I am considered overweight.
Yep, it's true! According to the BMI, I am obese even tho, to look at a pic of me, you wouldn't think that. I've spent too many years believing what the BMI tells me and the rest of North America. No consideration is taken for my 5' 2 3/4" stance, like say, I've had four kids. And not just that but two of them are a set of twins! Apparently, because the (evil) scale says that I weigh around 200 lbs, I am considered "fat". No consideration for the fact that I'm 35 yrs old either. People get heavier naturally as they age. (Oooo... another bad word!!)
In this country, we have an extreme fear of being "fat". We starve, mutilate, medicate, plasticize, and kill ourselves to try and look like ideal pubescent girl. You know, the one with no hips, no tummy and big boobs. She has no lines on her face (nor character) and looks like she's about 12. Except for those perky, plastic boobs, of course. Most truly normal women chase their own tails trying to become what the industry tells us is "normal". The smartest, most beautiful, most business-oriented woman in the world will still be insecure and unhappy with her body! How come even supermodels think they're "fat"? The 5' 10" 135 lb, 38 yr old woman will say she's soooo fat and look how big her thighs, butt, *insert body part* is. It's getting to the point where a six year old will say things about how fat she is and how she needs to start dieting! What are we doing to our daughters???
But, you say, the issue here is health! If you're overweight or obese, you'll die of some funky disease or a heart attack. Not necessarily true! More people on the heavier side live longer than those who are too thin or that spend their lives yo-yo dieting. But I don't yo-yo diet, you say. How many times have you lost any weight and then gained it back plus? How many diet pills have you ingested? How many "low fat" products have you bought? How many dollars have you put into Weight Watcher's food products? How many "lifestyle changes" have you made that lasted 'til the next holiday before you "fell off the wagon" and had to jump back on? How much money have you pumped into a gym membership and worked your ass off in, only to be discouraged at your "lack" of weight loss? How many weight loss books have you read? Er... lifestyle change books... ? How much time have you spent looking in the mirror hating yourself and your body?
We have been brainwashed with THE biggest lie in this century. If you are at the end of your rope and you feel hopelessly overweight and you're sick of the whole dieting thing, read up on body acceptance. Set yourself free from the lies and control that others have over your body. I recommend any amount of reading. I suspect it will only take one book or site to make you think. Here's my list: "No Fat Chicks" by Terry Poulton, "Fat Politics" by J. Eric Oliver, "Do I Look Fat In This?" by Rhonda Britton, "The Beauty Myth" by Naomi Wolf. There are many websites on Size Acceptance. These are not just for "fat" people but for those who feel fat or think fat. I haven't gone into the depth of the LIE here. I encourage you to do that for yourself... :-)
