Only fat girls don’t eat cake at parties

I think every woman must reach a point in her life when she jumps off the diet bandwagon and goes her own way, never to return to the self-imposed tyranny of eating as someone else dictates.

I remember my moment.  Surprisingly it wasn’t an ‘arghh, I can’t take this anymore’ kind of thing; it was more a quiet realisation and a sense of new found freedom.  Rather like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

I was at a birthday party, where much fun was being had, everyone was chatting, meeting new people, catching up with old friends, enjoying a glass or two of wine and enjoying some delicious food prepared by the host.  The host is rather famous for her cake making skills, always delicious, always beautifully decorated and always appreciated by all.  So the much anticipated moment arrived and out came the cakes, everyone gathered around and helped themselves to a couple of small slices, all expecting to be back to try a slice of the others later in the evening.

Everyone except for one woman, who I had met for the first time at this party, had been chatting to and very much enjoying the company of.  This lady who was quite overweight, did not join in and told the little group we had formed that she was on a diet and so could not eat cake.

All fairly unspectacular so far, but it really got me thinking.  How can the world make sense when thin people eat cake and stay thin and overweight people don’t eat cake and stay overweight?  Watch out for this next time you eat out or are anywhere food is being served.  It is the thin people enjoying themselves and eating the delicious food, while the overweight people turn down the most delicious treats.

I’ve been the fat girl proudly declining the slice of cake at a party / creamy bowl of pasta at the special occasion restaurant meal / perfectly charred burger at the barbecue. The list goes on. It’s not fun, but it does bring a sense of achievement, and avoids the feeling that everyone’s watching thinking ‘look at the fat girl stuffing her face’.  I have also been (and remain) the girl who has found balance, reached a healthy weight and enjoys the occasional cupcake when the opportunity presents itself.  How did I get there?  By eating cake at parties!

What other people eat has always been a fascination of mine.  Observing the habits of the ‘naturally thin’ has taught me a lot.  By naturally thin I mean those who seemingly eat whatever they like and stay slim.  I have noticed that such women generally eat a good healthy diet; they do so in moderate portions; and include treats as when they want them, which isn’t at every meal or with every cup of tea.

As a result they generally feel good after they have eaten, by eating the foods their body desire, eating enough to satisfy but not stuff.  Which when you think about it must have been how we were meant to eat.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?