Plump as a partridge, or just plain plump?

I've got my nose buried in four books right now. One is about emotional eating, another is about the history of fat and how the modern West has come to worship thinness, a women's devotional, and a retrospective book on the life and paintings of Wayne Thiebaud (one of my favorite American painters). Naturally, of course, I would choose the week I go back to school to dive into too many books...but, whatever, at least I am reading and not watching the almighty television.

Each book has its' nuggets of interesting or enlightening information, but so far, the most I've retained is:



Wayne Thiebaud paid for college with the GI Bill and didn't start a painting career until he was in his mid-thirties.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the leading figure of the women's rights movement, was actually praised for her "rotund features" and was referred to, positively, as "plump as a partridge."

The body views long periods of not eating as similar to a famine, so it protects itself by storing calories for later use, which can lead to weight gain.

and

At the age of 30, if I totaled up the number of days I would have on earth if I lived to be 70, the remaining forty years would give me 14, 600 days.

Wayne is still living, painting and teaching in California. He is 86 years old. I wonder if he likes to eat the pies and cakes after he paints them?

Comments

Anonymous said…
I commented to Mom that I was waiting for my inner french woman to emerge again (French Women don't get fat). Mom said that French women do get fat. Hah! I suspected that all along. You cannot believe everything you read. I'm proud of you for getting your weight under control now and not waiting until it irreparably harms you. Your tenatious spirit should aid you well in this endeavor. Enjoy your 30's. You won't believe how young the 30's are until you are 50! Love you, Mom
3:52 PM
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