Comments on: Our Bodies, Our Ideal Selves

By: v'ron

v'ron — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:00:51 +0000

Ah, this time of year when nobody has time to blog!
But I digress.

This really spoke to me, in terms that there’s a threshold you cross and sort of give up because you think you’re not worth it. Can’t get too specific (must get back to work) but I still have to tell myself every day “I’m done with hating myself!”

By: enchanted_black

enchanted_black — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:22:36 +0000

My family always told me I was beautiful. Except for my great-grandfather who called me fat and my ex-boyfriend who made fat jokes until I told him that I was very sensitive about my weight for a long time and now that I’m not I would appreciate if he just shut up with the stupid jokes.

I think that when women who are labeled obese or overweight strive to be healthy and lose a few pounds that’s good enough. “Normal” is a relative term and these researchers should know that. I’m 225 lbs. myself and I would like to lose a few pounds, but being “normal”? Ha. My big-boned behind would look silly trying to strive to lose 100 lbs. so I could be 125 and I’m 5’4″. They need to reevaluate that part.

By: K

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:53:02 +0000

My parents DID tell me I was beautiful when I was a teenager, and what did they get? “You have to say that! You’re my mother!”

But yes, all teenagers should have someone tell them they’re beautiful, regardless of how they take it.

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:17:11 +0000

I would have given anything for someone to tell me I was beautiful when I was a teenager.

By: Spins

Spins — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:10:51 +0000

I don’t think it’s at all surprising that obese women don’t set as a goal losing 80-100 lbs. Even when I was in the mindset of losing weight (and sometimes even now when I get the crazy idea that I might diet) I didn’t have that goal. That’s because the idea of doing something like that is in incredibly daunting and, to some of us, self-defeating.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:25:59 +0000

THOUGH she behaved. Sigh.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:20:41 +0000

This is really interesting, and not all that different from what I heard from people in Weight Watchers – when I was doing it.

Lately, I’ve been trying not to get sucked into the negative thought bog about my body, and intead, treat it like a friend. I’ve been eating real, nourishing food of late — including cookies.

I’ve been sedentary lately, mostly because I can’t leave my dying puppy in her crate for one more hour a day (thought she behaved well outside of her crate for 45 minutes Friday, when I went for a walk). I also think the fact that we’ll have to put her down soon is bringing my energy down.

Anyhow, with all the discussion about the inadequacy of BMI, I can understand why women are trying to be realistic.

By: Sonya

Sonya — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:04:02 +0000

I also wish I could go back. I’m having to do much back peddling. Thanks for the article. I keep emailing them to my mother, the tables have turned – guess who’s got the articles on weight and weight loss now? Thank god/goddess/goodness the article had something about the psychology of weight loss. That is something that needs much study and much more public attention. We are a Nation of Obese? We are a nation where a portion of the population scrutinizes and controls everything that goes into their mouths and another doesn’t care. An obsession with the body and an ignoring. It’s all body image and could all be seen as a lot of hating going on, just different responses to the hate.

By: B Matthews

B Matthews — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:40:11 +0000

*Pops out of lurker closet like Sam the Eagle from The Muppet Show*

LOL NF, when I read it I had the same reaction about the OMGOBESITYEPIDEMIC. It’s like the writers of the article wanted to get the message out there, but still wanted to put a disclaimer on their words and tell the general public that regardless of what the study said, THEY knew that being fat is still HORRIBLE for you, and all this stuff about taking care of yourself emotionally was pretty important, but STILL, they know that loving yourself regardless of your weight is a pretty radical concept, so please don’t send them hate mail. Right?! *rolls eyes*

As for myself I have realized that I will never be what’s considered to be my “ideal” weight according to BMI charts, so I’m just aiming for what feels healthy according to my body. Another radical concept!

By: nuckingfutz

nuckingfutz — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:01:23 +0000

As much as I hate the OMGOBESITYEPIDEMIC stance of the article, I tend to agree with what they’re saying.

But I think more needs to be done about educating people on things like HAES and not equating exercise with losing weight. Every exercise article I’ve seen lately has some underlying tone of lose weight lose weight lose weight like it’s some sort of mantra. I know I’m not alone in equating exercise with losing weight, and in thinking that if you’re not losing weight that there’s no reason to continue exercising.

But I have to say that since I’ve started to try and NOT hate myself, I’ve been amazed at my energy levels. My clothes fit better (I’m actually shrinking, even though I’m not losing weight… weird!)… almost every aspect of my life has become better simply from me trying to stop the internal hate.

It’s amazing how much difference one tiny (?) little thing can do to a person’s life. And it’s way more important than the number on the scale, tyvm!