Re: Some background info ...

[Guest guest]

,

I can really relate to a lot of what you wrote. I, too, gained a lot

of weight while living a broad (England, in fact, just like you), and

I, too, never appreciated my body when I was at my leanest. I was at

14% bf, and I still thought my butt and thighs were huge. Now I look

at pictures and wonder what the hell I was thinking. I looked great,

yet I wasn't happy. I hope that when I get there again I can truly

appreciate what I have.

DAni

[Guest guest]

Hi Dani,

It is so hard, I remember being younger and having my entire view of women

being distorted. I always thought only thin was acceptable and you had to

be stick thin. I remember trying on prom dresses one year and having a

horrible time because the dresses were cut narrow. Now when I look at young

girls who think that they have to look like Britanny, they don't have good

role models.

I think you have to get older and get more comfortable with you, and then

you feel better about you. I know the next time around I will be damn

proud. I also get a lot of weird feed back from my family, They were anti

my workouts for a long time, so that was tough. It is better now.

At 03:17 PM 09/26/2002 +0000, you wrote:

>,

>

>I can really relate to a lot of what you wrote. I, too, gained a lot

>of weight while living a broad (England, in fact, just like you), and

>I, too, never appreciated my body when I was at my leanest. I was at

>14% bf, and I still thought my butt and thighs were huge. Now I look

>at pictures and wonder what the hell I was thinking. I looked great,

>yet I wasn't happy. I hope that when I get there again I can truly

>appreciate what I have.

>

>DAni

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I gradded in 94 and I certainly don't remember it being that bad

either. It's amazing how less than 10 years can make such a drastic

difference. I don't remember obsessing the way I do now over my body

image in highschool. I'm sure there was still just as big of a drive

to be thin back then, but right now, it seems like you have to be

thin to feel good. Maybe it was then too? I might have been more

obsessed with boys and parties to care, now that I have no life I've

only got myself to obsess over. lol Maybe the baggy look will come

back? The 80's styles are already appearing again (ACK) so maybe

grunge will be back soon enough, and all these teeny tiny clothes

will be lame. I hope not until I can fit into them! (did I just say

that??)

> ,

>

> I totally agree. The worst part is that Britney Spears is actually

> one of the " bigger " role models out there. At least she looks like

> she works out and has some muscle mass. Look at Aguilera

> or any of the MTV vjs (especially Molly Sims, who looks like

death).

> There is a definite scarcity of strong role models for young girls

> today.

>

> I actually don't remember it being this bad when I was in high

school

> (I graduated in 93). The style of clothing was different, too,

none

> of these tight-ass, low-rise pants and tiny mid-drift tops. When I

> was in high school, polo shirts and baggy jeans were in, and they

> were much more forgiving of different body sizes. Now if you're

not

> a size 2, you can't wear any of the " cool " clothes. It's so sad.

>

> Unfortunately, my body image has gotten worse, not better, as I've

> gotten older. I never used to obsess this much.

>

> Dani

[Guest guest]

,

I think there's been a drive to be thin since the 60s, but I also

think that it IS getting worse, because now the " look " is to be super

skinny yet still toned with huge knockers to boot, an impossible

ideal for any woman. I resent the images of " ideal " female figures

that the tv and print media portray.

The body was just not as exposed in the 80s and early to mid 90s.

Remember the cool tv shows then? Cosby, Family Ties, Seinfeld--no

belly buttons there. Now we have Friends (with weighing

90 pounds) and a plethora of WB shows that are ALL about skinny,

little, tight bodies.

The greatest irony is that, despite bitching about this, I still

yearn to look like that. There will always be that part of me that

wants to be too skinny; it's disgusting and wrong, but I can't help

it. I've been hard-wired for so long now, it's hard to quit cold

turkey.

dani

> > ,

> >

> > I totally agree. The worst part is that Britney Spears is

actually

> > one of the " bigger " role models out there. At least she looks

like

> > she works out and has some muscle mass. Look at

Aguilera

> > or any of the MTV vjs (especially Molly Sims, who looks like

> death).

> > There is a definite scarcity of strong role models for young

girls

> > today.

