my junior and senior years, I worked at the Pink Lady Ice Cream Parlor. It was an honor to work there, and the place had been known for its impressive list of former pink ladies. But I was like a kid in the candy store. Did I mention that ice cream is my very favorite food?

In late August I showed up for my new position on the Teen Fashion Board of a department store chain, which I had won in a competition in the spring. The director of the program took a look at me and said "What happened to you?" I had to admit my indiscretions at the Pink Lady.

My mother took me to the doctor, who started me off on diet pills, which made me edgy and prone to restless nights with my mind racing. I hated the way I felt, but the pounds quickly were gone and I had a great senior year.

College and dorm living saw the Frosh Fifteen appear. I was not a drinker back then, but when I moved into an apartment in my sophomore year, my room mate and I went on the Drinking Man's Diet, which was a lot like Atkins, and was able to shed the weight.

No more problems until my first real job out of college. My previous job had been very physical... I had been a Tour Guide, and was probably walking six hours a day. I had also gone to Mexico on road trip with my then boyfriend and another couple. I had Montezuma's Revenge for about two months, so I was super skinny.