Body Image.......

[beetlequeendiva]

We are having a discussion over in the Womens' Discussion about body image and how the magazines are promoting looking like woman such as Nicole Richie and Mary-Kate Olsen - and I realised that I actually strive to look like those women, does anybody else? It also made me realise that we are living in a world that is purely based on looks and having the "right" body image!!! *sigh*

 

[MrsGnomeCrusher]

I don't strive to look like them, however I do have an image in my head that I'm never going to obtain. And, even if I did obtain it, it wouldn't ever be good enough. Good enough form whom? Mostly the world around me, I suppose. For whatever reason, it seems to be in our head that better body by the world's standards equates to being a better person. How we are deceived!

I've struggled with exercise anorexia (constantly exercising, after eating exercise to burn off what I ate, etc), and part of me is so sick of trying to live up to something like this. Yes, being healthy is one thing, but what a lot of us do to ourselve to obtain the image that we have that we're suppose to be is not. It breaks my heart seeing these young girls doing more and more damage to themselves at a younger and younger age to stive to meet the world's expectations.

Also, it's not just girls anymore. There's more and more pressures on men to acheive bigger muscles and leaner frames. The whole thing is just sad.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

Eww.
there comes a point in time when a girl just looks sick.

 

[MrsGnomeCrusher]

Eww.
there comes a point in time when a girl just looks sick.

That's the thing. In her head, she doesn't look sick. In her mind, she just looks fat.

 

[beetlequeendiva]

Sadly that is true - to people with ED's they look in the mirror and just see fat, they don't see what everyone else sees!!

 

[reeann]

I've heard its really hit men now too. I strive to be healthy now only. Still hard with all those messages out there.

 

[Captain_Tripp]

We are having a discussion over in the Womens' Discussion about body image and how the magazines are promoting looking like woman such as Nicole Richie and Mary-Kate Olsen - and I realised that I actually strive to look like those women, does anybody else? It also made me realise that we are living in a world that is purely based on looks and having the "right" body image!!! *sigh*

i wish i looked like that 2!yur not the only 1!id die 2 look like that!^^so,right now,im not eating 4 5/7 days & im excerzing 2 times a day 6/7 days.

 

[heron]

That's scary. Do you have any energy?

 

[Captain_Tripp]

yeah.plenty.im hyper @ heart!

 

[thenewageriseth]

I don't strive to look like them...all I have to do is exercise...that's the key...(and something I should do more often... ) and I will stay thin. I couldn't ever stop eating food, though I wanted to before, because I was depressed that day. I just love food...

 

[MrsGnomeCrusher]

I've heard its really hit men now too. I strive to be healthy now only. Still hard with all those messages out there.

I watched something a week or so ago on this. They have a term for it now. It's for men who desire to have big muscles, sculpted bodies. Bodybuilder types. And no matter how well developed they have themselves, they do not see themselves as the way we'd see them. It's so sad. It becomes such an obsession.

I know look at this, for myself, as idolatry. Because it is. I spend so much thoughts, time and energy on this . . . it helps to keep me in line and I'm beginning to accept myself for the way I am. We'll see.