So I was at the gym today. I was having one of the greatest workouts of my life. But the woman on the machine next to me, I felt sorry for her. She looked only slightly larger than this woman pictured above. It really made me think about my nieces and what is considered beautiful. Here is this example of a model, someone who represents beauty in media, and she is sick. It makes my skin crawl that this woman was even allowed to be photographed. Just because God gave us one of Adam’s ribs doesn’t mean we’re meant to show it off.
While searching for this photo, I came across websites that actually tell girls how to become this thin. I’m not talking about dieting websites. I mean actual links that say, “Want to be anorexic?” How disgusting is it that there is someone out there asking young girls and women to take part in this disease. Call it what it is.
I hope that for the sake of the next generation of women, more people become appalled. I was happy to hear that, in Spain, designers and modeling agencies are turning away models who are TOO thin. Which makes sense because Spain has a tendency to produce curvy women. (Check out “Real Women Have Curves” with America Ferera)
When you see a young woman with low self esteem, what do you do? Do you remind her of her beauty? Do you tell her to ignore everybody who has something negative to say? Are you negative? Are you encouraging her to lose weight? Do you help in breaking her down? Remember that anorexia is not only a disease, it can lead girls who are never satisfied to suicide. Be supportive of her beauty, don’t point out her flaws.
As a young girl, I became very curvy and with that came the pounds. I remember having family, friends, teachers, classmates-all of them told me I was fat. How do you think that made a teenager feel? I’m glad I had common sense. I encouraged myself all the time. I had to remind myself that I was me and I was beautiful and healthy. If I hadn’t, if I had let that all go to my head and taint my self image, I would not be were I am today, HAPPY. I have a man and a son that I love so much. And they love me BECAUSE of the way that I am.
There was a time when thin was in and thick was sick. Now thick is it and thin is a sin, baby. Move on. Eat some cornbread and collard greens because if you’re a size zero you’re wasting away and, soon enough, no one will even notice you.
And all you young ladies out there remember not to let anyone bring you down. They can only hurt you if you let them. Be smart and show them that thick doesn’t mean unhealthy. Be confident. Be strong Be beautiful.
September 21st, 2007 at 5:47 pm
I hear that the camera adds 10 pounds, so I try to strap at least 8-10 cameras on me at all times.
Go big people!
September 22nd, 2007 at 11:04 am
I was just thinking about a similar topic the other day. I am 8 months pregnant and everyone seems to comment on my weight and think its OK to do so! Its one of the few socially acceptable times that it is OK to tell a woman she is huge and then just expect her to laugh. Why is that? I am making a baby. You should understand that at this point in my life I am *required* to eat a lot and gain a lot. If I don’t then I am failing at the most important job I have right now…making a healthy baby. I should be getting more “Good Job” comments than all the “Whoa! look at you, you’re as big as a house” comments.
September 26th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
i understand how u feel and all i can say is that im anorexic and have been for about 4 years and up intill know im gaining wait but not because i want to it because i kneed to to live. you see i curently im @89 pounds but i usto have the wheight of a 7 year old girl. ive been hospitalized and gone threw so much all because i wanted to be “beautifull” but ive came to lear that beauty is only skin deep and its whats inside the person that gives that person value im curentyl 18 years old so i was 14 when this started or younger …..althow ive been treted fi=ore it fore 4 years ive had it for a longer amount of time and i usto denay that i had it even when the doctor first toold me i would say that he did not know anything that he did not know me . and now i just hope that that steriotipe of beauty could end …at one point it got so painfull that it hurt to sit in a chair or even fore some one to tuch me …..but even thoe ive had hartatacks been hospitalizd and so much more i still want to be thin ….and i dont know how to change that ….all i can say is that i need more help and advice from a person like u
September 27th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
I don’t see why girls want to be this thin.
All the guys that I know seem to be more attracted to the girls with actual female parts. Most of those girls are a bit chubby. I know no one who wants a girl like that.
September 27th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
i agree with averything you’ve said. im 13 years old an im tall and skinny. i get piked on at school becouse of my wieght. they call me lanky . i hate it. im desperate to gain weight, i currently weigh just about 7 stonnes. some say im an annorexic bitch. i have freindz but its alwayz me who gets picked out for being lanky. sometimes i lay in bed for hours hopin that god will help me gain weight n mke me normal. i have to cry myself to sleep every night! i have crush on a boy aswell n one time me and my friendz were sitting next to them n the boy i like i mean liked called ma a lanky peice of shit. i felt so upset i wouldnt talk 2 n e one for the rest of the day. i creid so much that day , i cant bare to look in his eye any more but i still have feeliongs for him. everyone says he likes me, ive liked him since yr 7 so basically 3 years. my freindz also call me lanky but is it realy my fault im lanky i try so hard to gain weight but i dont know why i cant.
September 27th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
This picture you posted is absolutely pitious. This trend is constantly growing, and I think it’s due to the warped image women have come to view as beautiful or healthy. We are so concerned with the ridiculous models of beauty the media projects into our lives; as you said, we lose sight of what it means to actually be happy and fulfilled. As an example, studies on Fiji showed ZERO incidents of anorexia or bulimia before any inhabitants had TV, but only a year after it was installed in several homes, people started to develop eating disorders, and anorexia and bulimia have since claimed a huge portion of the population. I think it’s so important to instill in children a real image of beauty to combat those they see throughout the media, because as the previous comment exemplifies, this kind of self-image can be life-threatening.
