Fluffy: What do big girls eat?
When I started this journey, I never thought that I’d ever evolve to the point where I’d feel comfortable openly discussing my battle with weight. I always found it quite odd that it is so hard for Americans to discuss the issue in a more personal way. You’d think it would be much easier, considering how many of us are overweight. So here I am, leaping into this subject. Welcome to my new “Fluffy” series. 
It’s only fitting that I write what I know. And I know what it’s like to be a big girl. As an African American woman, I’m definitely not in the minority.
What do big girls eat?
Like most Americans, the fluffy girl eats the typical Western diet. She probably eats more than someone weighing less. But it takes a lot more to become overweight than a poor diet alone. It takes a sedentary lifestyle, personal unresolved issues, and a poor diet. That’s what my formula was, and I suspect that this is the case for many overweight African American women.
I sometimes eat feelings …
As a big girl, sometimes I eat when I’m anxious, stressed, tired or aggravated. Although I primarily eat when I’m hungry, I also eat when I’m in one of the aforementioned emotional states.
I eat combined meals …
As of late, I’ve been getting much better at eating smaller, healthier snacks throughout the day. But I used to regularly go all day without eating, and then I’d make up for lost time at dinner. By then, I’d feel as though I “earned” the privilege of eating multiple portions at one meal.
Breakthrough
I recognized recently that finding an outlet of some sort helps me better work through these odd emotional spaces I find myself in. I’ve also found that I feel a little better when I take time for me to walk and decompress. I recently discovered that eating the right combinations of foods keeps me from going crazy at dinner time.
I’m a work in progress … but we all are. I’m fluffy and the weight loss journey is still very much a process for me. I’m excited about finally being able to discuss this important subject openly.
