Filed under: 2007 Resolutions, Anorexia, Blogging, Bulimia, Eating disorders, Family, Friends, Health, Internet, Life, News, Notables, Personal, Random Thoughts, Rants, Thoughts, Uproars
Disclaimer: This post contains links to disturbing photographs of real (everyday) people for the purpose of helping others understand the very real and very desperate situation those suffering from eating disorders face each day. Choosing to view the links is your agreement to view the photos for honorable purposes only. It is likely that none of the people featured are in a mental/emotional place where a hateful or mean-spirited comment or act will do anything other than hurt them. If you feel a need to hurt people clearly already at their lowest, please seek help for yourself.
Thank you.
Recently I wrote about the despicable comments made by contest judge Tandy Anderson, where she criticized Jen Hunter for being “too heavy” and praised Marianne Berglund for being the “perfect model”. Easily enough found online, are further pictures of the two models involved, and just as in the first comparison, the two were captured each in a similar position, each wearing a fairly short dress. Despite pleas made by publicists and those assigned to do damage control on the issue, that poor Marianne wasn’t fairly presented in her gold lame bathing suit because she was photographed outside in the wind and the wind “blew her bathing suit” to her body, the following photos clearly shows that the least of Marianne’s problems is the wind. Well, unless she’s worried that it might blow her over. I doubt it’s the fault of the wind, that she’s as thin as she is.
Dr Joram Inspector, consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist at the eating disorders centre Cygnet Hospital in West London, says that although it isn’t the sole criteria, a diagnosis of anorexia is made if the body mass index is below 17.5. Marianne is 5ft 10in and is believed to weigh just under 8 stone (112 lbs). That gives her a body mass index of around 16.2.
A normal BMI would be in the 20-25 range.
It’s time for the public, the fashion industry and the entertainment industry, to realize that we are killing our children.
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric problem — with one in five victims dying prematurely.
This year, Brazilian model Ana Carolina Reston and Uruguayan model Luisel Ramos died due to anorexia.
Ana Carolina Reston is dead at the age of 21. In the last few months of her life, the Brazilian model ate only tomatoes and apples. She weighed just over five and a half stone (77 lbs). Once as beautiful as a Bond girl, Ana died in hospital of kidney failure due to anorexia nervosa.
In August, emaciated 22-year-old Uruguayan model, Luisel Ramos, died of a heart attack moments after stepping off a catwalk.
The minimum BMI is now 18, a standard set by the World Health Organization as defining “underweight”, and set for models taking part in Madrid Fashion Week this past September. The new guidelines were set after catwalk model Luisel Ramos died this past August, from self-starvation. However, it is commonly known that many models have a BMI in the 16 range, clearly, a dangerous gamble.
Dr Inspector explains,
When the body is starved it starts to consume its muscles in order to get energy. The most important muscle in our body is our heart. In extreme cases of anorexia, the heart can lose up to 50 per cent of its mass, especially in the left ventricle. The heart becomes significantly weaker. Osteoporosis starts and the hormonal system behaves like that of a woman after menopause. You can also develop liver problems and kidney problems.”
Both models were beautiful women.
Dying to be thin.
A size four in the UK is variously described as either the equivalent of an American size two or a size zero. American company Gap classes a UK four as an American size zero. But generally, size four clothes have a 22-inch waist – the average measurement of an eight-year-old girl.
With designers introducing clothing in sizes less than zero, it’s small wonder that we see celebrities such as Victoria Beckham wearing jeans fit for a seven year old.
But Anorexia and Bulimia are no joke. The internet is full of pro-eating disorder sites. Vivian Meehan, president and founder of the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, or ANAD, says,
One of the primary goals of anorexics is to persuade others that they are perfectly fine, and that they have the right to lead their lives however they see fit. And one of the ways of doing that is to find other people who are achieving those goals–so these Web sites provide … reinforcement, along with a forum for exchanging and picking up tips.
Indeed, these sites, called pro-ana (for pro-anorexia) and pro-mia (for pro-bulimia) are gathering grounds for people who have eating disorders, sharing photos such as these…
… and calling them “thinspiration”.
At Starving for Perfection, their own “commandments” are:
- Being thin is more important than being healthy
You must buy clothes, cut your hair, take laxatives, starve yourself, do anything to make yourself look thinner
Thou shall not eat without feeling guilty
Thou shall not eat fattening foods without punishing oneself afterwards
Thou shall count calories and restrict intake accordingly
What the scale says is the most important thing
Losing weight is good/ Gaining weight is bad
You can never be too thin
Being thin and not eating are true signs of willpower and success
Is it any wonder then, that it’s also possible to find photos such as this.
