Subject: family pressure about weight

[Guest guest]

Ahhh, the ole Parent problem. And Catherine, I think this fits in

perfectly as a topic of discussion in this group. I realized a few

years ago that while my parents have good intention or at least I

hope that is where their 'encouragement' comes from, I've had to

develop a coping strategy to deal with it. When I lived in their

house as a child, I ate to cope with it. Not very heatlthy, I still

tend to stress eat, and just going home can elicit craving. It's not

just related to the foods I eat, but I've learned that there were

certain people that lifted me up and encouraged me and others that

did the opposite. I discarded my friends/acquaintances that weren't

the sort of people I needed to be in my life. Unfortunately, I cannot

do that with my parents so my current method of strategy is to avoid

contact. I still see them occassionally and talk to them over the

phone. However, if I'm visiting & they begin with their plethora

of 'suggestions' I leave. I've told them I will not tolerate this or

that and while it may be hard for them (really it's my father) to

break old habits, I can no longer tolerate such treatment and be the

person I want and know I can be. I wish I had the type of family that

was truly encouraging, but alas I do not. The best thing for me was

figuring out that I cannot make others change, but I can change

myself and the way in which I respond to other's behavior.

 

karen