I recently posted something brief about how taking some publicity photos affected my own body image. While I am aware of all the movements in the field of eating disorders whether it be body positivity, body neutrality, fat activism, fat liberation and more, I'm also - like many of you - aware that it's not easy to like your body when it doesn't conform to the "societal norms." As I grow older and experience health issues that impact my body shape and size and just experience the results of working in a very stressful career for many decades, I've had to recommit myself to ignoring outside voices and re-focusing on my own love of and compassion for my body which, after all, has proved to be so resilient and strong despite all it has gone through.

I'd like to circle back to finishing our conversation about Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS). If you don't have food addiction, eating normally leads to release of enough dopamine in the brain so that you feel a sense of pleasure and you feel satisfied. You may remember from my previous email that food addiction can be partly explained by RDS.

You've realized that diets don't work. You've been on a lot of diets and even though you lose weight, it doesn't last. After many diets, you've come to the conclusion that there's more to your food and body image issues than a diet can fix. You feel good about this insight. You may even be working towards taking steps to make peace with food and your body.