September 27th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
I was on google and I typed in my name and surprise there is someone with the same name. Cool. I was born Melony DeShay Pelley and married a Wade. I just thought it was neat…I have read some of your blog and I agree that girls today need positive influences and role models. Life is so hard for them to fit in… I have a 12 yr. old girl and I worry about the pressure that she will be faced with in the next few years…. Anyway….Very cute little man… Congrats on motherhood.
October 1st, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I give this girl about 3-5 more months to live. I don’t understand why girls today are so intent on being skinny. You have to love the the way you are because people don’t look what’s on the outside they look at the inside, but I don’t think this girl has either.
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I know for a fact that this picture is photoshopped.I’ve seen the real one.Not as bad.
November 15th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
It is unfortunate people put such weight on being thin as a form of beauty. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
That model looks like she just came out of the death camps.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
I happen to be a size zero, but I’m NOT wasting away. Yeah, I’m very thin, but its natural and I have a high metabolism. However, I’m not saying that extremely thin stature is cool, because it is certainly frighting, but fat is not specifically gorgeous, so don’t put down the people who are naturally size zero. Nonetheless, I must fully agree that anorexia is extremely horrible and we must help these people, because it is very dangerous.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I am so annoyed with the views on being thin. I am not thin, im curvy and tall. But when I go shopping and Im sure alot of other girls can agree, sizes have gotten smaller and smaller. Its upsetting seeing all your favourite clothes in sizes 6-10 but ina sutarlia the average size for girls is a 12-14. and even then whats out there for us tall girls? I cant find pants long enough cause im 184cm and all leg lawl. This materialistic world is just crule.
December 30th, 2007 at 7:51 am
Wait, Wait, Wait Wait, Wait, Wait Wait, Wait, Wait LOL LOL LOL LOL
This is the reason why I prefer full figured women. They are the best thing around
She look like the prostitute version of…………………………..ET
January 10th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I am naturally quite small and skinny and some boys in school called me anorexic, but i really eat loads and don’t throw it up either.
But if they saw this picture they wouldn’t be calling me anorexic. This is just disgusting. That girl is fading away!
January 21st, 2008 at 10:02 am
all i have to say is that its hard when your under pressure! im 17 im from ireland and the boy/girl anorexic ratio is 50/50 us and germany are the only country that its like this! every 1 i know in ireland boys and girls included are thin and i know about 4 people who are anorexic! now thats alot! its the norm to starve yourself and only drink water! but my question is how did this come about? i mean its like socialy acceptiable to starve yourself! im not saying i dont but its just something to think about! and dudes just coz im a guy im not gay! it doesnt work that way in ireland! its fashionable for some reason!!! haha cant guess y?
February 3rd, 2008 at 1:16 pm
yes, this is true.
although it really puts me down when i hear about things like this.
okay so being anorexic is sickening…but what about being naturally skinny? i eat so much and try to gain weight but it just doesn’t seem to happen.
people think that you only get called for being overweight - but people also get called if they’re skinny.
i was bullied for being slim in high school…bullied! for being this weight that most girls are becoming anorexic for!
and it’s made me believe that i’m an unattractive person.
So here’s the big question.
what’s better;
being anorexic?
or being obese?
i believe that they’re both just as bad as eachother.
thanks for reading.
February 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 pm
i agree with you peple always told me im fat when i was younger so i was in a hurry to lose weight and know im a stick trying to gain weight because know people are telling me im
anorexic i think i need to learn how to think by myself
February 16th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
I THINK ANOREXIC IS A SICKNESS WE NEED TO TRY AND STOP .IM A 15 YEAR OLD GIRL AND I THINK THATS A SAD PIC. I FEEL BAD FOR HER I MEAN SHES SO SKINNY ITS A SICKNESS.WELL IM 15 GOING ON 16 AND THE ANOREXIC PROBLEM IS AN EVERYDAY THING I MEAN I SEE GIRLS SKINNIER THAN ME EVERYWHERE AND I THERES SOMEDAYAS I JUST FEEL LIKE GOING ANOREXIC JUST TO BE SKINNY LIKE EVERYONE ELSE BUT I WOULDNT DO THAT ITS JUST IMA ACURVY GIRL IM SIZE 13 AND IM ONLY 15!!! I FEEL FAT EVERYDAY BUT HOPEFUULY ONE DAY ILL LEARN HOW TO LOVE MYSELF FOR WHAT I I AM !!!!!HOPEFULLY
March 7th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
i think this is so true god made people in all different shapes and sizes to be beautiful not to waste themselves away i was currently dealing with anorexia and bulimia both cases causing me to be sick. But im maintaing a healthy lifestyle and im only 15. But i can’t stand with looking at girls that are boned figured.It makes me want to give them something to eat!!
March 8th, 2008 at 5:52 am
i always say i what to loose weight but that picture is to extreme i still do what to loose weight but not that much im about 9& half stone and still would like to go to a 9 or even 8 & half
March 15th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I just finished an incredibly revealing memoir written by a woman who suffered from bulimia and anorexia for years. Read it. “Wasted” by Marya Hornbacher. These diseases may start with wanting to loose a few pounds, but those who suffer sevearly have much larger issues at hand than wanting to look like a model. And as for they will just dissapear, that is something sufferers may want. As the disease progresses and the brain becomes malnourished the brain cannot rationalize the way a healthy person could. If you know someone who is mutilating their body through starvation please talk to them, offer help. Do not tell them things about others perceptions of the sufferer’s body. Their life may be at risk. This disease is not a joke and not to be taken lightly.
Eat Well.