I keep seeing blogs on here, more specifically the
most recent blog on healthkicker. It's a rant about fat people being considered "real" and that fact that being fat in today's society is becoming more acceptable.
For some people, this is not okay. Why? I'm guessing jealousy, at best. I can't understand why it's not ok for it to become acceptable. Obviously years of criticizing fat people in this society has done nothing but increase their size, so why not make it okay?
I understand that with the widespread acceptance of "fat people" its slowly getting harder for skinny people to be in the spotlight. I understand that being drastically skinny today is no longer something desired, instead it is immediately classified as an eating disorder. Just because someone is fat does not mean they don't deserve credit, recognition, popularity, or even tv air time.
I think that is truly what we are beginning to understand. It doesn't matter your size, your weight, you have just enough chance as everyone else. Are people lashing out at this because for so long it was only the skinny girls who had the chance to dream at bigger and better things like TV shows, rich husbands, and white picket fences? Now, it's fair game, and some people just can't handle that.
Let me tell you something, it's always been fair game, it's just now being realized because opportunities are having to be shared between the thin, and the fat, and well,
that's just not fair!! Right?
Here's an idea. Get over it. Some people, like myself, cannot HELP the fact they are fat. I have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and among the list of the things it does, it causes major weight gain in the face, and stomach. I look like a pregnant woman with no ass, legs, or arms. I live with it. I went from 145 pounds, 5'9 and a happy teenager, to 265 pounds, 5;9 depressed, anxious, and growing facial hair. Do I hate myself, do I not try for things in society that certainly "aren't" for fat people? NO. Unless of course, my weight could break the ride/or something, I don't wanna kill people here. I have accepted my weight.
Do you know how hard it is for someone to lose weight who has PCOS? Damn near impossible. Best part, it also caused my type 2 diabetes. So figure that one out. I have accepted myself. I have spent the past 6 years dieting my way through life, and I have NEVER lost a pound. I've ended up in the hospital, with low blood sugar, sure. But never lost a pound. I have to live with the fact that I cannot have children. I have to live with the fact that no matter how little I eat, I will probably keep gaining weight until I find something that fixes it. I have to live with the fact that people look at me differently, every single day. BUT I DON'T CARE. The second I open my mouth and show what a confident, talented person I really am, everyone forgets about the way I look.
And I never think twice about it, until ignoramuses get on Xanga complaining about the fact that being obese is "okay" with the media. It's "okay" with me to be fat too. It should be okay with you to be skinny. There are just as many people out there who are worried about the fact they are too thin, as there are worrying about being too fat. If you love yourself, and you do everything in your power to keep yourself healthy, I accept you. Fat, thin, in-between, whatever. If you have a disease, I accept you. If you purposely do not take care of yourself which results in either/or being obese or underweight, I do not accept you, but I will pray for you. And most of all, I will pray for the people who cannot accept larger people are allowed to be accepted into today's society. Shame on you.
I will say this. I am still shocked when I am at the grocery-store, hotel, mall, or any other public place and I see an obese woman, she turns around, and she is drop dead gorgeous. But, keep in mind, I don't very often see thin girls who are drop dead gorgeous either. And I don't mean, makeup, gorgeous. I mean just gorgeous. I have a friend like this, and she is so gorgeous I can't believe it. She used to be thin, but in the process of gaining extra weight, she became the most gorgeous girl on the planet. It's amazing, astonishing, and a realization that maybe God is okay with being fat too.
Oh man I feel a controversy coming on.
I recommend you all go watch the series Drop Dead Diva.
Comments (121)
I agree with you, especially with your last paragraph, I am very happy when I see some one who is "plus sized" who is absoultely gorgeous! Sometimes people just go around thinking "Oh, that fat person? They are just fat, they can't even be beautiful". I once had a "friend" of mine tell me, You would be so beautiful, if you wern't fat; I was shocked, who was she to tell me I couldn't be beautiful the way I was?
In my opinion, everyone can be beautiful, even if they don't look "beautiful" to your standards or opinions they are still beautiful to somebody else.
I don't think skinny people criticize fat people because they're jealous that it's becoming acceptable. I think they do it out of concern for their health, and also because they find it unattractive. I'm sure nonsmokers don't criticize smokers because they're jealous. Being overweight sometimes can't be helped, as in your case, but in the cases where it can be, I think we should be allowed to discuss how their unhealthy lifestyles aren't helping them or anyone else around them.
