"Fat" revolution?

[autumnnight]

Ok, and so I did....IMO, just a fancy way to say "empathy"

 

http:// http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_intelligence

 

And...um....would you say you posses any?

[Taramere]

A girl I worked with, she's big and BEAUTIFUL...she's always dresses stylish, has he nails/hair done and make up like it's done by a pro. In contrast, I also work with bigger women who look sloppy, lazy, etc. I respect "her" cuz she takes pride in herself and her appearance - even more than I do cuz I barely wear make-up at this job, and keep my dress very casual.

 

Well, I think that (bolded part) is what People's use of the plus-sized model under discussion here is all about. Even if a woman of that size has determined that she's going to lose weight (and that's her decision alone to take), that's going to take several months. Meantime, whether dieting or not, she still has a life to live. Work to go to, clothes to buy, social events etc.

 

Where's she going to take her inspiration from, when she's determining to become more stylish and put together - as with the plus size girl you worked with? Well, that's where plus sized models and designers who make clothes for plus sized women come in. It's not about saying "hey you skinny ladies. You should be looking like this!!!" It's about saying "plus sized ladies, here are some style ideas for you."

 

Basically, it's non judgemental fashion and beauty guidance to bigger women. I think if somebody posted a magazine cover featuring a model aged over 50, people surely wouldn't be railing on about "trying to force 50+ women down everybody's throats and dissing younger women." They'd just accept it for what it was, I think. Fashion and beauty inspiration for women over 50. Taking an interest in clothes, hair and make up isn't an interest that's for slim women aged 18 to 35 only.

[123321]

The only thing harpoons are used for is hunt and kill wales.

 

Please explain me what you meant by 'Where's my harpoon' then?

 

Wales is a region in the UK.

 

When I wrote "where's my harpoon" it was to indicate that Tess was large and white, like Moby Dick. I'm pretty sure you knew that right? Have you read it, or know about it?

 

 

Tess is laughing her way to the bank, so I doubt she has trouble paying for her medical care. Does that mean we can stop this nonsense now?

 

Is she also going to pay for everyone who was going to lose weight but decided to 'love themselves as they are' instead? I don't think so.

 

 

Then why were you asking for a harpoon?

 

Read Moby Dick.

 

 

Fine. Here's the "point" that I still cannot believe you are too obtuse to understand.

 

Do you care what any of the ladies on this thread think...or feel...since you have obviously, with your aggressive disdain for obese people, hurt several of them.

 

Do you care about THAT?

 

It's sad that they choose to apply to themselves, or whatever, a comment never made to or about them, but that's their choice, not mine. I never expect Tess the supermodel to ever come here and read this, and if she did, I would expect that with her extensive exposure (no pun intended) to the public she is well able to shrug it off, having decided to become a big celebrity (again, no pun) of her own free will.

 

I would feel bad if she were to read this and be actually wounded (no harpoon reference, emotional) by what I've said about her but I doubt she worries about my being attracted to her.

 

I'm not sure what her promotional materials are like and I have little interest in knowing, but the article in question is a menace to public health and wellbeing, and it disgusts me.

 

 

I have a question for you: Why would someone reading in this forum be hurt by something that has nothing to do with them?

[123321]

I think if somebody posted a magazine cover featuring a model aged over 50, people surely wouldn't be railing on about "trying to force 50+ women down everybody's throats and dissing younger women." They'd just accept it for what it was, I think. Fashion and beauty inspiration for women over 50. Taking an interest in clothes, hair and make up isn't an interest that's for slim women aged 18 to 35 only.

 

Being over 50 isn't a lifestyle choice with negative health consequences.

[autumnnight]

 

It's sad that they choose to apply to themselves, or whatever, a comment never made to or about them, but that's their choice, not mine. I never expect Tess the supermodel to ever come here and read this, and if she did, I would expect that with her extensive exposure (no pun intended) to the public she is well able to shrug it off, having decided to become a big celebrity (again, no pun) of her own free will.

 

I would feel bad if she were to read this and be actually wounded (no harpoon reference, emotional) by what I've said about her but I doubt she worries about my being attracted to her.

