Column: Our body view needs revising

As I read the six inspiring local weight loss stories in Tuesday’s paper, I noticed a commonality that gives me hope for the way our culture considers the human body. They all talked some about what they could do and how they felt instead of focusing on how they looked. Rita Vigil completed a marathon. Jon Calvert is climbing trees and roofs. He’s riding horses and dirt bikes. Jennifer Balthrop rides her bike daily, walks her dogs and climbed to the top of a waterfall with her son. Grace and Byron Schluter can walk better and play more with their grandchildren. When I read that Jenny Duncan completed her first sprint triathlon this summer, I grinned, not just because I also completed my first one, but because Duncan was still living the life she wanted. Almost two years ago I interviewed Duncan after she’d lost 300 pounds/ Jill Barville , SR. More here.

Question: Have body appearance issues kept you down?