a matter of taste

on dieting, deprivation, and the joy of eating

here are a handful of things people have said to me about my body.

“sit-ups. you should do some.” a man on a dating app over a decade ago. this is seared into my brain; i will never forget it.

“i’ll give you $10 for every pound you lose.” my grandmother (may she rest), remarking upon my bathing suit body in our pool area when i was all of 10 years old. 11, tops.

“you’re skinny on the inside!” my doctor, trying to make a joke about my excellent numbers at my annual physical a few years ago.

“move your fat ass!” an angry man on a new york city bus, frustrated that my ‘fat ass’ wasn’t working my way to the back of the bus fast enough.