 

I'm not sure what her promotional materials are like and I have little interest in knowing, but the article in question is a menace to public health and wellbeing, and it disgusts me.

 

 

I have a question for you: Why would someone reading in this forum be hurt by something that has nothing to do with them?

 

It is also sad when someone cannot simply say "I am sorry my words hurt" and own it.

 

I guess I could talk about a celebrity who is an insensitive ass incapable of apologizing on a thread where you have expressed insecurity about that subject, and I'm not guilty of being obtuse and insensitive either, correct?

[123321]

It is also sad when someone cannot simply say "I am sorry my words hurt" and own it.

 

I guess I could talk about a celebrity who is an insensitive ass incapable of apologizing on a thread where you have expressed insecurity about that subject, and I'm not guilty of being obtuse and insensitive either, correct?

 

Of course! I might even agree with you.

[CrystalCastles]

Yeah, that would be the OP, who wrote a lengthy screed, and also all the other concern-trollers on this thread. It's just such nonsense.

 

If they are such concern trollers, then why are you replying to them?

 

This is the internet, people are going to disagree. Not everyone is going to accept obese people, you can't force someone to accept them. People don't have to agree with Tess Holliday. While I agree with her message that you can be different and still pursue your dream, the way she's doing it I don't agree with, and I don't have to, even if it makes the politically-correct peanut gallery mad. Whether we like it or not, as Roseville said, the media and images in it DO affect people, and while they might not affect you or me, they will affect somebody else.

 

I do have the right to be concerned, some of my family members as I mentioned earlier in this thread, have suffered mini strokes, high blood pressure, headaches from that, lethargy, etc because they are obese. So I am reluctant to see such a thing in a positive light because I have first hand seen how that affects somebody's life. Tess's weight is unhealthy, its not beautiful, its unhealthy. Its not "fat shaming" to say that, its the truth. I would have the exact same response if Tess Holliday was anorexic. And anyone who would point out how unhealthy that would be would not hear from me protests of "thin shaming".

 

Jasmine quoted my post, hence why I assumed she implied I was freaking out. No where was I freaking out. It is quite possible to disagree with something and be calm about it.

[autumnnight]

Of course! I might even agree with you.

 

Wow. I'm impressed. I could never be close friends with you or date you - ever - because I don't like my feelings dismissed or demeaned, but at least you're consistent.

[todreaminblue]

Wales is a region in the UK.

 

When I wrote "where's my harpoon" it was to indicate that Tess was large and white, like Moby Dick. I'm pretty sure you knew that right? Have you read it, or know about it?

 

 

 

 

Is she also going to pay for everyone who was going to lose weight but decided to 'love themselves as they are' instead? I don't think so.

 

 

 

 

Read Moby Dick.

 

 

 

 

It's sad that they choose to apply to themselves, or whatever, a comment never made to or about them, but that's their choice, not mine. I never expect Tess the supermodel to ever come here and read this, and if she did, I would expect that with her extensive exposure (no pun intended) to the public she is well able to shrug it off, having decided to become a big celebrity (again, no pun) of her own free will.

 

I would feel bad if she were to read this and be actually wounded (no harpoon reference, emotional) by what I've said about her but I doubt she worries about my being attracted to her.

 

I'm not sure what her promotional materials are like and I have little interest in knowing, but the article in question is a menace to public health and wellbeing, and it disgusts me.

 

 

I have a question for you: Why would someone reading in this forum be hurt by something that has nothing to do with them?

 

 

I have a question for you: Why would someone reading in this forum be hurt by something that has nothing to do with them?

 

 

its easy to be offended when someone describes an overweight very white woman size 22 when you look similar......as a whale......that you used wheres my harpoon...your thoughts are along the lines of she needs to be shot with a harpoon as they did with moby dick huh..........kids when i was at school would chant thinks like....egg ...whale....fatty..blubberguts....boys wouldnt even stand behind me in assembly....say things like wheres the sun......and there was this big gap beside me with the girls who didnt want to stand next to me......and behind me...so this isolation thing occurred...i was a pretty lonely girl......

