RISK FACTORS FOR DEVELOPING EXERCISE RESISTANCE
- A history of sexual abuse of any kind at any age.
- A history of three or more weight loss diets.
- Exercise used as a component of a weight loss regimen.
- A larger body size as a boundary or defense against unwanted sexual attention or sexual intimacy (be it conscious or unconscious).
- Parents who forced or overencouraged exercise, especially if the exercise was to compensate for perceived, or actual, overweight in the child.
- Early puberty or development of large breasts and/or early significant weight gain.
Well, these are going to be fun. What?
Item 1. I was surprised to see this on the list. It had never occurred to me that the two would be related.
Item 2. I rather doubt I can count the number of weight loss diets that I have been on. I think I’ve been on one for the majority of my teen and adult life.
Item 3. Of course.
Item 4. I wonder. It’s possible, so it would be unconscious.
Item 5. I remember my mother telling me that I had better do after school sports if I didn’t take phys ed during school. The implied or what was “or you’ll get fat(ter)”.
I also remember sitting with one of my brothers, looking at a high school yearbook. He couldn’t find me on the volleyball team. When I pointed myself out to him, he said, “My GOD! You were anorexic.”
That’s not what my parents were telling me, and I’m sure I thought I was fat at the time.
Item 6. Early puberty - I was 10 years old. It was awful. Elementary schools are not set up for girls who have periods. I wasn’t allowed tampons, and the pads in those days were enormous. It was messy, and I was so uncomfortable with cramps and with the general messy, smelly, sticky feeling. I think I’ll let Chunguita stay home for the first two days, especially if she’s 10.
Development of large breasts - oh yeah. That’s me. I think I was a C cup in 6th grade.
Sheesh, no wonder I suffer exercise resistance. Not that I’m going to use that as an excuse or even dwell on it. I’m a CBT true-believer. But it’s nice to know that there’s more to it (or maybe it’s not even that) than my being lazy.
Part 4, coming soon.