It's more about people criticizing skinny people. It's insulting to say fat people are more "real" because they don't take care of their bodies. And skinny people are fake because really, who exercises and eats well?
This wasn't bashing, I'm fat, I promise. Lol.
you know, iread up oon that post and I was offended, because they hadnt even started talking about obiesity, they were talking about overweight... and honestly, overweight is just as healthy as underweight or average depending on a person's activity. And even if a person is obese, others shouldnt be critical, worried in some cases, yes (for medical, health reasons) . But critical? Telling others they cant be accepted? Really now, life isnt a clique. Good post!
Unfortunately, I dont think the posts like the one your referenced were jealous; I think they were just being hurtful
lol
Skinny people aren't jealous, are you kidding me? I'd kill to be 50lbs lighter...
Obesity runs in my family, but so far I have taken precautions. I don't eat fast food or drink soda, I try to get in light exercise each day, and I try to eat healthy and not overeat. My weight fluctuates in a 15lb range limbo, and I'm fine with that.
Can't we all just stop arguing about this? I mean, really? We're all REAL. We all breathe, sleep, and function, so we're all REAL human beings as far as I'm concerned. Everyone is just unique with different body types. So either try and do something about it if you don't like it, or accept yourself and don't judge others. We're all REAL, but we're all DIFFERENT.
I believe the concern is more that the health risks of excessive weight are being downplayed. I've no doubt that the bitterness and venom that some people display regarding the topic stems from either jealousy or wanting something to lord over other people; but I believe the concern itself is legitimate, even if the motives are not.
It is a very good thing to accept larger individuals as people; it is not such a good thing to accept obesity as being "the norm" and thus not a problem. It's hardly a healthy standard, after all.
So while I definitely don't have a problem with TV shows/media showing us examples of overweight/obese individuals being treated like real people (because like you said, they are real people and deserve to be treated as such), I would find it troubling if the media showed obesity as an acceptable state of health. I find it equally troubling when the media portrays emaciation as an acceptable state of health.
I do wish the focus would shift from appearances to lifestyle, since that would be a far more accurate gauge of health than somebody's weight; unfortunately, I can't see that happening anytime soon.
I'm 5.7", and 104 lbs. I'm not anorexic, I'm not bulimic, I'm perfectly healthy both mentally and physically, I'm naturally skinny as a rail. It's my body-type.
Being that I'm 6 percent of the population who is naturally thin, It is a natural thing for people to automatically be threatened, or think I have an eating disorder or that because I'm model-like I am going to steal their boyfriend or whatever the case is (Which I could care less).
So it's not jealousy coming from thin people, it's merely infuriating for these people to be in all over in the media and act like they are the only ones being prejudiced against, acting as if all skinny people do is hate them because they are "curvy" when in actuality they are the ones that hate thin people or because we "stole their opportunities"! They go around spouting that they are "real", that being skinny isn't attractive and that thin people must be exercising too much, not eating enough or taking diet pills, and meanwhile they have no problem telling someone they look skinny but when we mention anything about their weight, we must hate them because they are fat. BIG DEAL.
It's in my opinion that someone who looks at magazine pictures and judges their own body against that of a model or actress isn't "real" to themselves and they aren't going to be happy no matter what because they are insecure. Any skinny chick judging somebody else is obviously not comfortable with where she stands because she's mentally incapacitated in areas of intelligence and is trying to push others down!
It was a well-written blog, and I applaud you for not judging others because of their appearance-- it's such a foolish thing. One has to accept themselves before others will accept them.