 

 

...

 

you ask why it hurts......stupid isnt it.....that i care.......that my heart is soft.....that my childhood still affects me to this day.....only its not kids anymore it spiteful adults who feel superior on of all places a community forum that is meant to be a community of support and understanding......supportive enough to say....wheres my harpoon......when you look very similar to someone on a picture......and you have been shamed enough ridiculed...put down...over looked and thought of as disgusting........i am sorry to say....yes it hurts...

 

 

but thats ok....i have put up with much worse treatment actually direct straight at me...surrounded in fact by jeering kids....so keep on doing what you are doign rile others up to jeer along side of you its not like you are attacking em personally right.....just a womanl i would stand up fro if you were doing it in real life......like i am now...keyboard warrior style.....

 

 

 

you have the right to freedom of speech....who really cares anyway what a fatty thinks. or feels you certainly dont..its glaringly obvious but thats alright....you go right ahead.......for after all you are helping me and others right?...to feel respected and understood...i wish you well and i really hope you find deep satisfaction in putting others down......never personally found it to feel good when i hurt someones feelings in fact it feels pretty terrible.......and i do take offense to some of these replies in here......they are quite horrible and some quite vicious and polarising.......and no I never reported any of them...because it seems to be the norm in this thread....to disregard anothers feelings....and its not only my feelings....this is why i reply....because others may be hurt by insensitivity shown here...younger women than me.....maybe teen girls with weight.....who knows....this thread is full of shame to be had..............deb

Edited May 30, 2015 by todreaminblue

[123321]

but thats ok....i have put up with much worse treatment

 

Worse treatment than someone you don't know saying something mean about someone else you don't know on an online forum?

 

Well yes, that's completely believable.

[CrystalCastles]

this thread is full of shame to be had..............deb

 

You know Deb, I had a thought just now after reading your post, people might be shaming on here because they themselves were shamed. Kind of like being bullied by someone can turn a person into a bully themselves...

 

I was shamed a lot in high school...by the big, curvy girls because I had no boobs and they had big ones. I think they were suffering from insecurities and I was skinny so they enjoyed bashing me for my late-blooming body and my nonexistent breasts. Hence why its also hard for me to be fat accepting personally, mostly because of the ridicule I got myself.

 

Maybe that's why some people got vitriolic on here, although that doesn't make it right.

[123321]

Wow. I'm impressed. I could never be close friends with you or date you - ever - because I don't like my feelings dismissed or demeaned, but at least you're consistent.

 

I'm pretty sure you're a really excellent person and all, but I don't come here to earn boon companions or meet people to date.

 

I'm serious about thinking you're a good person though.

[todreaminblue]

Worse treatment than someone you don't know saying something mean about someone else you don't know on an online forum?

 

Well yes, that's completely believable.

 

 

did writing this comment make you feel good......what was the purpose of this comment.....do you feel .....smart.......deb

[123321]

did writing this comment make you feel good......what was the purpose of this comment.....do you feel .....smart.......deb

 

You shouldn't apply anything to you that I say about someone else. It's not about you.

[todreaminblue]

You know Deb, I had a thought just now after reading your post, people might be shaming on here because they themselves were shamed. Kind of like being bullied by someone can turn a person into a bully themselves...

 

I was shamed a lot in high school...by the big, curvy girls because I had no boobs and they had big ones. I think they were suffering from insecurities and I was skinny so they enjoyed bashing me for my late-blooming body and my nonexistent breasts. Hence why its also hard for me to be fat accepting personally, mostly because of the ridicule I got myself.

 

Maybe that's why some people got vitriolic on here, although that doesn't make it right.

 

 

i think you might be right crystal......like this boy in primary school who beat the crap out of me.....he was being beaten at home.....i understood him actually.....he was easier to forgive...who werent easy to forgive were the ones who stood around and cheered him on....or the ones who clapped him on the back as i struggled to get to my feet......that i didnt understand.....but then ....they were also children......rather mean children.....but children all the same.....