And if you aren’t alarmed enough at that image found readily by searching “anorexia” in Google Images, you can visit the following page at the Starving for Perfection forums. Please be warned that the photos at the other end of this link are extremely disturbing.
Is there more to be said. Probably. A picture says a thousand words, and I’ve given you enough pictures to make sure you say your share of those words.
Please share this url, link to it on your own site, and ask others to care:
http://fracas.wordpress.com/2007/01/02/the-true-faces-of-anorexia/
Sources:
Anorexia fear for catwalk loser.
The stunning size 12 model branded ‘too fat’ for TV competition
Shock as designers go smaller than size zero
47 Comments so far
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Terrible, terrible, terrible, is this what they want!!!
What a waste of human life.
I guess somebody needs to do something about it.
kenwahfu(health+harmony=prosperity)
Comment by kenwahfu January 2, 2007 @ 3:37 AMThis is horrifying. How can starvation be held up as the ideal of beauty?
Comment by icedmocha January 2, 2007 @ 9:22 AMI remember reading a book when I was about 13. It was a book for developing girls, and talked about the *changes* our body goes through and liking our bodies, etc. Aussie Babe gave it to me, if I remember right. Anyway, I recall the book talking about models. It said that fashion designers tend to like slender models so that the design of their clothing is accentuated instead of the curves of the model. It stressed that a model’s body is not an indication of what women should look like. I remember looking at photos of Twiggy and thinking I’d never want to look that skinny. I’d look at photos of Marilyn Monroe and find her body much more attractive because it was curvy and female.
Where did everything get all messed up? Why did emaciated become attractive to so many girls? I have lived inside the world of eating disorders with both family and friends. I have held a friend’s hand in the hospital when she was shaking from the medication that was supposed to try heal the holes in her stomach and esophagus from too many years of acid burning her system because of bulimia.
It’s an ugly world in there, filled with tears and anguish and the very real fear of burying someone you love if you can’t get them help in time. And you try. You try, because you know they are too far into that world to care for themselves, so you do it for them. And you cry. And you cry.
I admire what you are doing and I’m proud to be your sister.
Comment by LindaC January 2, 2007 @ 12:06 PM(sorry this was so long….)
kenwahfu – I’m trying. Please help by passing the fracas link to the story on to someone else, or posting it on your site.
Icedmocha – it is horrifying. When I started finding so many pictures, I was just sick inside. Reading at the pro-ana and pro-mia sites makes one feel helpless. For me.. that’s usually the trigger to make me do something. I have this thing where as soon as I feel like something is overwhelmingly out of control, I can’t not do something to make a difference.
LindaC – I think I read that book too! LOL, it was in that cupboard that used to be in mom’s room. I think I always knew it got there from Aussie Babe. She’s much more of a hero than she realizes! I’m proud to be sister to you, she, and the ones we talk to who don’t make themselves known on here.
I know what you mean about watching someone suffer. I won’t go into details here but it was someone I know who got me into this again.
The fashion designers play a huge role. For their own convenience, runway clothing is all created in the same size.. then it doesn’t matter who works the show, the clothes are the clothes and you have to fit them regardless of your body.
Even that aside though… (they could make the one size thing be a couple of sizes larger and still have the same benefit) I don’t know how ANYONE can dress a model in something where you can clearly see her ribs individually (and she looks like she was time travelled from Auschwitz to the stage) and allow her to set foot out there. The “thinspiration” photo on the right was taken from a 2006 show in New York. Gross. How dare they not realize they’re putting lives in danger.
Reading the stories about the two models who died, I think someone should be held responsible. One had a heart attack fresh off the catwalk (so who looked at her and still thought she was good to model that day) and the other was modeling to send money home to help her family in Brazil. So sad.
Just wait till you see the next post I have in the works.
Comment by fracas January 2, 2007 @ 1:56 PMWell done. I’ll put a link on my site.
Comment by Rootietoot January 2, 2007 @ 3:42 PMI came here by tag surfer. A couple of years ago I was searching sits on “sliming” as I was (am) overwight and wanted to get myself from BMI 29 down to 26, I found several pro-ana. websites. It had full of advice on how not to eat. I can’t forget those photos and tips on those sites.
