Saw this the other day.
Now, as I know the woman behind the article, I have to say first that I completely agree with her views, and respect them.
That being said, I have to say, as someone who looks like that right picture, and as "thin" to a lot of people: it isn't ANY better, or do you receive less criticisms when you're thin versus overweight, and it's not always a bad thing to be thin, nor to be 'fat.' Been on both sides of this issue myself as I was nearly 200 lbs once. Now, I do understand that most people consider thin to be unhealthy, but it isn't always. AND I have that body? But I weigh 150 lbs. That's right. I just said my weight. Publicly. :) And I used to look like that left picture, now I look like the left one and I weigh 150 lbs.
That body takes work to maintain, achieve, and continue to keep. HEALTHILY. I do not starve myself (ask anyone who knows how much I eat, or what I eat for that matter), nor do I work out 24/7 (lately I've been too exhausted, and too busy, to even work out). Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and still being told 'you're thin enough.' As though one has the right to criticize someone for their body? Don't forget, as bad as losing weight just to be thin is, being too thin is unhealthy, and all that; some of us who ARE thin? Did it FOR their health, and you really need to get to know a person before you automatically assume "thin" girls have it easier.
I love my body, I love how it feels, how it looks, and I wouldn't change the strength of it for anything, but more importantly, I love when I can run up and down the stairs and NOT have a near heart attack like once before. This isn't an attack on the one who wrote the article at all, but the people who criticize those who are "too thin" or "too fat." HEALTHY body weight differs for everyone. My healthy weight is 140-150. My body will not allow me to be lower and stay that way and I can't go higher and feel good about myself because I'm not comfortable being heavy; I never was. I'm also 5'7". If you lose weight for the wrong reasons, or gain it for bad ones too, that is NOT healthy, but lay off the thin girls as though they have it easier. They don't always.
I do agree with the article writer in that people definitely need to focus more on the behind-the-scenes attributes of a person, but in a society where beauty is still important, how about we focus more on acceptance of oneself, and being healthy period? Whatever weight that may be, and whatever looks that one may have. Acceptance of oneself, and of others, is the BETTER practice. Teaching one to do things which are healthy for the body is another. Not necessarily healthy eating either since I have the most terrible eating habits of anyone, but I take care of my body in other ways. What do you think?
http://healyourselfmagazine.com/the-thinspo-controversy/
A very good article! I agree.
ReplyDelete