 

 

i am sorry you were bullied......no one deserves it.....and if i were there....even being a bigger girl...i would have told them to stop......and stood beside you probably turn it on to me instead ...which is what normally happens with bullies when you stand against them for someone else....its common........which is why i got beaten as a girl by a boy in the first place....i told him to stop teasing this girl i thought was a friend.....i also told him i had seen the bruises and i understood why he was mad.....made him madder and hate me actually......hence...i copped it.....the girl i stood up for....was laughing along with the others who stood around and cheered him on.....

 

maybe my childhood makes me overly sensitive to nastiness and has damaged me......its part of who i am now....as a woman...what happened to me as a girl.........but nastiness is nastiness.....and you are right....its never ok....this isnt primary school.....is it?.....feels a bit like it...trying to explain from my heart to people to think about what they write or say....and to consider others feelings.........deb

[todreaminblue]

You shouldn't apply anything to you that I say about someone else. It's not about you.

 

shouldnt i........no its not about me...just someoen who looks like me ....some woman......who you dont know....and just like me....who you dont know either...and just like you disrespected my feelings you are now telling me who and what i should apply to my life.....

 

this is what i apply to my thoughts by your words to my life and my life experiences.......in other words my opinion

 

 

what you have stated has been offensive to overweight women

 

 

what you have said has been disrespectful towards a woman who is overweight...

 

 

you have the right to feel how you want to feel......attracted to who you are attracted to

 

 

other people however they look should feel respected and acknowledge to feel respected by you

 

 

you should as a compassionate human being want to respect all people and their thoughts and their feelings whether you agree with them or not

 

 

i respect you as a person.......and you have shown disrespect and sarcasm to me....and also to women of weight and to the woman in the picture....who actually does exist......and you are right probably wouldnt care...but i do care...........i do not in any way...appreciate you for that.....i realize you probably didnt mean to that it was probably a joke....but i dont find it funny..........deb

[123321]

shouldnt i........no its not about me...just someoen who looks like me ....some woman......who you dont know....and just like me....who you dont know either...and just like you disrespected my feelings you are now telling me who and what i should apply to my life.....

 

Well of course, it's really not up to me, it's up to YOU, and that's the point. It's my opinion you shouldn't take something not said about you and make it about you, but of course, as a fully functional adult you have the right to do so if it makes you happier, or whatever.

[todreaminblue]

Well of course, it's really not up to me, it's up to YOU, and that's the point. It's my opinion you shouldn't take something not said about you and make it about you, but of course, as a fully functional adult you have the right to do so if it makes you happier, or whatever.

 

Interesting.......

 

there are so many things in the world today where people say doesnt affect me so why should i care.....and the world becomes a colder place...when people turn their backs on others....

 

ill give some extreme examples....extremities happen over years of seemingly nothingness that others should ignore because its not about them......and then go ....crap how did it get to this.....it started somewhere as a thought in a miniscule demented brain and spread like wildfire through others who had grievances.......to affect others who also could care less. about the human race.....so extremities happen when lack of compassion grows for others....

 

 

9/11 for example......

 

 

racism

 

class distinction

 

 

every atrocity and crime against humanity has been spread through the lack of compassion and respect for others......

 

 

.it is so easy to start.......small thoughts small actions turn into waves of small thoughts closed mindedness and big actions......its a disease..........

 

if everyone made things affect them and not look away and just let them happen...how would the world change......what small things adn small actions could change into something more beautifully spread than small compassion for others and small respect...two graceful principles that we as humans have the capacity to give to another...to all ...race color creed and surely size.....to make the world more bearable to live in....

 

 

if we made things more about us instead of shrugging them off and saying it doesnt affect me to see someone be bullied...would it change lives......it surely would......so yes i make things about me.....we are all from the same family...and i choose to stand up and make it about me...instead of looking the other way....why not send compassion viral .....by not looking the other way.....and showing respect to all viral.....how cool would that be....even on here ....on loveshack....which can be googled.......deb.......

 

 

.....

 

 

..

[123321]

Interesting.......

 

there are so many things in the world today where people say doesnt affect me so why should i care.