> >

> > I actually don't remember it being this bad when I was in high

> school

> > (I graduated in 93). The style of clothing was different, too,

> none

> > of these tight-ass, low-rise pants and tiny mid-drift tops. When

I

> > was in high school, polo shirts and baggy jeans were in, and they

> > were much more forgiving of different body sizes. Now if you're

> not

> > a size 2, you can't wear any of the " cool " clothes. It's so sad.

> >

> > Unfortunately, my body image has gotten worse, not better, as

I've

> > gotten older. I never used to obsess this much.

> >

> > Dani

[Guest guest]

I graduated high school in 1983 and fashion hardly existed! It was all

t-shirts and jeans.The idea of wearing stomach-baring tops would be

shocking then. I can't believe the outfits girls wear now.

run_girl_la wrote:

> ,

>

> I totally agree. The worst part is that Britney Spears is actually

> one of the " bigger " role models out there. At least she looks like

> she works out and has some muscle mass. Look at Aguilera

> or any of the MTV vjs (especially Molly Sims, who looks like death).

> There is a definite scarcity of strong role models for young girls

> today.

>

> I actually don't remember it being this bad when I was in high school

> (I graduated in 93). The style of clothing was different, too, none

> of these tight-ass, low-rise pants and tiny mid-drift tops. When I

> was in high school, polo shirts and baggy jeans were in, and they

> were much more forgiving of different body sizes. Now if you're not

> a size 2, you can't wear any of the " cool " clothes. It's so sad.

>

> Unfortunately, my body image has gotten worse, not better, as I've

> gotten older. I never used to obsess this much.

>

> Dani

>

>

>

>

> > >,

> > >

> > >I can really relate to a lot of what you wrote. I, too, gained a

> lot

> > >of weight while living a broad (England, in fact, just like you),

> and

> > >I, too, never appreciated my body when I was at my leanest. I was

> at

> > >14% bf, and I still thought my butt and thighs were huge. Now I

> look

> > >at pictures and wonder what the hell I was thinking. I looked

> great,

> > >yet I wasn't happy. I hope that when I get there again I can truly

> > >appreciate what I have.

> > >

> > >DAni

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

And when will these damn tummy tops go away?!!! I am so sick of every

music artist having a rock hard belly and a model's face. When will true

artists emerge again?

Myrna Landers wrote:

> I graduated high school in 1983 and fashion hardly existed! It was all

> t-shirts and jeans.The idea of wearing stomach-baring tops would be

> shocking then. I can't believe the outfits girls wear now.

>

> run_girl_la wrote:

>

> > ,

> >

> > I totally agree. The worst part is that Britney Spears is actually

> > one of the " bigger " role models out there. At least she looks like

> > she works out and has some muscle mass. Look at Aguilera

> > or any of the MTV vjs (especially Molly Sims, who looks like death).

> > There is a definite scarcity of strong role models for young girls

> > today.

> >

> > I actually don't remember it being this bad when I was in high school

> > (I graduated in 93). The style of clothing was different, too, none

> > of these tight-ass, low-rise pants and tiny mid-drift tops. When I

> > was in high school, polo shirts and baggy jeans were in, and they

> > were much more forgiving of different body sizes. Now if you're not

> > a size 2, you can't wear any of the " cool " clothes. It's so sad.

> >

> > Unfortunately, my body image has gotten worse, not better, as I've

> > gotten older. I never used to obsess this much.

> >

> > Dani

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > > >,

> > > >

> > > >I can really relate to a lot of what you wrote. I, too, gained a

> > lot

> > > >of weight while living a broad (England, in fact, just like you),

> > and

> > > >I, too, never appreciated my body when I was at my leanest. I was

> > at

> > > >14% bf, and I still thought my butt and thighs were huge. Now I

> > look

> > > >at pictures and wonder what the hell I was thinking. I looked

> > great,

> > > >yet I wasn't happy. I hope that when I get there again I can truly

> > > >appreciate what I have.

