21 Comments
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Donna Fox's avatar

I hope this the start of a future book!!

Marianne Beal Peters's avatar

Oh my gosh, I feel as though I could’ve written this myself. I also use exercise to process a lot of the stress and grief I feel after some personal/family losses. I’m really trying to understand the role that emotions are playing in the persistent weight that keeps me in the “overweight” range. The only time I’ve ever been in a healthy weight is when I have starved myself, which also doesn’t feel emotionally healthy; it makes me feel obsessed, and I think about food more than I do when I’m just living my life. We are complicated creatures.

Julie Lythcott-Haims's avatar

Marianne, I'm so glad my words reflect some of your own truths. We are such complicated beings indeed, but I love a good puzzle and I find it very rewarding to listen to my body when I dare to ask the right questions.

Kristin's avatar

I could have writtten this, thank you!

Julie Lythcott-Haims's avatar

We don't talk about this stuff enough... i finally decided I needed to (both for you/others and for me, too)

Kerri's avatar

Love you Julie.

Wendy S's avatar

Julie! I’m down 7 lbs, thanks in in part to our chat. :-) Still a ways to go … but am feeling really good. I am so happy for you and your important revelations and very relatable journey. Now .. there’s just less of you for us to love!

Julie Lythcott-Haims's avatar

oh my gosh WHAT that's awesome. so happy for you. I'm nearing the number at which I was fat shamed by a doctor in college when I was 20. I'm going to ignore that milestone (because I don't want to make it about HIM) but when I'm a pound less than that, I'm going into primal scream mode. Watch out neighbors!

Furgerson J's avatar

Thank you. . . . Hope you are having a great day!

Julie Lythcott-Haims's avatar

Thank you Julie, and to you!

Claire Liew's avatar

Thank you for sharing, Julie 😘

Julie Lythcott-Haims's avatar

Thanks for reading it, Claire 😘

Michelle Flynn's avatar

Julie - thanks for sharing your journey. We are the same age and I have ridden the roller coaster my whole life. Here’s to good health… that set point can really make it tough!

Yukun Wu's avatar

I would hope that besides the new doctor that you saw last year who completely got your body, there were other doctors that you had seen since who would not scold you about your body fat, Julie.

Julie Lythcott-Haims's avatar

Thank you Yukun. I'm definitely mad at myself for letting that one humiliation dictate my behavior with doctors for decades.

Leanne Fonteyn's avatar

Thank you so much for sharing your journey, Julie. I remember auditioning to be a dancer at Great America back when they had big musical shows there. I had to get on a scale in front of all these people. I weighed 124 lbs. The lady at the table looked me up and down, then gestured to by mid section saying, “What, did you eat a big breakfast?” I was mortified.

Julie Lythcott-Haims's avatar

Oh God, that is awful. I'm so sorry.

Mary Indritz's avatar

Thank you for sharing your personal journey, Julie - it is a good one to think about as my personal journey has been all the wrong direction for a couple years no matter what I do or watch. Thanks to you, I will pay more attention to the emotional journey and look at my wellness from a new perspective. As always, you inspire.

Julie Lythcott-Haims's avatar

Very kind of you to say, Mary. We're in this together!