 

So what harm has been done to the model in question that merits the world feeling her pain?

 

Answer: Nothing at all, she's blissfully unaware.

 

Are you grasping at straws to try and rationalize your emotional issues? I'm sorry if you have issues, I really am. I'm not an expert in any field where I could assist you, however.

[CrystalCastles]

i think you might be right crystal......like this boy in primary school who beat the crap out of me.....he was being beaten at home.....i understood him actually.....he was easier to forgive...who werent easy to forgive were the ones who stood around and cheered him on....or the ones who clapped him on the back as i struggled to get to my feet......that i didnt understand.....but then ....they were also children......rather mean children.....but children all the same.....

 

 

i am sorry you were bullied......no one deserves it.....and if i were there....even being a bigger girl...i would have told them to stop......and stood beside you probably turn it on to me instead ...which is what normally happens with bullies when you stand against them for someone else....its common........which is why i got beaten as a girl by a boy in the first place....i told him to stop teasing this girl i thought was a friend.....i also told him i had seen the bruises and i understood why he was mad.....made him madder and hate me actually......hence...i copped it.....the girl i stood up for....was laughing along with the others who stood around and cheered him on.....

 

maybe my childhood makes me overly sensitive to nastiness and has damaged me......its part of who i am now....as a woman...what happened to me as a girl.........but nastiness is nastiness.....and you are right....its never ok....this isnt primary school.....is it?.....feels a bit like it...trying to explain from my heart to people to think about what they write or say....and to consider others feelings.........deb

 

I think, Deb, that you are a very kind person. One of the kindest posters on LS at least. I don't think your childhood experiences have damaged you, at least you don't sound damaged or hateful.

 

I am sorry you were hit. I definitely would have stood up for you. I've stood up to bullies who mistreated my friends and my sister before, but they in turn were grateful, they did not mistreat me like the people you stood up for did.

 

I think that each person's experience shapes their outlook on especially these kinds of situations. I don't hate fat people and I don't shame them. I honestly don't even think about it. The only time I ever feel hate is when I think back to my high school days, but otherwise fat people didn't do anything to me. I think that from a health standpoint, being obese is not healthy and while I don't think it should be promoted as a positive thing, I don't think people should be shaming fat people either.

 

I also think that fat people aren't necessarily unhealthy either. It can be hard to lose weight. I see people working out, pushing themselves hard at the gym, and although they lose weight, they lose it slowly. My supervisor has belly fat but he works out almost every day and eats very healthy, avoids sugar, etc.

[todreaminblue]

So what harm has been done to the model in question that merits the world feeling her pain?

 

Answer: Nothing at all, she's blissfully unaware.

 

Are you grasping at straws to try and rationalize your emotional issues? I'm sorry if you have issues, I really am. I'm not an expert in any field where I could assist you, however.

 

 

everyone has issues ....it is sad really because i have been talking about compassion and respect you twist it and put it on me as having issues....and needing professional help...my issues are rational......logical...and actually part of me.....

 

 

 

everyone was blissfully unaware of 9/11 too till it ripped america apart...there was no pain on that day that si before people were on fire...........what do you think would have happened had they had known years before when they were just words on some militants facebook propaganda page...or did they see those words and go nah doesnt affect us lets just wait until they hijack planes and burn people alive and kill thousands and destroy the epicentre of american business......

 

 

i noted that particular occurrence i wrote about as extremism.........

 

lack of compassion for others....is a disease......it starts out small and grown....that is my point.....

 

what makes me happy is talking about compassion talking about respect....being respected...having others respected...so yes i guess...i must have issues......because i know what it feels like to not have that......do you?...and if you do have experience.....how did it make you feel....you should be able to understand if you have......and not want others to feel that way

 

what i find fascinating.......is you find it easier to apologize because i have issues and you are not equipped to "deal "with my issues...instead of apologising for thoughtlessness on your own behalf....that your words that may have hurt or offended others and having respect enough to say i didnt mean to offend anyone....so i must assume you did in fact mean to offend..........it is those people who you have offended who must with your right brain thinking.... have issues......and not in any way applicable to you.......

