  It amazes me how much weight factors into the average female's life. I can't speak for men, because I don't usually talk about weight-related issues with them, and they don't seem to have the same focus on weight as women do, but I am coming to the realization that weight has a major role in most women's lives, even if they don't realize it. A little background. I have been fat for most of my life. In the past year, I have lost 110 pounds.
I am still not what anyone would consider thin, but I am much smaller than I have been since before I was in high school. I am not quite certain why, because I am the same person I used to be, albeit a lot smaller, but people react to me extremely differently now than they used to. And honestly, I feel like I probably give off a much different vibe now to others than my size-26/28 self did. None of this is a conscious thing. I know that I have a lot more confidence than I used to and that I feel better about myself, and honestly, I just feel better, because I was having health problems before that I no longer have. I am sure that radiates towards others. And I have to admit that everyone giving me compliments on my appearance now doesn't hurt either.
But the thing I am realizing now that I didn't realize before, because I wouldn't deal with my weight or talk about it to anyone, is that many women's lives revolve around keeping their current weight where it is, or losing weight, or trying to squeeze into that size-whatever outfit in the back of the closet. So much of our lives are what we are going to put in our mouths today and what it will do to our bodies. I have found several good blogs by women who are trying to lose weight. Some of my favorites: urlLink Dancing Towards a Healthy Lifestyle urlLink Through the Looking Glass I find that my conversations at work revolve around diet tips, low-fat recipes, and new workouts.
I find that I won't let something into my mouth if I don't feel it is worth the calories (unless it is a cookie, which I haven't managed to break my habit of). This is a major departure for me, who used to eat whatever I felt like. Now I can't even bring myself to buy chocolate, something that I used to devour on a daily basis.
I am happy that I have lost weight, and I like the way I look now, at least most of the time. But I am a bit concerned with the extent to which food now occupies my life, though I don't feel that I am abnormal in my focus. I guess the question is, just because my focus isn't abnormal, is it really good? 
