Ever notice how those of us with weight issues always think of "indulgence" in terms of food? My intuitively normal sister doesn't. For her, indulgence is sleeping in, or having an hour to read a book. For some it's enough hot water to take a long hot shower. Or a massage. For me, it's food.

But it doesn't have to be foods I shouldn't eat. I will always think of food as reward and comfort, as pleasure and indulgence, but I have altered the concept of "indulgence" to mean a special version of foods I can have, formerly known in WW as "legal". Sometimes I'll use a fat exchange as a small piece of bacon with my egg. Or take the time to simmer that wonderful tomato sauce. Or, indulgence of indulgences, 3 oz of filet mignon instead of ground beef.

Jean Nidetch used to talk about how much thought and creativity went into being fat, how she had to select the lounge chair closest to the pool to shorten the distance between dropping the wrap and being in the water. How carefully she had to select her hat and necklace to draw eyes to her face and away from her body. That same creativity can go into selecting food.

They say that a simple change in attitude changes everything. Simple? HAH! But we change our attitudes about a lot of things, like in-laws and technology, even home decoration. And we can do it about food. I will always think of food first, but indulgence doesn't have to mean whipped cream. It can mean lobster tail or lamb chops. I can feel totally indulged and still be "legal".