Judge not, lest ye be judged.
let's just step back a minute. whether or not the blog you were referring to had a writer who was bashing "overweight" people and unaccepting. i didn't mean that at all when i wrote my comment. i think people see it as a black and white- oh, skinny people are bashing overweight people because they don't want to lose the spotlight of being beautiful. honestly, i don't think that's right. i don't think it's right for people to bash overweight women either. and i mean this broadly, more towards the obesity range. i think it's unfair for anyone to be bashing anyone else because of their weight. there's always going to be pitiful things on both sides. we've heard it all. "people make fun of me because i'm fat even though i have a medical problem" and "people make fun of me because i'm so skinny and i don't have any curves" can't people see it's the same thing? i think there are beautiful people who weight less and thsoe who weigh more. but notice i don't actually give a numerical figure. because... there isn't one. shocking right? people think that the generalization that "society: gives is the truth. but it isn't. people are beautiful of any size, just as we've come to finally recognize that people of every color is beautiful. i think people need to get over themselves. skinny people, you can't bash on bigger people(and i use this term because i don't want people to think i'm somehow being rude). and bigger people, there's no reason to be bashing on skinnier people. easy as that. we've got enough problems on hand, folks.
At least this one's a little more understanding.
The problem isn't that Americans are accepting obesity or whatever-- although maybe that /is/ part of the problem. The real issue lies in the fact that "normal" people-- not size 2 girls, but perhaps size 4 or 5 girls (would you consider that obese? I don't)-- have issues with feeling fat in comparison to the perfectly flat-stomached and slim-looking girls on television (and not just television-- surrounding them in real life, too).
I'm 5'4'' and 122 pounds-- I don't consider myself obese or anything, although I'm not skinny; I wear a size 3 or 4 in jeans. I rarely eat out, rarely drink soda or eat fatty/processed foods, drink 4-5 full bottles of water every day, and never overeat. Still, I can't manage to lose the extra weight, probably because my full schedule in senior year permits very little time to exercise. It's not that I'm too lazy to exercise-- I genuinely don't have time.
So when I go shopping and can't fit into /anything/ because all the fashion is geared towards slim little girls, then I start feeling fat and overweight and almost feel like I can understand why some girls have image issues and eating disorders. Seriously, I either have to spend a fortune to get decent clothes or leave every store empty-handed because nothing fit me properly. And I'm not even comparing myself to models-- the vast majority of my friends are very slim due to their high metabolisms (excuse the stereotype, but most of them are Asian and I think it might be hereditary in some of them?).
I don't think it's right to get mad at skinny girls who want to put some meat on their bones, either. But it's not just the overweight or obese people running around complaining about people attacking them. There has to be a happy medium-- a truly "normal" medium, not one that's for overly curvy women or overly skinny women, athletic women or couch potatoes, but a happy, healthy medium.
Why is it okay to criticise skinny people, but not okay to say anything against fat people? It's such a double standard.
I accept everyone, overweight or underweight, but I still believe health is above everything and there are no excuses or sides to pick omg.
I used to be fat, now I am skinny. I read and commented on the other blog. I am neither jealous of fat people, or them being accepted or "catered" to by having TV shows, plus sized stored, etc.
And I don't really get concerned over their health and masquerade any of MY issues as my "caring" about their well being. Their well being is their own business.
I do find the spatting that goes on here fascinating, and like this blogger, wonder what drives it. I expect, as with most spatting, it's some sense of insecurity or injustice that is felt, or sensed. Somehow the spatters feel that they are getting less due to someone else getting more.
Having been on both sides, I'll be honest with you. I'd rather be thin. It's more fun, it's easier to shop, and cheaper. I buy nearly all my clothes at thrift stores, and it's easy to find things that fit me. I feel better about the way I look and well, just feel better. I am really NOT jealous of fat people, because in my experience in the past few years, they do have it harder.
My obesity was the result of my own choices of life style and coping mechanisms. I had no disorder that caused it.
The reason there are TV shows, stores, novels, etc that "cater" to fat people is because they are now seen as a "market", and therefore identified as a group to sell to. As obesity becomes more common, it makes financial sense for someone to market to that group. It's really that simple. In the end, it's about money. If money can be made by selling something,aimed at a specific group, someone will find a way to appeal to that group, meet their physical and emotional needs, and make money.
i think whoever wrote 'since when is being overweight concidered 'real'?' just felt people were attacking her for her skinnyness. She was scared of being on the sharp end of the blade. fat people have been hated for well over a century, now the fasions are changing, and suddenly being skinny isn't as desirable as it once was. yeah, some skinny people can't help being skinny, but some fat people can't help being fat either.
everyone is build differently, i can't understand why there is a need to get vicious towards eachother over a simple fasion trend and personal preferance.
as far as i know nobody is jealous of overweight people. i'm definitely not.
there is something wrong with obesity. just like there is something wrong with being severely underweight. they should all be accepted as people and not treated as second-class citizens, but they shouldn't be made to feel like their obesity is okay and not harming them or going to, because it's not, and it probably is. (nobody should actually say anything but their doctor, but obesity shouldn't be as widely accepted as it is.) tv shows like "more to love" should also not be glorifying the idea that an obese/very overweight girl is a "real girl" and a thin or healthy-sized girl is an unrealistic hollywood ideal.
