Alright, before you click the link below remember that Violent Acres uses strong language. I'm including excerpts from her entry because I think this concept applies to a lot more than weight, which I'll get to eventually.
To put it simply, a lot of people struggle with their weight because they don’t have enough money to stay thin.
Celebrities aren’t wearing size 00’s because they possess more self discipline or willpower than you. They’re wearing those sizes because they can afford a personal chef, fitness trainers and motivational speakers to come over to their houses to babysit 24-7. These people aren’t better than you. They’re richer than you and it’s likely that they spent more on their bodies than you made last year.
WOOHOO!!! Finally, someone else who realizes that we can't all look like Madonna or Beyonce or what Gwen Stefani used to look like. I'm not fat, I'm not obese, I'm a size 8. In Hollywood and most stores in the mall, this makes me a pig. What?!? Whatever happened to the concept of a 'perfect size 9'? Didn't that used to be in a song?
Whenever DH comments about how great 'insert starlet name here' looks, I've always looked at him and said "You know, I could probably look that good if it were my job, too". He looked at me like I was nuts the first time, so I explained to him that the real job of most actresses and singers is to look good because it sells. Chefs, trainers, home gyms, etc. If I didn't have to work and could spend 5 hours a day working out and the another 3 hours getting botox, massages, and alpha hydroxy peels, I'd look friggin' awesome too!
Around this time of year, people spend a lot of time resolving to lose weight. But what dooms them to failure year after year is that they don’t set enough money aside to accomplish that goal. It’s inevitable that they’ll fail and when they do, it’ll be a tremendous blow to their self esteem. What they haven’t realized is what it would have cost them to succeed.
OK, this is where I think it applies to more than just weight. So many folks pick a goal, something really nice and admirable and life-changing, and then don't realistically determine what it will take to reach that goal. What will it cost financially? How much time will it take? What sacrifices will I have to make to reach this goal? What sacrifices will I have to ask of others?
“The reason I’m overweight isn’t because I lack in moral fortitude. I just chose to financially prioritize my life differently from someone who is a smaller size. To me, a new computer and a swanky townhouse are more important than living a healthy lifestyle. The pleasure I get from junk food and reality TV is more than I’ll ever get from running a mile.”
Harsh words, but I really do think the thoughts behind them apply to almost everyone. There are some goals or ideals that are so important to us we are willing, even eager, to invest whatever time or money is needed to bring them to fruition. There are others, however, that don't resonate. Things we say we're 'gonna' do because we think we should, not because we want to.
With so many goals flying around us this time of year, with family and friends and co-workers all vowing to 'save money, lose weight, and spend more time with each other', I think it's really easy to fall into goal fever. Pick one, doens't matter which one, any one will do. If you do that, pick a goal that doesn't resonate with you, what are the odds you'll succeed? And if you don't succeed with this goal, what are the odds that you'll pick one that's harder in the future, even if it's more worthwhile?
So, there's a point in all this, I promise! The goals may always be the same, but how we chose to get there can always be different. Reminds me of the $20 challenge, where everyone comes up with a different way to reach the same goal. Anyways, if you've picked a goal for yourself, try to pick an action path that resonates and is do-able for you. Saving money? Great. Don't vow to get the newspaper every Sunday and clip coupons if you know deep down you'll never bring them to the store. You're wasting your time and your money. Find a different action path you know you'll follow through with.
January 3rd, 2007 at 05:54 pm 1167846862
So, one of my resolutions this year is not to watch junk or anything that doesn't make me feel better about watching it. We need to tell a husbands to get in the real world and stop watching so much TV for their idea of what they think the facts are..
January 3rd, 2007 at 06:17 pm 1167848228
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
January 3rd, 2007 at 06:30 pm 1167849047
January 3rd, 2007 at 06:42 pm 1167849726
What good does it do to spend $2.89 for a package of cookies that will cost me a huge $150.00 bottle of "name your diet pill poision" of the moment to get the additional weight off?
What would happen if I just didn't buy the cookies?????
January 3rd, 2007 at 06:46 pm 1167849969
i agree, watching crappy TV makes me feel like crap and i'm trying to do it less. for instance, have you seen dr. 90210? not sure what channel it's on, but it's depressing and i won't watch it any more: makes me feel bad about myself when i have no reason to.
as for DH, i told him i'll put in the effort needed to look like 'insert starlet's name here' when he has a cut defined body like all the boy stars do
"However, being at a healthy weight, or a size 8, is within the means and abilities of most people and doesn't require a personal trainer, chef, etc. With that said, going from a size 22 to a size 8 is HARD... really HARD, even if it is possible."
that's part of my frustration, actually. if i, at a size 8, am tempted to feel humongo when i watch TV or walk into a store, i can't imagine what it's like for someone larger. it's unfair and unrealistic, but i guess so much of society has become unrealistic about so many things, not just weight. again, ties back in to finances this way...
January 3rd, 2007 at 07:06 pm 1167851192
I think her argument holds merit, no doubt, but I don't think it's an either-or proposition. Thing is, you too can stay fit exclusively through sheer willpower and effort. And in the end, no matter how much professional help you get (and yes, I agree they do make quite a bit of difference), you're still the one that ultimately has to work on it. As the saying goes, you can lead the horse to the water, but you can't make him drink it.
