Words Carry Weight

Someone posted the following on Late Night Shots yesterday:

I saw an article about Ideal women’s proportions. Supposedly they are 36-24-36. The article cited these proportions as unrealistic, especially considering only 8% of women have an hourglass shape.

I found this in WIkipedia: “Many “curvy” American film stars from the early and mid-20th century are cited as inspirations by overweight women when, in reality, they were thin even by today’s standards. Marilyn Monroe is said to have worn a size 16 dress. However, this fails to consider the changes in American garment sizing over the last century. Monroe was 5′5″, weighed 118 lbs and measured 36-24-34[17], which would make her approximately a women’s size 2 by modern American sizing standards. Similar misconceptions about the body sizes of classic sex icons may reinforce the idea that an overweight physique is healthy and appropriate.”

At what point are we going to stop blaming the media for making us think we are overweight and realize that the average sedantary human body can process 1500-2000 calories per day and so eating 3000 calories a day will result in weight gain, and illness. Runway models are freaks in proportion compared to the average person but the average person is not supposed to be 50 lbs overweight.

This got me thinking about my now infamous post on Late Night Shots and the ensuing aftermath. I did post what I was thinking, but now I realize that I was projecting my issues on others, which isn’t right. I can wear a size 0 dress, and still feel like I’m fat. I am constantly watching what I eat, but this is my own issue. I probably wouldn’t be completely satisfied with my body even if I were a Olympic gold medal winner, or a Victoria’s Secret model. I’m just this way.

I’m Type A, a perfectionist, very competitive, and very hard on myself. I don’t think everyone should be less than a size 6. I just think you should try to be the best you that you can be in all facets of your life. I also don’t think people should define themselves so strictly that they close themselves off to other ways of being. Just because you weren’t the ”the athletic type” growing up, doesn’t mean that in adulthood you might not enjoy being athletic. Or just because your sister was the pretty, thin one in the family, doesn’t mean you can’t set a goal and become thin yourself. I know that our looks and our body are superficial, and temporary house our being, but I just think we should strive to be our best/healthiest in all we do, and that includes our body/looks.

- Miss A