Weighty Issues

Like many women, I have always had problems with my weight.

 Many of you I’m sure can relate to the multiple wardrobes, diet plans, lapsed gym memberships et al.

My weight issues I put down to genetics ………………………

•  I seem to have missed out on the ‘I forget to eat’ gene that my middle sister has.  Needless to say she is a slip of a thing. 
•  I also seem to have missed out on the ‘willpower ‘gene that my mother has, who for most of her life, in spite of her love for food has managed to stay slim and fit.
•  And finally I seem to have missed out on the ‘when I make my mind up to do something, I do it’ gene that my youngest sister has – wherein like me she tends to put on weight but very quickly gets back into the habit eating properly and doing yoga regime so she does not seesaw too much. 

I, on the other hand tend to seesaw around 15 kgs which is unbelievable I know – but there it is.  I won’t go into the struggles and shenanigans I go through and have gone through to shift the weight as reams and reams has been written on the subject by folk more erudite than myself.   I know all the theory and can pontificate on the subject of safe weight loss and fitness till the cows come home (which they tend to !).  I just put it down to my three missing genes.

Having lived many years abroad I have adopted the attitude that if you want to comment on someone’s weight you only do so if they have lost it (assuming they were overweight in the first place)  – in a positive and congratulatory manner - and why not ?

They have probably worked their butt off to get to that stage, it makes them happy and it is a conversation starter.  You can spend the next 15 minutes talking about how they did it, asking for pointers (to add to your already encyclopedic knowledge of weight loss) and in doing so contribute to helping them keep it off, as the positive reactions are a great incentive. 

Of course, if you meet these people in the pub, depending on their character it could go one of two ways

1. They have given up drink for the weight loss and have become boring old farts and the night seems to go on forever, and the 15 minute conversation stretches interminably….OR
2.  They are sensible and realize this is a social event and drink as per normal – this then leads to an early feeling of squiffiness on their part as now they eat less and drink less and their bodies are not used to it as much as before – which results in an fun-filled raucous evening for all (most of my mates luckily fall into this category)

In India, however, I have noticed that folk be they male or female, be they friends or family, be they acquaintances or professionals – will immediately tell you that you have put on weight.  Since I have put on a lot this behavior has become more apparent to me recently.  No niceties, no subtleties they just come out with it. 

I walked into my CA’s office recently and the first thing he said was ‘you have put on weight’ – I was not surprised as the last time I saw him he started our meeting with the same comment – so this time I laughed and told him I was expecting him to say this and his response was ‘well its true no ?’.  You can’t argue with that !

I don’t find behavior like this offensive at all but find it vaguely amusing.  I always want to react with ‘Oh really ? I had’nt noticed’ or ‘OMG when did this happen I was fine when I woke up this morning’ or ‘Well I can lose my weight but you will always be an ugly bast??d’, or Well I can lose my weight but you will always be ??????????(Insert  your own epi thet here)

                                                                                                                                                                    

The same thing applies to your tan …………as over here in the land of ‘fair and lovely’ having a tan is considered a negative attribute.   

I think folk should stop stating the obvious – yes I know I’ve become dark (it’s the sun you know and actually I prefer being brown than a dodgy yellowy colour) - yes I know I’ve put on weight (it’s the genes your know !). 

There are much nicer ways to greet someone…………So next time how about ‘Hi – great to see you – it’s been so long !’ – or ‘Hi, great to see you,  what’s been going on – tell me all !’  or even a ‘sup’ !  Whatever happened to the wonderful ‘Namaste’ ?

I shall now go to my ‘fat’ wardrobe and don something to go to brunch with my mate !

This I write for KC and AP who have long been on the seesaw with me but seem to have finally gotten off it …………………………. I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo proud of you guys !