> > > >

> > > >DAni

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

You are right, it's getting worse and worse... We should just

disconnect ourselves from pop culture all together, because I'm like

you, I want to be skinny even though I know it's wrong. Well maybe

not skinny, more like Britteny skinny. *sigh*

> ,

>

> I think there's been a drive to be thin since the 60s, but I also

> think that it IS getting worse, because now the " look " is to be

super

> skinny yet still toned with huge knockers to boot, an impossible

> ideal for any woman. I resent the images of " ideal " female figures

> that the tv and print media portray.

>

> The body was just not as exposed in the 80s and early to mid 90s.

> Remember the cool tv shows then? Cosby, Family Ties, Seinfeld--no

> belly buttons there. Now we have Friends (with

weighing

> 90 pounds) and a plethora of WB shows that are ALL about skinny,

> little, tight bodies.

>

> The greatest irony is that, despite bitching about this, I still

> yearn to look like that. There will always be that part of me that

> wants to be too skinny; it's disgusting and wrong, but I can't help

> it. I've been hard-wired for so long now, it's hard to quit cold

> turkey.

>

> dani

[Guest guest]

I also look at Britney Spears and consider her body, my " dream "

body. But then I think that wouldn't I get laughed off the face of

the earth if I tried to wear some of her get-ups in public. I think

it's the whole package we tend to admire - the tousled hair, the

tanned glowing skin, the designer clothing - even if I got the body,

I still wouldn't look like those rock star girls. So what am I

really trying to acheive - I think we just need to be the best we can

be and try to find role models with healthy body images. Hard, I

know - I too have been pre-programmed that models and entertainers

seem to matter more than the rest of us. Sadly, alot of that came

from my own father drooling over Baywatch or Wild On - if he paid

half that much attention to my wonderful mom, they'd be alot happier!

Just my 2 cents.

Leah

> > ,

> >

> > I think there's been a drive to be thin since the 60s, but I also

> > think that it IS getting worse, because now the " look " is to be

> super

> > skinny yet still toned with huge knockers to boot, an impossible

> > ideal for any woman. I resent the images of " ideal " female

figures

> > that the tv and print media portray.

> >

> > The body was just not as exposed in the 80s and early to mid

90s.

> > Remember the cool tv shows then? Cosby, Family Ties, Seinfeld--

no

> > belly buttons there. Now we have Friends (with

> weighing

> > 90 pounds) and a plethora of WB shows that are ALL about skinny,

> > little, tight bodies.

> >

> > The greatest irony is that, despite bitching about this, I still

> > yearn to look like that. There will always be that part of me

that

> > wants to be too skinny; it's disgusting and wrong, but I can't

help

> > it. I've been hard-wired for so long now, it's hard to quit cold

> > turkey.

> >

> > dani

[Guest guest]

Speaking of healthy role models... Are there any? I mean celebrities

of course. Everyone I can think that used to be a healthy looking

celebrity is now a skinny branch like the rest of them. Like that

girl from Titanic... I can't remember her name now. I used to think

she was so gorgeous, but then she went scrawny too.

> I also look at Britney Spears and consider her body, my " dream "

> body. But then I think that wouldn't I get laughed off the face of

> the earth if I tried to wear some of her get-ups in public. I

think

> it's the whole package we tend to admire - the tousled hair, the

> tanned glowing skin, the designer clothing - even if I got the

body,

> I still wouldn't look like those rock star girls. So what am I

> really trying to acheive - I think we just need to be the best we

can

> be and try to find role models with healthy body images. Hard, I

> know - I too have been pre-programmed that models and entertainers

> seem to matter more than the rest of us. Sadly, alot of that came

> from my own father drooling over Baywatch or Wild On - if he paid

> half that much attention to my wonderful mom, they'd be alot

happier!

[Guest guest]

Speaking of healthy role models... Are there any? I mean celebrities

of course. Everyone I can think that used to be a healthy looking

celebrity is now a skinny branch like the rest of them. Like that

girl from Titanic... I can't remember her name now. I used to think

she was so gorgeous, but then she went scrawny too.

