tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post5021069373353747698..comments2023-07-18T04:25:10.603-04:00Comments on Man Meets Scale: A man and his messed up relationship with food. Oliver Twist gets a paycheck and look what happens!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776137772556903183noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-51316400615709537482012-02-18T21:35:10.403-05:002012-02-18T21:35:10.403-05:00Ha ha -- I think we had the same mother. Day old b...Ha ha -- I think we had the same mother. Day old bread...check! Powdered milk...check! Generic brand corn flakes...check! McDonald's -- I can remember one time we had food from McD's. They had 10 cent hamburgers as part of some promotion. My mom drove over and bought about 30 of them. No fries or anything -- just burgers. We thought we'd died and gone to heaven!Susanhttp://nearlyanormaleater.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-45354615426117072292011-08-20T11:26:50.224-04:002011-08-20T11:26:50.224-04:00Do you eat low fat ice cream?
From Wiki: "A...Do you eat low fat ice cream?<br /><br />From Wiki: "A 1994 change in United States Food and Drug Administration rules allowed ice milk to be labeled as low-fat ice cream in the United States."<br /><br />If you buy/eat low fat ice cream... you are STILL eating "ice milk". :)Denisehttp://goingskiing.webs.com/choosingagoalweight.htmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-20827043384124128002011-02-09T16:29:07.274-05:002011-02-09T16:29:07.274-05:00Another excellent post!Another excellent post!Kelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01780660342943859207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-42132178527166857292011-02-02T10:45:14.983-05:002011-02-02T10:45:14.983-05:00I relate. I was frugal raising my kids, having be...I relate. I was frugal raising my kids, having been raised that way, even though I don't think it was financially necessary when I was a child. (But who knows for sure! I was just a child.) <br /><br />But I do think that probably everyone, when they get out of their growing-up home,feels a great sense of freedom/power/joy in making all their own choices. I think that's probably true regardless of how much control the parents exerted in the home.<br /><br />I know adults who blame their parents for their weight problems because NO controls were placed on them with their food choices. So I agree with you about 'unintended consequences' in parenting, although every now and then I might edit it to say PERCEIVED consequences. <br /><br />Sometimes it's just too easy and probably not accurate, to attribute some behavior to how you were parented. But I do realize you're writing this in a light-hearted way!Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10950451908465207387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-19813446480337073902011-01-28T15:08:07.114-05:002011-01-28T15:08:07.114-05:00Honest and funny and moving - thank you for this b...Honest and funny and moving - thank you for this blog! I had a similar childhood with frugal intellectuals - except they added a twist that made the poverty more palatable - they made things into a fun, fantastic hunt. Going to the grocery store or buying clothes, they celebrated with glee when we found bargains, or cheaper substitutions for things. We really all got a kick out of it, and were made to feel brilliant. There was a camaraderie of "we're smarter than those poor brand-name suckers, aren't we?" I still get a thrill when I find good bargains. My daughter has more material comforts than I did growing up, but I've taught her the fun of stretching a dollar, too. Thanks again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-51793016202960186722011-01-27T08:57:53.523-05:002011-01-27T08:57:53.523-05:00Dave, as always "Well Done" !!