Comment by Maddi January 2, 2007 @ 4:42 PMSince, whenever I have chance to talk to those thin “fashonable” girls, I try to talk the meaning and the enjoyment of life (and eating) in everyday language.
Hi Maddi. I left you a comment at your blog but right now, the Askimet filter at WordPress somehow thinks I’m spam. Anything I post at a WordPress site goes into the spam bin and you have to go in and manually tell it my post is ok. It even does it to my own posts at my own site.
Silly.
Comment by fracas January 2, 2007 @ 11:13 PMThanks Rootietoot! You beat me to it. I planned to log in tonight so that I could comment at your blog but I see you’ve seen the comment I left in NG’s blog earlier.
Comment by fracas January 3, 2007 @ 12:20 AMHi,
You ask me to put this link in my site and I`ve done it today, right now.
kenwahfu(health+harmony=prosperity)
Comment by kenwahfu January 3, 2007 @ 6:13 AMFracas, indeed your comment was in my bin and I’ve had to pick it up. I’ll come by again.
Comment by Maddi January 3, 2007 @ 9:59 AMThanks kenwahfu!
Looking forward to seeing you again Maddi!
Comment by fracas January 3, 2007 @ 1:51 PMkenwahfu – You didn’t leave a link but I googled you and found your blog to add to my blogroll. Since you linked to my main page, I added in my right hand sidebar, a link to the anorexia post so people would be able to find it easier coming from your site.
Health, harmony and prosperity to you too!
Comment by fracas January 3, 2007 @ 2:24 PMReferenced on my blog just now…nice work fracas.
Comment by Northern Girl January 3, 2007 @ 3:19 PMThank you NG. I’ve just created a petition page too.
Comment by fracas January 3, 2007 @ 4:00 PM[...] themselves in an effort to achieve a dangerously thin ‘ideal’ of beauty. Read the post and show your support by signing the [...]
Pingback by Dangerous thinspiration « Iced Mocha January 3, 2007 @ 6:36 PMHi, Fracas,
Comment by kenwahfu January 4, 2007 @ 3:53 AMActually your link is under my blogroll category. Its there.
Hi again kenwahfu! I meant that you posted here but didn’t leave me a link for me to go find your site… so I had to google you to find your blog. If you type your blog’s address into the spot for “url” when you post, then your name will link to your blog.
Once I found your site, I saw right away that you had put me on your blog roll and so I put you on mine too!
Thanks!
I added you to the petition too. Now I have to go back to your blog and read your articles about soy.
Comment by fracas January 4, 2007 @ 1:21 PMWow. How sad. I’m trying to lose 100 pounds, and writing about my struggles online. But I’d rather stay 100 pounds too heavy than to be cursed with anorexia.
Comment by Greg Todd January 19, 2007 @ 12:20 AMInteresting. i have anorexia i use pro ana web sites, like you i used to also found these sites distubing, but they are not what they seem, they give people with ed’s a great support system,.
They dont contain “join here to be anorexic ” they warn of the dangers, they inform of safe way eat, of course they can seem to encourage ed’s, but the way i see it is that, we are a group of very lonely,trapped people, these sites give us a chance to relate to one other expressing ourselves.
The main issue with anorexia is not the being thin and the desire to be thin/perfect, it is the reasons behide this “why”. WHY do we have distroted views of ourselves? WHY do we have no self confidance? WHY do we have so much depression?
Comment by ashlee February 8, 2007 @ 6:06 PMWe really desire happiness, which for us translate to being very thin, and having control in the only place we can=what we eat.
Overall i beg you NOT to judge any one with ed’s (ana,mia,coe,ednos,etc) but to try and understand the daily pain we live with, that cannot be cured with “EAT SOMETHING!”
it is a deep psyhcological disorder.
thank you x
ashlee, you won’t be judged by me. I know it’s a psychological disorder, I know you struggle to understand why you feel the way you do.
My daughter has friends with eating disorders, one who is as good as part of our family. I care about this girl and it is that reason why rather than judge you, I think it’s time all the other people in the world (who contribute to the pressures you live with) are held responsible.
Please visit mamaVISION. She’s a former model who used to suffer an eating disorder. She wants to help others now. You might find something there that will help you feel less alone and less trapped.
Please do leave her a comment. She will answer you and help however she can.