> I also look at Britney Spears and consider her body, my " dream "

> body. But then I think that wouldn't I get laughed off the face of

> the earth if I tried to wear some of her get-ups in public. I

think

> it's the whole package we tend to admire - the tousled hair, the

> tanned glowing skin, the designer clothing - even if I got the

body,

> I still wouldn't look like those rock star girls. So what am I

> really trying to acheive - I think we just need to be the best we

can

> be and try to find role models with healthy body images. Hard, I

> know - I too have been pre-programmed that models and entertainers

> seem to matter more than the rest of us. Sadly, alot of that came

> from my own father drooling over Baywatch or Wild On - if he paid

> half that much attention to my wonderful mom, they'd be alot

happier!

[Guest guest]

> Speaking of healthy role models... Are there any? I mean celebrities

> of course.

My inspirations:

Venus and Serena

Hamilton (a la Terminator 2)

Madonna's arms o' plenty (and after two kids?)

Sigourney Weaver (a la Alien*

http://sfstory.free.fr/images/Alien4/20.jpg )

.... and then, natch, a buncha fitness models.

-- gnat!

[Guest guest]

> My inspirations:

*snip*

And, my gawd, how could I forget Bif Naked (and yes, she's fully clothed):

http://216.40.206.22/apc/bif/teenpeople2.jpg

http://216.40.206.22/apc/bif/incite4.jpg

She has the arms I want. I really wish she'd let me have them soon.

Bif does kickboxing, sings some great pro-girl rock (you may have heard

her in a car commercial that's on now, " I Love Myself Today " ), and was the

voice of a videogame character. She's my hero!

-- gnat! (wouldn't mind her abs, either)

[Guest guest]

OH! I can't believe I forgot about her, I love her! She is just so

gorgeous and she looks damn good. And she's from my town, she's

quite big here. Great, I've found my role model. And if my hubby

didn't hate them so much, I'd love to have all of her tattoos too!

> > My inspirations:

> *snip*

>

> And, my gawd, how could I forget Bif Naked (and yes, she's fully

clothed):

>

> http://216.40.206.22/apc/bif/teenpeople2.jpg

> http://216.40.206.22/apc/bif/incite4.jpg

>

> She has the arms I want. I really wish she'd let me have them soon.

>

> Bif does kickboxing, sings some great pro-girl rock (you may have

heard

> her in a car commercial that's on now, " I Love Myself Today " ), and

was the

> voice of a videogame character. She's my hero!

>

> -- gnat! (wouldn't mind her abs, either)

[Guest guest]

> beauty and not on inner. So without even realizing it, people learn to

> judge others by appearance, and thus begins a vicious cycle.............

This is so true. I have a handicapped son. Basically, some of his joints

don't work right and some of his muscles don't have much muscle mass. Even

if he could lift weights (he is four now, so I don't know what he will be

able to do but the limited joint movement and hand problems will make it

rough or impossible), he will never have even " normal " looking arms.

Sometimes when I look at him, I am reminded that someday women are going to

be so shallow as to judge him by it. It is easy to say they will be the ones

to miss out, but he is the one that is going to have the real pain. He still

don't completely believe that he deals with things that other kids his age

don't have to. So, he has a good self esteem. But, it breaks my heart. In

the end he will probably give me the best DIL (I will get to have four.)

because she will be the one that sees more than the cover. Oh yeah, and she

will be one smart cookie for marrying him. ;-)

Hope that wasn't a soapbox I was standing on,

WA

[Guest guest]

Hi Dani, and whoever else is reading this,

Isn't it terrible that we allow our body image to get distorted by the

appearance of the media? I think what bothers me even more, is that the

female is expected to have that " look " . The media also teaches us to focus

only on pretty and beautiful and skinny, but it only focuses on outer

beauty and not on inner. So without even realizing it, people learn to

judge others by appearance, and thus begins a vicious cycle.............

At 04:05 PM 09/26/2002 +0000, you wrote:

>,

>

>I totally agree. The worst part is that Britney Spears is actually

>one of the " bigger " role models out there. At least she looks like

>she works out and has some muscle mass. Look at Aguilera

>or any of the MTV vjs (especially Molly Sims, who looks like death).

>There is a definite scarcity of strong role models for young girls

>today.

