It's beautiful weather here in Maine and I've been enjoying time away from my computer when I'm not working. I plan to have a post by mid next week. Until then, I'd love to hear from the lurkers!
Greetings Averyl! Always look forward to your posts and can't wait for the next! I've been watching a lot of older movies lately - Guys and Dolls most recently and can't help but marvel at the gorgeous figures of the dancers - thin with curves, just gorgeous!
I thought I'd share a story from earlier this week. I've been revamping my fitness and nutrition (no extreme workouts just walking more and ocassional lifting of light weights etc.) so that I'm eating much smaller and healthier portions. I've lost almost 20 pounds in about 3 months. Well, I took my aunt to her hair appointment a few days ago (I usually take her every week) and upon seeing me her stylist immediately started harping on me about my weight, going so far as to say I look "anorexic" and that I should "eat a cookie or two."
The truth is that at 5'4, my 118 pound frame is neither fat nor anorexic - it's right in the healthy BMI range at 20.4. Interestingly, out of my own curiosity, I began researching the heights and weights of some of hollywood's leading ladies of the 40's and 50's and found something interesting - down to decimal almost all of these women had the exact same BMI: 19.4 (five pounds FEWER than my current weight would put me there.) This is at the thin to mid point of the healthy BMI range. Therefore, I am in no way in danger of being underweight. Add to this the fact that I eat a very balanced diet with healthy fats, good carbohydrates and even occassional splurges like an ice cream cone.
Even with this knowledge I felt insecure for a few hours as I let this woman's comments get to me. Then I started thinking about just how distorted her view is - a view that I think many people have now - being normal weight or even slender seems astonishingly skeletal as the average waistline in this country keeps growing. Moreover, as vanity sizing becomes popular it would seem ridiculous to hear an overweight woman of say 5'2 and 150 pounds proclaim that she wears a size 4. How could anyone argue she's overweight at only a size 4?
Then of course we have people on the extreme opposite end of overweight - people who truly suffer with eating disorders and body dysmorphia or who are very very underweight. Where is the middle ground? I continue to find overweight people slinging around the "horrors of thinness" by constantly using bulemia and anorexia as their main arguments, and then we have very thin supermodels like Elizabeth Hurley saying things like "If I was as fat as Marilyn Monroe I'd kill myself!"
All three of you ladies rock! It's always nice to hear from you and no, you are not lurkers. I meant no disrespect to the "regs." : )
Lainey, I can completely relate to your story, and plan to share my own similar experiences. Thanks you for sharing it. We are a culture of extremes and illusions. Moderation and healthy IS sexy and glamorous, as we know! Now to fill in the other folks so we don't keep filling out.....
Howdy!! I don't know if I'm really a lurker since I've commented before, but howdy just the same! :)
ReplyDeleteDo I qualify?
ReplyDeleteGreetings Averyl! Always look forward to your posts and can't wait for the next! I've been watching a lot of older movies lately - Guys and Dolls most recently and can't help but marvel at the gorgeous figures of the dancers - thin with curves, just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd share a story from earlier this week. I've been revamping my fitness and nutrition (no extreme workouts just walking more and ocassional lifting of light weights etc.) so that I'm eating much smaller and healthier portions. I've lost almost 20 pounds in about 3 months. Well, I took my aunt to her hair appointment a few days ago (I usually take her every week) and upon seeing me her stylist immediately started harping on me about my weight, going so far as to say I look "anorexic" and that I should "eat a cookie or two."
The truth is that at 5'4, my 118 pound frame is neither fat nor anorexic - it's right in the healthy BMI range at 20.4. Interestingly, out of my own curiosity, I began researching the heights and weights of some of hollywood's leading ladies of the 40's and 50's and found something interesting - down to decimal almost all of these women had the exact same BMI: 19.4 (five pounds FEWER than my current weight would put me there.) This is at the thin to mid point of the healthy BMI range. Therefore, I am in no way in danger of being underweight. Add to this the fact that I eat a very balanced diet with healthy fats, good carbohydrates and even occassional splurges like an ice cream cone.
Even with this knowledge I felt insecure for a few hours as I let this woman's comments get to me. Then I started thinking about just how distorted her view is - a view that I think many people have now - being normal weight or even slender seems astonishingly skeletal as the average waistline in this country keeps growing. Moreover, as vanity sizing becomes popular it would seem ridiculous to hear an overweight woman of say 5'2 and 150 pounds proclaim that she wears a size 4. How could anyone argue she's overweight at only a size 4?
Then of course we have people on the extreme opposite end of overweight - people who truly suffer with eating disorders and body dysmorphia or who are very very underweight. Where is the middle ground? I continue to find overweight people slinging around the "horrors of thinness" by constantly using bulemia and anorexia as their main arguments, and then we have very thin supermodels like Elizabeth Hurley saying things like "If I was as fat as Marilyn Monroe I'd kill myself!"
When will society start glorifying moderation?
All three of you ladies rock! It's always nice to hear from you and no, you are not lurkers. I meant no disrespect to the "regs." : )
ReplyDeleteLainey, I can completely relate to your story, and plan to share my own similar experiences. Thanks you for sharing it. We are a culture of extremes and illusions. Moderation and healthy IS sexy and glamorous, as we know! Now to fill in the other folks so we don't keep filling out.....
I'm not a lurker--I am a very open stalker (LOL)! Just wanted to say hello! Looking forward to your next post...
ReplyDelete