 

ps you said do what makes me happy...standing up for what is respectful and compassionate makes me....happy...standing up fro what i believe is right.....but then again...i am by all legal standing with mental health officials....someone with mental issues..so you are correct......compassionate professionals actually try to listen for the most part when i say how i feel.........deb

[todreaminblue]

I think, Deb, that you are a very kind person. One of the kindest posters on LS at least. I don't think your childhood experiences have damaged you, at least you don't sound damaged or hateful.

 

I am sorry you were hit. I definitely would have stood up for you. I've stood up to bullies who mistreated my friends and my sister before, but they in turn were grateful, they did not mistreat me like the people you stood up for did.

 

I think that each person's experience shapes their outlook on especially these kinds of situations. I don't hate fat people and I don't shame them. I honestly don't even think about it. The only time I ever feel hate is when I think back to my high school days, but otherwise fat people didn't do anything to me. I think that from a health standpoint, being obese is not healthy and while I don't think it should be promoted as a positive thing, I don't think people should be shaming fat people either.

 

I also think that fat people aren't necessarily unhealthy either. It can be hard to lose weight. I see people working out, pushing themselves hard at the gym, and although they lose weight, they lose it slowly. My supervisor has belly fat but he works out almost every day and eats very healthy, avoids sugar, etc.

 

 

i actually dont like being as heavy as i am crystal, i feel shame anyway without having to look at others opinions...i am a dancer and i cant dance this heavy .the way i dance..one of my knees cant hold the weight......for fitness i want to lose weight...so i can dance and run maybe do a triathlon with my daughter........i used to be athlete fit.....my family knows it...but to look at me...you wouldnt know i have been extremely fit....ill get there again.......i do know shame doesnt help me......it feels insurmountable how long its going to take for me to drop weight.....and how hard i am going to have to work and how much pain and injury ill have to go through.....to get where i want to be.......and whom i want to be...i want to dance again......and be free......

 

i do know i could never when i am fit as i can be, ever be with a man who talked about overweight women in a shameful way, or would i want a guy like that as a friend even......my ex was a body builder/bouncer and when he asked me out i was pretty big...just had a nine pound ten baby...he was fit as...i guess eh saw my heart..and i loved him for that...he made me feel beautiful so of course ...i lost the weight quite easily.....and i think its really quite sad to judge people on how they look,......

 

 

i really do agree on the health side...but i have known of bigger people who are healthy too....i am however unable to do what i love....and thats a problem for me...........im still deb....fat or fit..still deb........and what is a shame...is people fail to see hearts of women and show respect... ....and see excess skin with any woman...thankyou for your post...i agree with what you have written........deb

[bebe23]

Deb, you have been through a lot in your life from your posts and it's admirable that you aren't bitter and have compassion. There's people here who definitely lack compassion and respect for others, and threads about obese people tend to bring all the a**holes out.

 

My mom is very obese, she's 5 foot nothing and probably weighs what Tess weighs. It makes me be mindful of my own health habits, because genetically I could have gone the same way by now. She probably won't come to my children's upcoming graduations the next few years, or even come down to visit me, because her weight makes her a shut-in. I have gently said things to her like 'try to take a short, 10 minute walk outside when the weather is nice,' but she never does even that. It's sad, because as a young woman she loved dancing. It's as if she's already dying at 64, because she's not LIVING. Kind of like the obese spaceship captain in the movie WALL-E..."I don't want to survive, I want to live."

 

So part of me is frustrated to see how she destroyed half her life from food, but I also understand WHY she lives that way. Food, and maybe TV, becomes the ONLY pleasure in life. When life does nothing but s**t on you, relationships and marriages fail, kids let you down, friends can't be relied on, my mom fell into the trap of, 'well, the only thing that makes me feel better is a plate of cookies and old movies on cable.' She tried dieting hundreds of times, but counting calories is something no one wants to do for an extended length of time.

 

I'm just glad my poor mom doesn't have Internet, because she doesn't need to be reading hurtful and mean comments like the ones on this site. THEY are the ones 'disgusting.'