My signa...Dave, as always "Well Done" !!<br /><br />My signature line on a WW group I belong to reads "working on a healthy relationship with food".<br /><br />My mom was similar to yours. She did the best she could with little money we had. We had Micky D's a few times a year. She always cooked good food for us (we argued the "good"ness, my brother and I). We always took bagged lunch to school (maybe purchased lunch on Friday for a treat (pizza day)) and had a small snack after dinner (2 or 3 cookies, depending on the size). That's about it with the snacks.....no chips, no junk food. When I got my 1st job, I played "catch up", keeping snacks in the drawers of my captains bed (circa 1980's), and I had my own mini fridge in my room. That's when my issues began.<br /><br />I learned that I cannot deny myself things I like....cookies being my downfall. As long as I figure them into my day I can have them. I love that WW allows for the flexibility to eat anything I wish. As long as I track, the program works. I will stay this....I often choose the Zero PP Banana, over the 4PP Cookies since the new program launch in December. That was a brilliant addition..."free" fruit !! It's a bargain any way you look at it !!<br /><br />Thanks for your thoughts !!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-41620793417625047022011-01-23T17:29:04.244-05:002011-01-23T17:29:04.244-05:00wow- the light bulb went off when I read this- so ...wow- the light bulb went off when I read this- so like my life growing up!!Debrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14487455859008207483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-57719856573131304282011-01-20T15:22:09.543-05:002011-01-20T15:22:09.543-05:00Dave your blog is such a resource for leaders who ...Dave your blog is such a resource for leaders who may have the "lone guy" in the meeting room. I give your blog address right away so that the guys will have your thoughts and views as well. Thanks for being so honest,open and humorous about such a serious subject as weight loss and obesity.Julienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-59392930684992405572011-01-20T13:21:20.668-05:002011-01-20T13:21:20.668-05:00powdered milk YUCK! I don't even drink milk an...powdered milk YUCK! I don't even drink milk anymore. I kept most of the frugal lessons, but have a mother still obssessed with thin. I was sent to WW at 12 cause I was getting a little pudgy. WW then included forced liver once a week, my mother practically shoved it down my throat. Wonder why I ended up with food issues. My mother still says are you going to eat THAT? WW plan over the last year and a half has helped me so much beyond making goal. <br />Dave love your blog really makes me examine my own issues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-7504056689152521852011-01-20T10:15:40.584-05:002011-01-20T10:15:40.584-05:00Oh my goodness, Dave, seeing the picture of the pl...Oh my goodness, Dave, seeing the picture of the plaid Toughskins was like a kick to the chest. I had to wear those things all through fifth and sixth grades. (And this was during a time when designer jeans - Jordache! - were big among my classmates.) I hid those plaid Toughskins in the back of my closet and pretended they were lost, but no dice. My mom dug them out and made me wear them. Yes, I was made fun of, a lot. I'm probably scarred for life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-86623175289275656322011-01-20T08:22:50.366-05:002011-01-20T08:22:50.366-05:00My mom put got? Sigh...
Note to self- drink coffee...My mom put got? Sigh...<br />Note to self- drink coffee before commenting on blogs in the morning.The Incredible Shrinking Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202138398077072616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-66954529980492747532011-01-20T08:21:43.951-05:002011-01-20T08:21:43.951-05:00At least your mom had the decency to tell you you ...At least your mom had the decency to tell you you were eating generic. My mom put got an empty Mrs. Butterworth's bottle FROM A FRIEND and poured our watered down generic syrup into that bad boy. The first time I tasted the real stuff, I thought the company had gone mad and changed their recipe! My Mom also collected pockets from old Wrangler jeans and sewed them onto our no-name clearance rack denims. The only time I made out ahead was when she took on a job making a cake for someone. The left over icing was my reward. (And probably having power in the house from the payment, but I cared about the icing.) Cake and icing STILL get me to this day. Maybe that's why! lolThe Incredible Shrinking Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202138398077072616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-57976144389043072032011-01-19T22:52:34.284-05:002011-01-19T22:52:34.284-05:00That nonfat instant dry milk that your mom reconst...That nonfat instant dry milk that your mom reconstitured for milk...my husband and I have used it for coffee creamer for years and it works fine for us. I discovered it when WW used to market their own "creamer" packets. The contents looked familiar and the ingredient list confirmed my