>

>I actually don't remember it being this bad when I was in high school

>(I graduated in 93). The style of clothing was different, too, none

>of these tight-ass, low-rise pants and tiny mid-drift tops. When I

>was in high school, polo shirts and baggy jeans were in, and they

>were much more forgiving of different body sizes. Now if you're not

>a size 2, you can't wear any of the " cool " clothes. It's so sad.

>

>Unfortunately, my body image has gotten worse, not better, as I've

>gotten older. I never used to obsess this much.

>

>Dani

>

>

>

>

> > >,

> > >

> > >I can really relate to a lot of what you wrote. I, too, gained a

>lot

> > >of weight while living a broad (England, in fact, just like you),

>and

> > >I, too, never appreciated my body when I was at my leanest. I was

>at

> > >14% bf, and I still thought my butt and thighs were huge. Now I

>look

> > >at pictures and wonder what the hell I was thinking. I looked

>great,

> > >yet I wasn't happy. I hope that when I get there again I can truly

> > >appreciate what I have.

> > >

> > >DAni

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I know, I feel myself going, why can't I look like a super model each day,

have perfect hair, makeup by 10 pounds thinner, be doing everything

wonderfully eating well always and working out? Society places this super

women role on us today, expecting us to excel at every portion of our life

at once, How are we supposed to do that?? I mean in reality it is not possible,

At 04:34 PM 09/26/2002 +0000, you wrote:

>I gradded in 94 and I certainly don't remember it being that bad

>either. It's amazing how less than 10 years can make such a drastic

>difference. I don't remember obsessing the way I do now over my body

>image in highschool. I'm sure there was still just as big of a drive

>to be thin back then, but right now, it seems like you have to be

>thin to feel good. Maybe it was then too? I might have been more

>obsessed with boys and parties to care, now that I have no life I've

>only got myself to obsess over. lol Maybe the baggy look will come

>back? The 80's styles are already appearing again (ACK) so maybe

>grunge will be back soon enough, and all these teeny tiny clothes

>will be lame. I hope not until I can fit into them! (did I just say

>that??)

>

>

>

>

> > ,

> >

> > I totally agree. The worst part is that Britney Spears is actually

> > one of the " bigger " role models out there. At least she looks like

> > she works out and has some muscle mass. Look at Aguilera

> > or any of the MTV vjs (especially Molly Sims, who looks like

>death).

> > There is a definite scarcity of strong role models for young girls

> > today.

> >

> > I actually don't remember it being this bad when I was in high

>school

> > (I graduated in 93). The style of clothing was different, too,

>none

> > of these tight-ass, low-rise pants and tiny mid-drift tops. When I

> > was in high school, polo shirts and baggy jeans were in, and they

> > were much more forgiving of different body sizes. Now if you're

>not

> > a size 2, you can't wear any of the " cool " clothes. It's so sad.

> >

> > Unfortunately, my body image has gotten worse, not better, as I've

> > gotten older. I never used to obsess this much.

> >

> > Dani

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Please,

look at Brittany, what kind of image does she give off? it is okay to be

half naked and sell your body to get a man's attention?? That is crap, but

the thing is, the younger girls see that and think they need to go to

school dressed like that, or eat less to look like that.

I have a subscription to Self, and I won't be getting it anymore. Last

month there was a huge article about how to look like the stars and if they

can do it then you can do it. I was so disgusted, one that is there job to

look like that, they can afford all of the meals, cooks, ect to make it

happen, and two, why should society expect women to look like that?? I know

that I'm not always comfortable in every situation due to my outward

appearance, and that is silly!!! It is really difficult, especially when

you see the stars get smaller and smaller. Anyone seen Whitney Housten

lately, she looks terrible!!

At 06:46 PM 09/26/2002 +0000, you wrote:

>You are right, it's getting worse and worse... We should just

>disconnect ourselves from pop culture all together, because I'm like

>you, I want to be skinny even though I know it's wrong. Well maybe

>not skinny, more like Britteny skinny. *sigh*

>

>

>

>

> > ,

> >

> > I think there's been a drive to be thin since the 60s, but I also

> > think that it IS getting worse, because now the " look " is to be

>super

> > skinny yet still toned with huge knockers to boot, an impossible

> > ideal for any woman. I resent the images of " ideal " female figures

> > that the tv and print media portray.

