why don't we just stop talking about body shape and size full stop?

[donajimena]

I'm in Wales and watching #welsh teens :my perfect body. Its quite rightly focusing on how the media doesn't portray real life (photoshop etc) its touching on eating disorders.
Then we have plus size Megan (iirc) who is now entering beauty pageants and wants to show that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes..
why can't we just all stop talking about bodies? Full stop. How has it come to this?
I'm very thin. Naturally, but I do work out a few times a week. Because I am quite thin I exercise for my bones and cardiovascular and above anything else my depression (which exercise has pretty much alleviated)
I had a conversation today in which a woman remarked when I said I was off to a dance class 'oh you really don't need to lose any more weight' no I don't but I quite like to think I am warding off osteoporosis, diabetes and heart disease... grrr

Respect for Women
I'm outraged so many women feel ashamed of their bodies, or judged.

Never judge ourselves, accept criticism, or criticise other women for weight, shape, prettiness, style, or any other aspect of appearance
Don't fall into that trap.
Weight & clothes size are numbers, nothing to do with self-worth.

Maintaining a certain waist and weight is something I do for my own benefit, to maintain my ability to enjoy the gym, to perform everyday tasks of walking, lifting, running for a bus.
To increase my chances of avoiding certain diseases & conditions as I age.
I don't judge others who make different decisions, or who have had different experiences.
I'm lucky that I have always liked exercise, but I know that a catastrophic accident or illness could render me incapable of this.

I grew up when slim was normal, so I've never been bothered or emotional about weight.
However, there was great pressure to dress smartly, have perfect makeup, high heels, look glam & sophisticated.
I've just never accepted that superficial crap, or socialised with people who expect it of me.

My body, my choice.
I live in sports gear, jeans, Nike trainers. I've worn a dress or skirt maybe 5 times in 40 years
I often don't wear makeup.
My hair is cut very short, so it takes 5 seconds to brush.
I am happy with how I look and I am so much more than how I look.
Accept me as I am.
I am almost 60 and I still like my body. It is strong, fit & - touch wood - healthy. That's all I want.

Helena I didn't see anyone minimise bullying at all. Just people saying that bullying should not be a barrier to children not becoming obese or tackling their obesity. Most posters acknowledged teachers need to be more on point with tackling bullying as a whole.

On topic, I don't think we should stop talking about weight and body size. I do however think it's interesting how this is very much a female issue.

Also bigchocs comment. I don't like how people put self worth in their weight size looks etc. I am all for people acknowledging the health aspect, but for individuals to put their self worth into their size? No. Weight shape looks shouldn't define a person. My confidence took a massive knock when I became obese and I felt guilty for existing sometimes. I found I couldn't look people in the face.

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3525996/Controversial-gambling-company-Fruity-King-spark-fury-Amy-Schumer-plus-size-jibe.html

That's fucking vile.

Can't stand the woman but for someone to think that is an acceptable thing to say is just... unbelievable.

Have you seen the thread about that article? It's utterly depressing with women judging her, each other or justifying their own size/weight. I did mention how disgusting it was but was met with 'yeah but she talks about it herself, so that's ok', it's not ok though it's just depressing.

It's an issue created by men due to objectifying women (rather than for health reasons) then carried on by women conditioned to think it's ok compare pictures and judge dress sizes. I just want to scream at them to open their eyes.

Can you link please Strawberry? I haven't seen it.

Like I said I don't like her but I refuse to make excuses for comments like that.

On another note I do wonder how she became so popular and I've heard her touted as a feminist icon. A feminist if she so chooses to identify as on (why not) but hardly an icon

link

Thanks Strawberry.

After reading I'm confused as to why Amy said she was one size when she isn't (although perhaps she made a comment in jest and it was later taken the wrong way) but does it need a 6 page thread analysing it :/ It just seems deliberately inflammatory. There's our prime minister lying about sodding Panama and people are sat debating a lie about dress size.

Is it to do with the change between American and UK sizes? I'm always confused by them.

Best example i can give of how these kind of attitudes become ingrained is someone telling me that i would be able to excersise off loose skin.

Oh for the love of god, have people said that you to Helena?

I spoke on the other thread about education. And this is where it needs to hit. I've found that people tend to go on facebook to ask questions. The last one I saw was 'i'm thinking about breastfeeding but i've heard it gives you saggy tits, what does everyone think'. The vast majority of replies were about how apparently it does, one poster commented about how the baby put weight on the boob and dragged it down, another was the baby sucking the nipple made it larger.... shit like that. And people accept this as truth. And then they will go out and give the same advice.

I've commented on such posts and tried to be nice, give them info to read but ended up being accused of being a 'know it all' and 'doesnt know anything' (despite what I do) so I get ignored and made to feel like a nob.

Ive had it said to me twice Grays by two different people. Both women im sad to say. Both older women too In the 50s to 60s age group i dont know if its connected but ive seen older women in our local Tesco picking up copies of Closer and Heat WHY?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/2613635-DH-constant-comments-on-weight

YANBU OP.

You can discuss health issues without discussing body shapes anyway so I am a bit about that. Almost all health concerns can negatively impact looks but we don't tend to talk about smokers wrinkles or yellow teeth. We talk about black lungs and what's going on in the inside. That's how weight should be discussed. Morbidly obese people don't tend to be that way because they forgot and accidentally ate too many pies anyway so mentally shaming them isn't going to help. It hurts and is more likely to do more harm.

Men don't have 400 words for their body. I've never heard a man say he prefers a double breasted suit because he's a 'modified apple' or any sort of nonsense.

*also fed up of showing "other kinds" of beauty too.

Ooh look I can be fat and objectified too! Weyhey. Oh look a disabled woman..but blokes still want to fuck her when we stick her in a bikini and make her look a bit passive . It's fucking depressing.

After reading I'm confused as to why Amy said she was one size when she isn't

She's American, she's not going to give her UK size out. She'd be a 12 UK.