. . . and then there was pickle.

I’m fat.

I pretty much always have been. Here’s the irony: I eat really well. I’m not kidding. I have a very healthy diet. My problem is alcohol, and the various forms by which it enters my body.

My alcohol related caloric intake is probably enough to sustain a family of four. But I recently read a post on Creative Type Dads that got me thinking about diet, and The Pickle.

I’ve watched Super Size Me, and I was horrified. I know that both my family and the wife’s have a social and genetic disposition to be ‘big boned’.

This issue is one that I haven’t put a lot of thought into, as I have generally regarded society’s infatuation with weight to be greatly over emphasized. I think Twiggy ruined nature’s concept of beauty.

For centuries mankind viewed a plump, ‘Rubenesque’ woman to be the picture of health, fertility, and beauty – and so have I. For many years I kept my subscription to Xlgirls.com (I'll refrain from linking that one) paid up, and have found the sight of a woman’s rib cage to be one of my top turn-offs in life.

Health and Athleticism are not equal to Weight.

Let me say that again. . .

Health and Athleticism are not equal to Weight.

They can be inter-related - but correlation is not causation, and the number of old fat French people should be the biggest clue that culturally we’re betting on the wrong horse.

I want The Pickle to have a healthy, happy, long life with her self-esteem built on a separate standard than the inaccurate picture of beauty and health that the media has marketed. This is the image that has been created because it is the impossible dream. It ensures a returning consumer base that will always be dissatisfied with where they are in relation to the ideal.

As long as we believe that this is what we’re supposed to look like – they will be able to sell their products.

Don’t get me wrong. America has the largest percentage of out of shape, fat, unhealthy eaters that the world may have ever seen, but to compare Roseanne to Calista Flockhart isn’t really fair.

The enemy should be McDonalds and KFC, not bread and pasta.

As much as I think “Honey We’re Killing the Kids” is an accurate portrayal of a large and serious issue in this country – I don’t know if scare tactics are the way to go.

Health should be the goal. Not Image.

I am certain that as The Pickle becomes mobile we will regulate her diet, and create a regimented system of activity – but I assure you we will go out of our way to keep from telling her, “you should look like . . .”

I guess I’m just trying to keep all aspects of the marketing machine out of our lives. I simultaneously want to keep the garbage food and lump creating entertainment industry out of her circle of influence while helping to make sure that her self-image and ideals are built on a realistic basis as well.

I suppose that is too much to ask.

I don’t know. It doesn’t help that both the wife and I are overweight. I am not sure on this one, but ironically it isn’t that big of an issue for me. I guess for me it all boils down to her health and self-image.

Watch her end up being anorexic . . . That’s parenthood.

Pickle’s Papa