Ciao, ragazzi! I want to talk a bit about how changes in conversation can help create a more positive, accepting atmosphere in regard to our bodies. If this post seems a little rambly, I apologize, I'm a bit fired right now.
We only had one class today so eight of us took a lil field trip and went bowling this afternoon (!!!). After an extremely fun and bonding game where some of us revealed our secret affinity for this random sport, we were all thoroughly pooped and hopped on the bus home. After a while a conversation started about our individual exercise and eating habits here. Most of the students in this program are pretty athletic, and I'm one of the few who does not belong to a gym in Rome (I run in the morning before class). Which is great!! I am a huge believer in exercise as therapy, as running is what really helped me to start loving myself and my life, so it's awesome that many students have continued healthy habits here.
Then the conversation turned to weight and food. Some students were saying how they eat a lot less and healthier here in Rome, while others shared that they are presented with dinner for about three people every night (I fall into this category, not complaining though; I love eating). There were laments about weight gain. One student commented that he had "almost became bulimic" because he eats so much at night, and another said that he had stopped eating lunch to counteract the large dinners, to which my friend replied, "Yeah, I should start doing that, too..."
At this point I jumped in: "OKAY, I think this is a good time to remind everyone that it's National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, and we should all love and appreciate our bodies and not talk about weight gain and calories because it can be triggering for some people."
And I'm very happy I said this, because immediately the conversation stopped and moved on, and my friend later thanked me for intervening. But I can't believe it's necessary for me to say something like this. Yes, it's difficult to realize that a conversation is unhealthy when you are not triggered by it yourself, but it's important to stay mindful of this reality. It's not okay to treat an eating disorder lightly, as in saying your dinners are so big you might become bulimic. That's not the same thing: bulimia is a traumatic illness associated with depression and self-hatred. It's not about food alone, but more about your feelings toward yourself. And it is not something to joke about in a conversation about weight loss.
What also bothers me is when a person constantly puts themselves down in conversation, especially their body. Continuously saying, "I used to wear things like that before I was fat" or "You look great in that, you're so thin/in shape, unlike me" only reinforces the already negative thinking. And it's a problem when no one does anything to stop the negativity. It shouldn't be considered normal to have these opinions about yourself and slip them into conversation without a thought. These are major red flags.
I think we should all remind ourselves and the world to create an atmosphere of positivity and acceptance for ourselves and for others. Even if a discussion about weight gain and dieting has no psychological effect on you, it definitely could on someone listening in. Instead of talking about how much weight you have to lose or how much you've eaten, talk about how much you enjoyed your run that morning and how good it made you feel about yourself. A conversation shift could become a change in mindset. Don't walk home from school because you ate too much that day. Walk home because you like the way it makes your legs and your lungs feel, and because it's a beautiful day and you want to enjoy the sunshine. In these ways we can set the example of a healthy self-image, and remove the bad example of an emphasis solely on losing weight. The theme is overall health, not just weight and calories for the sake of being thin.
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