Again, I do agree with her to a point, but to me, money is like gas for the car. True, the more you have, the faster and further it can help you get somewhere. But in the end, you're still the one that has to drive it, and even without monetary aid, you can still get there with "your own two feet".
January 3rd, 2007 at 07:14 pm 1167851665
January 3rd, 2007 at 07:29 pm 1167852587
and BA, your right, most people can achieve reasonable goals without the absurd money, whether those goals are about weight or finances or health or whatever. it's the 'reasonable' i think folks tend to have issues with. seems to me so many folks don't set reasonable or realistic goals. or, when they want a drastic change, they aren't willing to put in the time, effort, and perhaps money that might be needed to get their 'on their own 2 feet'.
can i walk to san diego? without a doubt. will i put in the time, effort, and money needed to do so? don't think so...
January 3rd, 2007 at 07:33 pm 1167852787
January 4th, 2007 at 02:43 am 1167878598
and glad we all like the size 8....its mine too
as to violent acres I think the paragraph of To me, a new computer and a swanky townhouse are more important than living a healthy lifestyle. The pleasure I get from junk food and reality TV is more than I'll ever get from running a mile. really sums it up, money isn't stopping people from losing weight peoples own priorities are......(though some is due to genetics/education)
though I personally will pass on the running and the reality tv!
January 4th, 2007 at 02:22 pm 1167920555
January 4th, 2007 at 02:44 pm 1167921872
12/14 is my ideal size personally. (130 pounds?). I don't see the point in being much thinner.
Having an anorexic sister, the "thin ideal" infuriates me. Nothing like flipping through a magazine and seeing people in a size 8 or 10 considered plus size - whatever!!!!
Interestingly I Was watching Oprah last night and they were talking about the 3 distinguishing factors of class. It was teeth, weight and dialect. I guess more and more weight is a sign of lower class - interesting... I was kind of skeptical when they said there were 3 things that distinguish classes, but it is true, people with means have good teeth - they can afford to fix them. Just thought that was interesting the weight aspect with this article. More and more if you have more money you have more time and means to keep the weight off. I think fast food (cheap) plays a big part in that as well.
Oh yeah and coming from a very overweight family I love the attitude I get when I work on my weight. Like I don't deserve to lose weight because I look thin?????? BElieve me I rather lose 10 pounds now than 50 later. I have see my mother "diet" up to 300 pounds. On the flip side my dh's family think IA m absoutely obese - they are all natural size 0s. You just can't win, there is such a fine line between too small and too big, or is there even a line???
January 4th, 2007 at 02:53 pm 1167922422
as for the weight thing, well i'm kinda like monkeymama but on the other end of the spectrum, plus i think height does and realistically should play a role. i'm rather big boned (good german stock!) and high in muscle mass. so, when i was 115 lbs in college i was a size 7/8 b/c that's what size my hip bones are. now at 145 lbs i'm an 8/10. when i was 170 i was a size 12. sure i was healthy at 115 and would look OK, but why bother to lose 30 lbs to lose a pants size?
January 5th, 2007 at 01:31 am 1167960681
January 5th, 2007 at 03:29 am 1167967747
January 5th, 2007 at 06:01 am 1167976866
January 5th, 2007 at 07:09 am 1167980941
I once went out with a very thin young lady. My father told me she looked like arefugee from an iron lung. Truth be told she was so bony it was uncomfortable snuggling! Real women have meat on their bones. Just my .02 cents!
January 5th, 2007 at 01:59 pm 1168005550
At age 21, I was 5ft tall, 110 lbs, and wore a size 4.
Although I wear the same size, I swear that clothes manufacturers must have decided to make the size bigger in measurements over the years. The size 4 suit I wore 10 years ago does not fit whatsoever like the size 4 suit I bought the other day. What gives? I think society realizes that the general population is larger than before and to soften the blow a bit, clothes makers are making their current size 4's fit what would've fit a 6 or 8 years ago. Does any of that make sense?
Anyway, I'm with you all... it's all a matter of personal body style. Not everyone can be or should be a size 0. I too wish that our society didn't focus in on so much on those that are paid to look so thin...
January 5th, 2007 at 02:19 pm 1168006745
She eventually stopped everything and started walking everyday with a friend in our neighborhood. She lost so much weight from walking that she actually had to cut back. I think that walking is a great exercise because you are breathing fresh air and you're moving your arms and legs normally.
January 10th, 2007 at 07:50 pm 1168458606
January 11th, 2007 at 10:03 pm 1168552991
She has a good point about quality food at high price, although I disagree with this article. Maybe it's because I'm Asian, not Chinese nor indulge in Chinese food. I think part of the problem is that people don't know how to make healthy, flavorful and inexpensive dishes without adding fat, cheese and butter. Last time I checked a cook book, 90% of the dishes in there were useless to me since they were full of the dreaded butter, cheeses and barely any spices. The funny thing was that Expensive Olive Oil was suggested to offset all that fattening ingredients and to make the dishes healthy. I had quite a laugh at that.
January 13th, 2007 at 09:16 pm 1168722981