Comment by fracas February 9, 2007 @ 1:22 AMall you fatties need to get off the computer and on to a treadmill
Comment by whoa February 27, 2007 @ 3:12 AMhi my name is cheryl mccormick, and im 20 years old, i think thats a shocking seeing photos of these poor children and wat their going. it must be hard, i have to ask, would i get it, reply back
Comment by cheryl mccormick February 27, 2007 @ 8:33 AMi will try and help u and how to beat this I’llness, i mean i know what its like, i was watching it on tv, the thing you need to try and do is, to build your confindece up and tell yourself that you need to start eating proply and take your time, heres the balence diet, have a bowl of shreddies for breakfast, there low fat and for lunch, have maby healthy living soup and brown bread, brown breads healthier, and for dinner , have fish, vegetables and boiled potatoes, thats really good for you, and last have fruit salad, i tell u this you will feel much better, promiss, reply back
Comment by cheryl mccormick February 27, 2007 @ 8:47 AMFor those who read these comments, I’ll just say that I leave up the ignorant ones like the one left by “whoa” so that others can see their ignorance. Clearly, “whoa” didn’t pay attention to anything, or is doing a poor imitation of someone trying to be funny.
cheryl – anorexia and bulimia are very difficult to beat without the proper help. I assure you, most of the people suffering from them would love to be able to eat properly but they are considered to be mental illnesses (and that’s not a shameful thing to have, there is no person alive who doesn’t have some issue to deal with in life). The reasons behind these disorders are many and varied and most need some kind of help (counseling, rehab programs, etc.) to get over them.
We all can help by stopping our support of the crazy trend that we’re only beautiful if we’re so skinny that adult women wear clothes small enough to fit pre-teen girls.
If anyone out there knows someone with an eating disorder, please don’t just tell them to “smarten up” or to “eat right” and things like that. I know a girl that was done to and it doesn’t help.. it makes it worse because if she could just “smarten up” on her own, she would.
Cheryl , thanks for taking an interest in this! Would you like me to add your name to the petition?
Comment by fracas February 27, 2007 @ 9:23 AMNice blog I will recommend you to all my friends. Thank you.
Comment by Jerrold Albert March 9, 2007 @ 2:49 PMUseful information. Go on!
Comment by Rebecca Ormosen March 10, 2007 @ 4:06 PMThis is something i feel very strongly about. Many of my friends have suffered from eating disorders and this has helped me understand what they were feeling and going through. I think we should also concentrate on making people aware this is not something somebody can solve overnight by eating, it is, as ashlee says, a serious pschological problem. People don’t seem to understand it is not the models or people who are at fault, they are victims of the pressures of the modern world.
Thankyou for writing this, you are right some of these pictures are seriously disturbing, but it is what some people need to see, and to know some designers and so on are encouraging unnatural bodyshapes like these is a horrifying truth of the present day.
Comment by Molly March 12, 2007 @ 2:22 PMxxx
Thank you Molly… do you want to sign the petition page here?
Comment by fracas March 12, 2007 @ 2:54 PMIm also doing this, I want to be sexy and seductive. Im eating a lot but im throwing it out in the toilet after I ate. Im going to the gym every morning and tring to work on my abs but still it doesnt work. Maybe my last hope is still continue to star ve myselllf and purge after I ate
Comment by Princess Pyles March 13, 2007 @ 6:43 AMPlease don’t consider that, it’s harmful and you will find that it only makes things worse. Some people who binge and purge actually find they have more trouble with weight gain because you’re messing with your body’s metabolism and stuff.
A really good place to find information and get help or advice is over at MamaVISION She’s a wonderful lady who used to be involved in the modeling world, used to suffer with eating disorders and now gives her time to help others. Please go there and post to her.. she’ll help you find the resources you need if you tell her that you need information or help or anything.
Comment by fracas March 14, 2007 @ 12:34 AM[...] 4 01 2007 I came across this blogpost by fracas today which is about the true faces of anorexia. It reminded me about my ‘Real Life?’ post and the size zero argument that followed. [...]
Pingback by Size Zero? « Cat’s blog March 23, 2007 @ 6:21 AMI am an Iraqi who now lives in the United Kingdom, I find it shocking to see images such as those and the media praises them for being “perfect”. Anorexia and Bulimia prevalence rates are lowest in non-Caucasian religious families but I think that eating disorders are the result of the oppression of women, not liberation, for the media, et alia, dictate what is acceptable and force the idea of being thin on people. Certainly the fashion industry is in need of reform to a certain extent, we could start off by having compulsory medical tests, for example, to ensure that all models have a BMI at 20 or above.
