Body Image Interview

Body Image Interview
November 2009

Interviewee: A 41 year old married mother of three.

Q1. What would you think if I said 'body image'?

Mine is very negative, I don’t like the way I look. I’m plain. I’ve gained weight and I feel frumpy.

Q2. What about self love?

I like myself when I'm thin, fit and athletic. I have been like this, both before and after having children.

Q3. Have you every been happy when you are above your desired weight?

I don’t think I have. It would be nice if I could get to that point.

Q4. Would you be happy if I could wave a magic wand that resulted in you achieving your desired weight?

Yes. I know happiness is also about what is going on in my life, so my weight wouldn’t solve all my problems, but it would make me feel more comfortable.

Q5. How tall are you and what were your minimum and maximum weights and sizes?

I’m only five feet 1. My minimum weight was 7 ½ stones a size 10. The maximum was 15 stones a size 22. I’m not 15 stones at present, but I’m close.

Q6. Would you call yourself a yo-yo dieter?

Yes. I have lost 5 stones at least 3 times. I can lose weight; I know how to do it. I just can’t seem to keep it off.

Q7. Concerning how you look. Do you worry more about your feelings or the opinions of others?

Both. I feel really awkward, especially at work. We wear uniforms; mine is getting tight. I feel very self conscious whenever I have to squeeze past anything.

Q8. Is it something that others do or say that make you feel self conscious?

No. Colleagues don’t say anything. If my Nan was alive, she would tell me that I’ve put on too much weight.

My husband liked me better when I was thin. He worries about my health. He also has some weight issues of his own.

Q9. Do you have any children?

Yes. I have a 16 year old son and 10 year old twin girls.

Q10. Do your children know how you feel about your body?

I try to hide my feelings, I don’t want them, especially the girls to know how badly I feel. Sometimes they do hear me say things like ‘I’m fat’ and they'll say ‘you’re not fat mummy’.

Q11. How do your children feel about their own bodies.

My son thinks he is muscular. To be honest he is a little podgy, but he can't see it in himself. He’s not as thin as he thinks he is and I’ve heard him tease his cousins about their weight.

The older twin, she has become more concerned since she stopped doing gymnastics. She is athletic, sporty and small boned. She says she is fat; I worry that she will have issues.

The younger twin also worries about weight. She often says that she has 'a fat belly'. She has issues with her bowls, which makes it look slightly swollen. She is also naturally larger than her sister.

Q12. What do you want?

I want to be fit and a normal weight. I want to be active, I am very unfit. My mother is ill, she is only 60, but looks 80. I don’t want to be like her. I want to be healthy for my kids. I’m too heavy, I can feel it in my chest. I want to be able to wear a nice pair of jeans. To do that I need to lose 4 stones.

Q13. How to you plan to achieve your goals?

I will stop eating takeaways and stick to 1200 calories a day. I will also increase my exercise. I use to exercise for an hour a day, now I only walk the dog.

Q14. Do you use formal dieting plans like Weight Watchers?

I once did Paul Mckenna’s diet, its basically portion control where you leave a bit. I’ve not done any others. Whatever they call it, it’s all the same. Eat less calories and exercise. I know how to lose weight and I can do it on my own. I just can’t maintain it.

Q15. Is there anything you would like to add?

I use to blame my husband. I was slim until I met him when I was 20. He introduced me to McDonalds and fast food. I don’t’ blame him now; I know I don’t have any willpower, especially around sweets.

It took a few years for me to realise that I was fat. It was quite a shock. Now I want to be healthy.

mybodybeautiful.co.uk would like to thank the interviewee for her open and honest account of her struggles with body image and weight.