suspicions. I've been leading WW meetings for 14 years and reading weight loss blogs nearly as long. Your blog is as candid and genuine as any I've read. No wonder I'm seeing so many positive things happening with the company. Loving PointsPlus (lost 8 pounds and I've been at goal for 12 years), loving the new ad campaign, LOVE LOVE LOVE the Weeklies (members do too), Liz Joeefberg is a great find, glad you're putting her out front so much. I was kind of a "granola mom" when I was raising my kids. For example, no cereal could have more than 3 gms of sugar per serving and when I talked about choices I would always focus on the fact that sugar was bad for their teeth...nothing about weight. My kids did kind of rebel when they got on their own but it only takes a few added pounds for them to be uncomfortable and they know how to make adjustments.LLBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17427104214297585468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-78181168805460913872011-01-19T22:47:09.415-05:002011-01-19T22:47:09.415-05:00Funny, I can relate to alot of it. Growing up, 5 s...Funny, I can relate to alot of it. Growing up, 5 siblings and mom being a single parent on a fixed income.Had to eat fast or sometimes didnt get any!!! To this day I still have to remind myself to slow down!! We didnt have sweets or treats really of any kind except once in while. I used to wish I could go into a grocery store and buy whatever I wanted to eat.So as an adult I have battled my over indulging especially with sweets. Im afraid my kids are going to battle the same issues. As for a treats drawer, I couldnt have one, I'd probably eat it all myself! Thank God for Weight watchers where Im learning to eat right and and stop this constant rollercoaster of "dieting"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-54976905887489726322011-01-19T20:16:44.478-05:002011-01-19T20:16:44.478-05:00Funny post,David. How about lunch in an empty plas...Funny post,David. How about lunch in an empty plastic bread bag, that was my favorite. Everyone seeing your lunch through the plastic. I have been thinking on this topic this week, so thanks. My 5yo daughter has a sweet tooth like her daddy (who eats like a 12 yo boy). I have given up on him, but I can't on her. We didn't have dessert in the house unless we had a babysitter, then it was a square container of vanilla ice cream we'd literally cut with a butcher knife to make sure it was equally divided so we could treasure our piece. I am tinkering with the notion of letting my daughter go sweet stuff crazy and eat until her hearts content. I read somewhere that if you have a "treats drawer" and let them eat whatever they want (but have to eat their meals first) that they learn that treats aren't so special because they are plentiful. Then it because commonplace so it's no big deal. I think my food issues with chips and sweets were because we didn't have them, so when I could lay my hands on them or buy them as an adult, I went nutso. But I'm not sure I'm brave enough to test this theory yet. Anyone try such a thing with their kids?Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13121358882040012096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-32619380082461155672011-01-19T20:12:49.049-05:002011-01-19T20:12:49.049-05:00I didn't have a problem with overly frugal or ...I didn't have a problem with overly frugal or wanting household. Packaged candies were not abundant at our house because I had a mom who baked. And man did she have the talent for it! Amazingly wonderful treats she'd make. Then around gr. 7, I began to be restricted. Wasn't allowed to eat treats whenever I wanted, because I was a girl who developed early and my mom worried about me getting fat. My older brother (we're both adopted, so we dont share genetics here) was a bean pole and continues to be one. He wasn't restricted despite how hyper he'd get from sweets. Highschool I started at 5'5" and 130lbs. Hardly ideal weight, but I rowed and did dry training so a lot was muscle, with a layer of puppy fat on it as well. Were it not for my moms constant teasing, deprivation, guilting, screaming, hiding ways I doubt I would've found an emotional attachment to food. It was my comforter and my "Doesn't matter what you say, I'll eat the cookies anyways!" kind of reaction. Hell, my parents even locked the cold cellar. By gr. 11 I weighed 160 lbs, no longer happy with myself or as active (oh yeah acne wreaked havoc over my face, though you thankfully can't really tell now!) I began Weight Watchers with my mom and got down to 130lbs again. Of course, University kinda destroyed that and also a 3 yr sojourn in the lonely lonely country of Korea where healthy living isn't exactly a priority despite the uberthin natives. So now I'm back, more hoping to get to a healthier BMI so I don't have to worry about diabetes etc. Not knowing my biological family puts certain things in harsh perspective. I've no desire to tempt fate. I really enjoyed this blog post and I plan to continue reading it in the future :)Amandanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-43027846262510147242011-01-19T18:08:45.890-05:002011-01-19T18:08:45.890-05:00Wow - this really resonates with me. It's exa...Wow - this really resonates with me. It's exactly why I eat, when I fall off the wagon....because I can afford it. My mom used to mix reconstituted powdered milk with a half gallon of whole milk and freeze the other half of the gallon to stretch it. When I could, I would sneak graham crackers and powdered sugar she kept around for baking. I would make icing, add some artificial almond flavoring and binge on graham cracker/icing sandwiches! It was the only treat I'd get. Like you, I rebelled against frugality as soon as I left home - still hate generics. Unlike you, I managed to be chunky all during my childhood, despite all the wheat germ and other healthy, frugal foods Mom kept in the house.Birdlady42https://www.blogger.com/profile/03738636387057644847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-2650268001803122312011-01-19T17:14:58.248-05:002011-01-19T17:14:58.248-05:00Wow. You summed that up very well and there I saw...Wow. You summed that up very well and there I saw my own childhood flashing before my eyes and I recognised it. It also has occurred to me that the relative austerity of food growing up may have played its part in my ever-expanding waistline when I left my Scottish homeland. It really got bad when I got to the US with its obscene portion sizes.<br /><br />I look forward to keeping up with your blog and catching up on past posts!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-26693060110016544002011-01-19T17:04:50.865-05:002011-01-19T17:04:50.865-05:00My mother as a housewife and my father "the o...My mother as a housewife and my father "the only "working parent" would be given the priveledge of making sure he ate as much as he wanted at dinnertime, and the four of us children, were required to wait until he was finished. Many nights I left the table still hungry. As an adult, I overeat "just because I can"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-84365529248794591872011-01-19T16:50:21.140-05:002011-01-19T16:50:21.140-05:00Great stories. I think we did grow up in similar h...Great stories. I think we did grow up in similar households. We had chipped beef on toast, pancakes for dinner, fish sticks..she had 6 mouths to feed and little money. Sunday dinner was a roast or fried chicken and always a cake. I do remember feeling really liberated when I could take myself to McDonalds and order whatever I wanted. Not hard to see how I got where I am weight wise. So grateful for WW to help me put food in its proper place and still enjoy it! Thanks Dave and keep writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-64830230926685671532011-01-19T16:20:54.250-05:002011-01-19T16:20:54.250-05:00While reading this, I kept hearing my dad in the b...While reading this, I kept hearing my dad in the background saying "Children are starving in Ethiopia! Finish your plate!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-65739567046914416342011-01-19T16:12:37.345-05:002011-01-19T16:12:37.345-05:00I can totally relate!! Great post!!I can totally relate!! Great post!!Trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08083766780488173492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-72059375394877802212011-01-19T14:30:08.981-05:002011-01-19T14:30:08.981-05:00Lining boots with the bread bag, that brought a sm...Lining boots with the bread bag, that brought a smile to my face as my Mom lined my boots the same way. My Dad owned a butcher shop so we always had the best meat and my Mom loved to bake, so there were always goodies around. That's where my sweet tooth came from. Snowy days were spent baking (and eating..)cookies. And I wonder why I have a weight problem?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-2055585482423864482011-01-19T14:17:39.435-05:002011-01-19T14:17:39.435-05:00You hit it spot on. For me, it was a lot about soc...You hit it spot on. For me, it was a lot about social acceptance and not doing without what everyone else said was the norm. To not have it was that we weren't normal or as good as anyone else. In fact, now I'm a lot more frugal and I have to have this battle with my boyfriend who is very brand name conscious when it comes to food and in some aspects his clothes. <br /><br />I'm so glad I saw this article today, Dave. I'm printing it out for my highlight reminder when I go to weigh in this Friday. Thank you.Cynnara Tregarthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00191272174111932747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3915663773059643299.post-5534021169601203072011-01-19T14:13:44.762-05:002011-01-19T14:13:44.762-05:00My mom counted everything. Bacon sausage tater to...My mom counted everything. Bacon sausage tater tots you name it. So when i moved out instead of eating the healthy 2 pieces of bacon i would cook a whole pound! We lived off powdered milk garden veges and government cheese...i still wont consider wild game or brown egg. I wont go into all of the gory details but rebeling got me up to 405 pnds 10 years ago. I now use a lot of my moms tricks and me and my hubby get closer to goal every week.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com