Comment by Ibn Warraq April 6, 2007 @ 7:00 AMThe media have a lot to answer for.
Comment by James Hunaban May 1, 2007 @ 4:46 AM[...] Anorexia [...]
Pingback by Anorexia… « Journey from Grrr to There June 7, 2007 @ 8:45 PMThank you for this post. I had anorexia as a teen. NOT fun. Not worth it.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I’ll get to the meme… one of these days (i’m a little backed up on my memes, but still play).
Comment by Shauna July 21, 2007 @ 5:53 PMHi Shauna. It’s great to “meet” you. I’m glad you’re a good sport about the meme, though I didn’t expect everyone to agree, since I did randomly tag all of you without having met you before.
Please come back again too.. we love new people here, join the fun! Oh.. and sometimes we have chocolate too. ;-)
Comment by fracas July 21, 2007 @ 11:14 PMIM SORRY BUT THE PICTURE OF THE CATWALK MODEL WEARING THE BLUE DRESS HAS BEEN PHOTOSHOPPED! I SAW A WEBSITE WITH THAT EXACT SAME PICTURE AND THEN THE SAME PICTURE OF THE MODEL’S REAL BODY AND IT LOOKED NOWHERE NEAR THAT BAD!!!
Comment by Louise August 6, 2007 @ 6:09 PMLouise – First of all, in internet/chat/forum/blog lingo, when you type all in caps, it’s supposed to mean you’re shouting. I’m not sure why you’d be shouting at me, so I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you didn’t know that.
Second, I’m assuming also, that you read the entire post before commenting. Having done so, I’m sure you’d have noticed the context in which I used the photos. I’m going to point it out for the benefit of others who might be confused after your comment.
I don’t care if the photo was photoshopped. I showed it as an example of what’s being shared at pro-anorexia sites, and those two photos were taken from a pro-anorexia site exactly as they are. The fact is, one doesn’t have to photoshop model photos to see images like that, all one has to do is watch TV. Shows with live footage can’t be ignored, and we are able to see models who look like that in many other ways.
Even if the image was photoshopped (and I find it odd that you claim so, but provided no links to prove it) it doesn’t matter because girls at pro-ana and pro-mia sites are using them in their (alleged) photoshopped versions, as “thinspiration” and making these images their personal goal.
All this does is reinforce what my whole campaign is about. We need to do something to steer girls back towards healthier body images, and reality; we need to recognize anorexia and bulimia as psychiatric disorders and not just a phase they go through.
But please do post links to the images you say you’ve seen. I’d be happy to see that model looking healthier. What I’d also like to see though, is some kind of proof that the photo wasn’t photoshopped to make her look healthier… because that possibility exists also, did you consider that?
Comment by fracas August 7, 2007 @ 9:57 AMWow.. this is terrible!
I have never seen this Jen person before, but i think she is beautiful in that pic, how can anybody think that skin covered skeletal structure is beautiful compared to uniquely curved body that each of us has?
I find those pictures so sad! :(
I will have to write some on this topic too and will link to your article also.
Thanks for sharing!
nemo
P.S. I found your page via some browsing from fuelmyblog.com
Comment by nemo December 9, 2007 @ 7:02 AMMy daughter has anorexia. and has had it since she was 17.She is now 23 ,5ft 9inches and weighs 82 lbs. i was una ware hs had it for along time. but noticed she was wearing baggy clothes. and skipping meals at home. telling me she would eat at a friends.Mydaughter is wasting away to nothing. She has just now told me she wants help. I have arranged for her to be evalutaed, for anorexia and get treatment. she is scared, and now thinks because she is eating,she doesnot need help. but she does.for many years she used laxatives, and starved herself. I am glad she is getting help. she knows it will take time but wants to beable to eat.and tired of battleing the beast that lives in her head. I am scared for her.but know my prayers and the support of alll her friends .will help her .To get the help she need. thank you her mom
Comment by jeannie January 10, 2008 @ 10:38 PMHugs for you and your daughter Jeannie. Prayer, help and support… you’re on the right track. It won’t be an overnight fix and I think it’s common for them to think they’re “better” and don’t need any more help. She will see that it is too hard to do it without help… just keep supporting and praying for her.
Being aware is a significant change in everyone’s life. Once you’re aware, it’s not as easy for them to continue. That’s true for any problem our kids go through, whether it’s anorexia and bulimia or drugs or anxiety disorders. Be a strong mom, and may God bless you Jeannie, and keep you in His care too. It’s the hardest thing a parent has to do is be there through something like this and keep themselves together!