As far as the guy who started this thread, '123321,' the one way I can understand his point is if his own mom, like mine, is dying or already passed away because of her obesity, and seeing this heavy model triggered him to be angry because this is 'acceptable.' I'd certainly understand. But if that's NOT the case, he's probably just trolling for a reaction. Ignore him.

[autumnnight]

It might be easier to understand it this way:

 

Let's say someone is upset with a Jewish person. They think something a Jewish person is doing is disgusting. They talk about this Jewish person doing disgusting things, being disgusting, make some Hitler reference, and talk about how annoyed they are when people celebrate Jewish disgustingness. They top it off with the "K" word.

 

Then they realize there are 3 Jewish people in the room who look upset. They shrug, raise an eyebrow at them and say, "What?!? I didn't mean YOU!"

 

It may be a woman thing, or it may be a trigger thing, but when we have a struggle that has been long term and very personal, it is very very hard not to personalize when someone goes on and on about how gross someone who is like us is. Maybe it IS all on us. But there is nothing that says others can't extend a little human kindness beyond themselves, drop the sword, and say, "You know, I wasn't talking about you, but I really hate that my words hurt you. You are a person of vallue, and I have empathy."

 

I look at this model issue from several angles. I have never been a size 22, but I did gain a significant amount of weight several years ago. It began with overmedication, and then I was just so depressed over it I told myself I was powerless to fix it. I pretended to "embrace" my body, but I was mostly compensating for my paralysis. Finally I began the grueling, decimated thyroid process of trying to lose it. It wasn't easy to do, the trainer at the gym made me feel even worse just because she looked like I USED to look before the fat. I kept going. God, some days I thought if I saw another baked chicken breast I'd curse like a sailor. I ate it anyway.

 

I still have a little ways to go. I'm not giving up. I have faced two serous health crises over the last year. It stalled my progress a bit. They were the perfect "outs" to losing weight. I'm still trying.

 

I think it is great that this woman has found a way to overcome the bullying she received. I am glad she is at peace with herself today as she is. But yes, for her health and my taxes...I hope she doesn't stay there. Well, maybe her health won't affect my taxes. But the countless men and women who are morbidly obese, don't have a modeling career, and whose health care is being funded by me....yeah, I do hope they get healthy.

[Ninjainpajamas]

I really don't understand the argument that some women make with...let's not SHAME anyone for being overweight...BUT you can pretty much criticize women for being "too skinny" like models, and that's not shaming...even though, some of these women are NATURALLY this way, and don't have an eating disorder.

 

All the while, the majority of people whom are overweight have an eating disorder, not related to medical issues...which begs the question, how can an extreme of something that you criticize, as with women being too skinny, starving themselves and the rest of it...be the solution to THAT problem, when isn't the whole basis of criticizing those women for HEALTH reasons?

 

But we all know why there's a bias, it's because it's obvious by looking at society today, that's it's far easier to be fat and for people to be overweight than it is to be a too skinny supermodel...but for some reason, this minority of a people is used as the flagship in defense of being obese? are you f***king serious?

 

Many women are like little kids when it comes to this issue, rather than admitting the issue or fault...it's like a child that just says in defense "Well, she/he hit me first...they started it, I'm not doing anything wrong"

 

And yet comically it's stated "How does this affect YOU!"...YET YOU COMPLAIN ALL THE TIME ABOUT MEDIA AND GIRLS ON MAGAZINES BEING THE REASON YOU FEEL BAD FOR BEING FAT!

 

I want to go insane at the rationality of people, and how in their minds they somehow construe these ideas or opinions in their minds that are thinner than 20 year old underwear. It's easy to see through!

 

You can't one hand say, that this has no affect on anyone or anything...and yet at the same time say it's one of the MAIN reasons (read any thread on LS) of why women "feel shamed" and dissatisfied with their bodies.

 

It's funny to me how convenient and inconvenient it all is used when appropriate to your own argument and point of view, yet the same argument and platform is rejected...yet I know what you'll say and what you are thinking "Well this is one girl and one magazine", it'll be tit-for-tat, there will always be some kind of lame excuse to derail the clear and obvious.