> >

> > The body was just not as exposed in the 80s and early to mid 90s.

> > Remember the cool tv shows then? Cosby, Family Ties, Seinfeld--no

> > belly buttons there. Now we have Friends (with

>weighing

> > 90 pounds) and a plethora of WB shows that are ALL about skinny,

> > little, tight bodies.

> >

> > The greatest irony is that, despite bitching about this, I still

> > yearn to look like that. There will always be that part of me that

> > wants to be too skinny; it's disgusting and wrong, but I can't help

> > it. I've been hard-wired for so long now, it's hard to quit cold

> > turkey.

> >

> > dani

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I agree about the impact of men. I remember dating a guy in high school

that always looked at other women when I was with him. I mean now I realize

he was a complete ass, but it still bothered me. I work at a small grocery

store part time during college, and there is always a rack of airbrushed

men's mags, sometimes I wonder if they know what real is.

At 07:02 PM 09/26/2002 +0000, you wrote:

>I also look at Britney Spears and consider her body, my " dream "

>body. But then I think that wouldn't I get laughed off the face of

>the earth if I tried to wear some of her get-ups in public. I think

>it's the whole package we tend to admire - the tousled hair, the

>tanned glowing skin, the designer clothing - even if I got the body,

>I still wouldn't look like those rock star girls. So what am I

>really trying to acheive - I think we just need to be the best we can

>be and try to find role models with healthy body images. Hard, I

>know - I too have been pre-programmed that models and entertainers

>seem to matter more than the rest of us. Sadly, alot of that came

>from my own father drooling over Baywatch or Wild On - if he paid

>half that much attention to my wonderful mom, they'd be alot happier!

>

>Just my 2 cents.

>

>Leah

>

>

>

> > > ,

> > >

> > > I think there's been a drive to be thin since the 60s, but I also

> > > think that it IS getting worse, because now the " look " is to be

> > super

> > > skinny yet still toned with huge knockers to boot, an impossible

> > > ideal for any woman. I resent the images of " ideal " female

>figures

> > > that the tv and print media portray.

> > >

> > > The body was just not as exposed in the 80s and early to mid

>90s.

> > > Remember the cool tv shows then? Cosby, Family Ties, Seinfeld--

>no

> > > belly buttons there. Now we have Friends (with

> > weighing

> > > 90 pounds) and a plethora of WB shows that are ALL about skinny,

> > > little, tight bodies.

> > >

> > > The greatest irony is that, despite bitching about this, I still

> > > yearn to look like that. There will always be that part of me

>that

> > > wants to be too skinny; it's disgusting and wrong, but I can't

>help

> > > it. I've been hard-wired for so long now, it's hard to quit cold

> > > turkey.

> > >

> > > dani

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I agree, . Britney's clothes have gotten more and more

revealing. Sorry if anyone is a fan, but I don't think she has much

talent; it's all just about her look. Strip her of the clothes and

the makeup, and she's not all that, yet there are girls dying

(literally) to look like her.

As for magazine, any of the main stream ones (including the so-

called " fitness " mags, like Self, Shape and Fitness, not to mention

Elle, Glamour, Cosmo, etc.) feature stick-think models with barely

any muscle tone who certainly don't look like they work out. It

never ceases to piss me off! The only mags I read these days

(besides the New Yorker) are Oxygen and Muscle and Fitness Hers. At

least they utilize fitness models who look good and buff.

dani

> > > ,

> > >

> > > I think there's been a drive to be thin since the 60s, but I

also

> > > think that it IS getting worse, because now the " look " is to be

> >super

> > > skinny yet still toned with huge knockers to boot, an impossible

> > > ideal for any woman. I resent the images of " ideal " female

figures

> > > that the tv and print media portray.

> > >

> > > The body was just not as exposed in the 80s and early to mid

90s.

> > > Remember the cool tv shows then? Cosby, Family Ties, Seinfeld--

no

> > > belly buttons there. Now we have Friends (with

> >weighing

> > > 90 pounds) and a plethora of WB shows that are ALL about skinny,

> > > little, tight bodies.