I was diagnosed with PCOS over the summer as well. After 5 years of eating whole food vegan and two years of working my butt of with a personal trainer 3 times a week at the gym...then cardio on the other days, I did did not lose one pound! If I stop exercising, I gain weight. I finally went to Dr. and was told about PCOS and insulin resistance...I had never heard that before. The Dr. told me...you are absolutely doing everything you are telling me you are doing as far as eating and working out because your test results and vitals are almost that of an athlete!...my vitals were 100/70 BP and 60 pulse...so yeah, there are reasons besides being a lazy fast-food eating pig like some people assume for carrying extra weight.
You may want to look up Insulite Lab. After much looking and debating, I decided to try the program and much to my surprise, I lost over 10 lbs. in 5 weeks and I actually sleep. Truthfully, I didnt believe it was gonna help. And, no...I have no affliation with them...I just did a lot of research and out of desperation decided to try this...and wanted to post this since I have seen others with PCOS here...I dont know if I will continue to see good results but I was able to see some benefits so far.
Best wishes.
I'm not jealous of the acceptance of overweight people. I'm pissed of that I, a person who exercises and tries to maintain a healthy diet, have to accept that that guy/girl eating a triple Whopper meal is normal or beautiful, but watch all those reports on the news about how kids are in danger of being obese.
There are two sides: the side that talks about how overweight people are "curvy" and that they are "normal size" (I'm looking at you, More to Love!) and the side that talks about how little girls start menstruating at 8 years old because they weigh more, earlier in life, and talk about the dangerous epidemic of obesity.
I am at a healthy weight for my height and age. How does that not make me a "real woman"? I'm perfectly fucking real, and it pisses off when I read shit about how "real woman have curves".
Take a look in a magazine, at the models. No stretchmarks, not a single fat roll no matter how small, no cellulite, no anything. It's nice boobs, washboard abs, smooth tan skin. There's no way that many women and men can be totally perfect. Obviously there's still quite a market for flawless figures.
Guys, please choose not to be "skinny people" or "fat people". We're all just people. We're all beautiful.
@soyeahthatswhathappened@xanga - and by "they" i mean people with severe weight problems.
i'm not jealous of fat people; i just don't think it should be so socially acceptable to be so unhealthy. call me crazy. i've got everything i want at this point in life and i'm not threatened by fat people in any way.
don't tell me that this post wasn't an attack at mine, titled Since When is Being Overweight Being "Real"?
so to set the record straight, i am not jealous of fat people. never have been, never will be. why would i be jealous of somebody who has such an unhealthy lifestyle?
@SeeBeeWrite@xanga - TRUE. so true.
it's worse for people who can't stop gaining weight because they feel so deeply miserable inside- this doesn't mean blog on depression...leave it alone. stop talkin about weight.
@paper_swords@xanga - i love that you try to tell everybody what i thought and what i felt when i wrote that post. nice. real, real nice. so you can judge me but i can't judge fat people? that's great. you should be happy with yourself.
There is a reason it is impolite to talk about a person's illnesses or to even be the person talkin about there own. Or a person's weight. Or age.
Calling overweight people normal isn't okay in my book because it's not. It's unhealthy. That doesn't mean you're bashing them though. I mean unless you have health issues there's no reason not to lose weight. It's deff doable. I don't like calling over weight people normal it's not normal or healthy. Why would skinny people be jealous? That makes no sense I don't understand how you go from they don't want overweight people to be called normal so they must be jealous. They have a issue with it, and I have a issue with it because it's not healthy. Are we considering something unhealthy the norm? I mean I totally understand that people have medical issues keeping them from losing weight, fine. But if you have no excuse which most people don't, you should lose the weight seeing as it's bad for your health otherwise don't complain about it. People don't want their kids thinking its okay to be 10 or 20 pounds overweight.