Visit MamaVision. She’s all about support, and used to have an eating disorder. It’s a good place!
Comment by fracas January 11, 2008 @ 11:40 AMeeewwwwwww anorexia is so gross they need to eat a chesse burger
Comment by jackie January 15, 2008 @ 1:11 PMThe photographs are rendered.
Comment by jess February 11, 2008 @ 7:56 PMAlso, people don’t get eating disorders from seeing skinny celebrities. Anorexia is a diagnosis that involves psychological issue. There’s often a deeper explanation than wanting to look thin, a lot of time it’s about taking control of something because they’ve never been in control of their own lives. I think it’s rash to say people become anorexic from skinny celebrities, the problem is deeper than that pathetic excuse.
Comment by jess February 11, 2008 @ 8:01 PMI certainly encourage everyone to share their opinions jess, but if you’ve ever seen in person, someone who looks like one of those photos, you realize that it doesn’t matter if that specific photo is rendered or not. The reality is that there are girls and women out there walking around looking exactly like that. I’ve seen a couple, it is very real.
I am perfectly aware that there is a psychological component to eating disorders. If you’ve read all the discourse here, you’d see that I’ve argued that very point with others.
That said though, it is far from rash to say that media, celebrities and the fashion/modeling industry aren’t a very big part of this. Just as eating disorders were and still are plentiful among athletes such as gymnasts, figure skaters, etc. eating disorders are becoming more prevalent among celebrities. There is a very real pressure to fit an ideal that is unrealistic, and it is absolutely projected upon our young.
I am a mom of three, two having gone through the teen years, one coming up. I know the stories of many of the girls I’ve personally seen, who are living with an eating disorder, been hospitalized for it and such.
While no one claims (please read closer and you’ll see that no one here nor at mamavision, have ever claimed that anyone becomes anorexic simply from viewing a picture of a skinny celebrity) that it’s that simple, it isn’t realistic either, to say that the factors we are advocating against don’t play a part.
Why then, do we advocate against change in the industry?
Because it is a factor that simply doesn’t need to exist. As you mention, those who suffer from deeper reasons for their suffering already have enough to deal with… so demanding the industry and the media (and all of us for that matter) to be more responsible is something we CAN do, so why not do it?
That isn’t pathetic, it’s called giving a shit and doing our part. I don’t know if you know anyone dealing with an eating disorder, but I do. I stand by everything here and support mamavision. She ought to know too… she’s a former fashion model who lived with an eating disorder and now makes it her goal to help others.
Comment by fracas February 11, 2008 @ 8:19 PMok, i work in the fashion field, and i am no way pro anorexia, but as someone said, most of the photos are photoshoped. Models are skinny, but not anorexic skinny. the models are the pallet in which our clothes are displayed on. you cant have a large person modeling certain clothes becuase it would distort the design. if an editor sees a gown on a model who has NO waist, its going to look hideous and they arent going to want to put it in their magazine. if it is on a great looking model who resembles a human form, it will look good and it will get sold.
Comment by Chris March 29, 2008 @ 9:43 AMI am 48, a mother of two grown sons, and three beautiful granddaughters. I was obese as a child, until losing 55 lbs at 14. (I weighed what I weigh now in 6th grade, and I am a size 10-12 now.) What I taught my body was that I would and could starve it. And my body took note. It seems to hang on to every darn calorie. I also taught my mind that if I got fat, I was ugly, a looser, not fit to be loved. I do not remember a time when I have not watched and calculated every bite that goes in my mouth. To top it off, I was always very pretty, so fat or thin, I got noticed, and talked about. I have managed to keep myself from obesity, and finally, after a lifetime of hearing you are not fat, you are just right, and beautiful, and barely dodging an eating disorder bullitt myself, I appreciate my shape, my SELF. Somehow I have come to terms with not being thin or really fat, and its not because I do not care about my looks. I can still turn heads. When we as a society, start rewarding and glamorizing inner beauty and the remarkableness of our differences and individuality, personality, intelligence, and beauty of uniqueness, and stop buying into a culture that is trying to uglyfy and make us all look alike, (ever notice how extremely thin people kinda look the same),we can put this skin and bone anorexic genie back in its bottle, and drown it with the blood and tears of all eating disorder victims and their families.
Comment by Kerri June 20, 2008 @ 10:14 PM