 

It's clear that there is a bias...since many women are farther away from "too skinny" and closer to being "too fat" in the US especially, although "too fat" is becoming a relative term..where even 280 pounds on a 5'5 women shouldn't even be criticized. You might as well discuss liberal versus conservative ideals in a church.

 

But furthermore what this represents...more than the photo does, more than the magazine, is an intelligence (or lack of) and unawareness for people to understand that it's the psychology and mentality of what SOCIETY thinks that is more damaging than any one person could be, she is a representation of a larger community of people, determined and driven to change the what society views as healthy and appropriate It's the fact that this is even acceptable, that makes it so unacceptable, when it is so medically wrong, as wrong as your justification in shaming the skinny women of the modeling world...EVEN if they are healthy weight, anything below 30 pounds overweight seems to be deemed as "unrealistic" by American society today.

 

But as with most things, people like to take offense...so one guy makes a harpoon comment and the people circle around like sharks continuously basing their entire point of view and conversation around one comment and disregarding the rest of the argument as well as any credible questions and concerns here.

 

I know people are NOT this dumb, I know people have a conscience and awareness about this, because this is disturbing, you don't promote a 280 pound woman the same you wouldn't want to promote a guy smoking through his esophagus on a magazine cover to take less shame away from the smoking community whom surprisingly are stil people themselves, I know, sounds shocking...it's socially irresponsible to promote something UNHEALTHY, is it not? is that not the entire point and basis you are making our argument off being too skinny? because we all know how we're all just being over-flooded with skinny women everywhere

 

People have such a bone to pick with this issue because it's something that they relate to and have a connection with, therefore that they cannot show any flexibility in their argument or perspective which really shows the frailty of it all...because we both know that that doesn't make it any stronger, it's just about to snap. For some reason, because you were bullied as a child for being too fat that gives you the right to put a 280 pound on a magazine cover and "celebrate" it...finally getting paid old dues, because we know how NOBODY ELSE was ever bullied as a child, pretty soon we're going to have to put every kid with a big nose, crooked teeth, or who walked funny or what not on the cover as a magazine and call them a supermodel just to set the record straight and like at the end of the movie...all will be right with the world and it will be saved.

 

This whole argument on genetics is so frail and absurd as well...if anyone has traveled, you will see how far from the truth this actually is. You do not see people the size of Americans left and right, and people justifying a 280 pound frame due to a bad hand shake with genetics, people are not realistically designed for this size....people are using this excuse as a cop-out from responsibility and accountability.

 

I'm tired of hearing the argument among Americans (being one myself) that this is all genetic, and you are essentially forced to be this way...Look, you might not be designed to be 100 pounds, but you sure as hell aren't designed to be 300 pounds either, give me a damn break with that BS. We all know the truth...you spend more time eating and lounging than doing anything else, working out or putting effort consists of a 1 year plan to lose weight which results in like two weeks of actual hard work, that's a generalization but seriously, how true is that for most Americans...are we really trying to lie to ourselves this is truly because of genetics and you really are WORKING HARD to lose the weight...where is that hard-work really being made? are you seriously trying to tell me that these people are all cutting back on their eating, and working hard almost every day of the week to lose weight...but somehow, genetically or through a mysterious thyroid problem or other medical issue which doctors hand out like candy these days to justify peoples pain, discomfort or some reason or other that gives them a good enough reason they can't accomplish their goals to satiate their guilt and lack of motivation and effort into actually losing that weight and making a life change.

 

 

I get it's societal, I get there are other factors involved as an American himself...but for god sake's (figure of speech) try to take some responsibility and accountability for your own circumstances...stop trying to make excuses and blaming others or something else for your problems, whether it's weight-related or not, this whole justification has become an embarrassment to society, a society that claims they are intelligent and able to make responsible and educated choices on their own and not be treated like mindless sheep grazing the plains with no direction...for a people who claim to be so unique, special and individual people, they sure make a lot of arguments and movements like a herd, rather than like a lot of wise owls.