Viral.

Last night, I hung out with my sister and girl-cousin, the Weight Watchers.  They were on some kind of “free day” (though I’m, like, 98% certain there’s not a “free day” in Weight Watchers), so we ate nachos* and played Scrabble and chatted. 

My sister mentioned that she was halfway through the first book I recommended and that she was enjoying it.  My cousin then asked the name of the book.  When my sister answered, “When Women Stop Hating Their Bodies,” my cousin snorted and asked, “When does that ever happen?”

My cousin is very large (even though I’ve embraced the word “fat” as merely descriptive, I can’t bring myself to use it here because it would possibly devastate her and that would suck).  I suspect there may be some undiagnosed medical conditions at work as well as a genetic predisposition to having a fatter body.  She’s also pretty and funny and bright, but I know her size bothers her.

I told her a little about the book and she asked if she could read it after my sister is done with it.  I, of course, said heck, yes.

I can’t save everyone but maybe I can save the ones I love.

*Total diet-induced deprivation at work: I ate a very small portion of nachos because that’s all it took to make me feel satisfied.  They both had second helpings, all the while complaining about how full and uncomfortable they felt.  Deprivation and that stupid “free day” idea was so clearly driving their eating.  I really don’t miss that at all.