(no subject)

[merchimerch]

I just wrote this comment in sohrshah's journal and it seems apropos, so I'm posting it here for myself:

In a very rational part of my brain I recognize that my life would not be perfect if I dropped 100-150 lbs. I would not be better at things, more disciplined, and most of all I would be miserable because I would be STARVING!

You're an anthropologist, so I don't really have to say this, but I'm gonna. American culture constructs fat in a horribly malicious way. Fat is connected to laziness, lack of discipline, slovenliness, and undesirability in our culture and there is a multi-million dollar diet industry that wants to reinforce those concepts daily.

But even acknowledging that, everytime I look in the mirror, I see my physicality as representative of all my worst charachter traits - laziness, procrastination, selfishness, lack of control, being overbearing...well the list can go on. Becuase of the way that fat is constructed through womens magazines, dating websites, diet commercials, and really just about any media image involving women at all, most of the time I do believe that life would be better if I were just thin. Not even pretty, certainly not successful - just thin, because pretty and successful are all wrapped up in the idea of thin in our culture.

It is so deeply and pervasively wrong.

I've been wrangling with the weightloss demons a lot recently. Uzbekistan will do that do a girl. Plus I've been on a bunch of avoiding pregnancy with FAM sites that have a lot of women waiting to conceive before weightloss. I couldn't help wondering if there was a medical reason for this, or if it was all just aesthetics. It seems that there are studies out there which claim that pre-natal hypertension and incontinence have higher instances in obese women. Heart problems and depends do not sound like fun when already trying to deal with another human being in one's body. That seems like a pretty good reason to try and revise some of my eating habits. I am not going to set any sort of goal weight or size. I just want to be a healthier host for the baby we plan on conceiving in 2 years. I figure if I start now, I might have a chance of gradual success rather than yo-yo craziness.

So February looks like inner-cleaning-out month for R and I. He had already talked about going on something of an alchohol fast to try and re-normalize his body after all the guesting-induced binge drinking. I agreed with him and said we should also try to revamp what we're eating and the portions we have. At home I don't think it will be too much of a problem. Trying to be somewhat reasonable about eating/drinking while guesting under pressure is going to be much more difficult.

Comments

[fnordelissa.livejournal.com]

I do feel compelled to point out the health benefits of not having too high a level of body fat, image and lame culture aside. that was the reason I eventually set about losing some weight. in fact, one of the reasons I hadn't done so earlier was because for me the idea of losing weight did represent giving into stupid culture and stereotypes, etc... and so it took me a long time to realize that those things are mixed in with a genuine health benefit. you know, magazines will tell you you should be thin (and f**k them) but your doctor will probably also tell you to lose a little weight, and they mean it for health reasons, not stupid stereotype reasons. when I realized that, I started thinking about it more along those lines. the health reasons I mean. so I think it's wonderful that you guys are thinking of being more conscious about how and what you eat. good luck to you! I work on it too. good luck with the cultural differences... I can see how that would make it a lot harder!

[merchimerch.livejournal.com]

I certainly agree that there are health benefits to moderate levels of body fat, but I think that that a lot of those studies are skewed as well to support a media that continues to want to push women to be too thin.

I just never see any of the studies about the health problems of amennoreah or too low-body fat in the media. Even though they are equally serious (and strangely similar), they just not make such good stories.

This post hits me deep..

[dakotakym.livejournal.com]

I'm on the same page with wanting to be healthy and fit.. for babies I may want to have in the next several years, to manage my blood pressure, and to have more ease of movement and strength. I don't know what I weigh these days, and I don't particularly care (body size isn't a major factor for me; I truly believe that all body types and sizes are beautiful).. my goal is merely to eat healthy food, move my body every day, and improve my cardiovascular health and muscle tone. I want to do a good deal of mountain climbing this spring & summer, and I don't want to get injured or totally winded in the process.

I've been working out for about a month and a half now, and am noticing a lot of positive change in my energy level,clarity of thought, and general appreciation of and zest for life. I feel inspired and energized on so many levels. The quest for better health is truly a worthwhile endeavor for the mental & spiritual assets alone.. not to mention the improved physical fitness. Lifestyle changes take time, and gradual is a good plan.. it should be an enjoyable thing rather than a punishment.

It sounds to me like you are already on the right track with realistic goals and a good outlook. And the fact that you & R are making good change together is all the more powerful.

Re: This post hits me deep..

[merchimerch.livejournal.com]

On my best days I believe that all body types are beautiful....its is just the rest of the days that I feel the weight of my body image pulling me down.

I really think that healthy changes do have to happen at all levels (mental, physical, spiritual). I think that is the only way to make real lasting change rather than cosmetic changes.