> > >

> > > The greatest irony is that, despite bitching about this, I still

> > > yearn to look like that. There will always be that part of me

that

> > > wants to be too skinny; it's disgusting and wrong, but I can't

help

> > > it. I've been hard-wired for so long now, it's hard to quit

cold

> > > turkey.

> > >

> > > dani

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

What really bothers me is that I find myself doing this too. I

usually catch myself right away and stop, I've got to retrain my

brain.

>So without even realizing it, people learn to

> judge others by appearance, and thus begins a vicious

cycle.............

>

>

[Guest guest]

And add to that list, being perfect moms, wives, cooks,

housekeepers...

> I know, I feel myself going, why can't I look like a super model

each day,

> have perfect hair, makeup by 10 pounds thinner, be doing everything

> wonderfully eating well always and working out? Society places this

super

> women role on us today, expecting us to excel at every portion of

our life

> at once, How are we supposed to do that?? I mean in reality it is

not possible,

>

>

[Guest guest]

I totally agree.

With that Self issue, I read that too. I wasn't impressed either,

they spend unreasonable hours in the gym, have people to cook for

them, everything a normal person doesn't have access too. But still

we are expected to look like that, or at least want to look like

that.

And with Whitney, I think hers is more likely a drug addiction than

an eating/working out thing. I feel really sorry for her, she looks

awful.

> Please,

>

> look at Brittany, what kind of image does she give off? it is okay

to be

> half naked and sell your body to get a man's attention?? That is

crap, but

> the thing is, the younger girls see that and think they need to go

to

> school dressed like that, or eat less to look like that.

>

> I have a subscription to Self, and I won't be getting it anymore.

Last

> month there was a huge article about how to look like the stars and

if they

> can do it then you can do it. I was so disgusted, one that is there

job to

> look like that, they can afford all of the meals, cooks, ect to

make it

> happen, and two, why should society expect women to look like

that?? I know

> that I'm not always comfortable in every situation due to my

outward

> appearance, and that is silly!!! It is really difficult, especially

when

> you see the stars get smaller and smaller. Anyone seen Whitney

Housten

> lately, she looks terrible!!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Whitney definitely has a drug problem. Her appearance and behaviour

are out of control. She is so freaking skinny. The thing is, women

look at her and admire! We live in a sick society indeed.

> > Please,

> >

> > look at Brittany, what kind of image does she give off? it is

okay

> to be

> > half naked and sell your body to get a man's attention?? That is

> crap, but

> > the thing is, the younger girls see that and think they need to

go

> to

> > school dressed like that, or eat less to look like that.

> >

> > I have a subscription to Self, and I won't be getting it anymore.

> Last

> > month there was a huge article about how to look like the stars

and

> if they

> > can do it then you can do it. I was so disgusted, one that is

there

> job to

> > look like that, they can afford all of the meals, cooks, ect to

> make it

> > happen, and two, why should society expect women to look like

> that?? I know

> > that I'm not always comfortable in every situation due to my

> outward

> > appearance, and that is silly!!! It is really difficult,

especially

> when

> > you see the stars get smaller and smaller. Anyone seen Whitney

> Housten

> > lately, she looks terrible!!

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Personally I don't liek the way models look. They're too skinny. I'd

wanna look more toned with soem muscle. That's they type I'm aiming

for.

> > > ,

> > >

> > > I totally agree. The worst part is that Britney Spears is

actually

> > > one of the " bigger " role models out there. At least she looks

like

> > > she works out and has some muscle mass. Look at

Aguilera

> > > or any of the MTV vjs (especially Molly Sims, who looks like

> >death).

> > > There is a definite scarcity of strong role models for young

girls

> > > today.

> > >

> > > I actually don't remember it being this bad when I was in high

> >school

> > > (I graduated in 93). The style of clothing was different, too,

> >none

> > > of these tight-ass, low-rise pants and tiny mid-drift tops.

When I

> > > was in high school, polo shirts and baggy jeans were in, and

they

> > > were much more forgiving of different body sizes. Now if you're

> >not

> > > a size 2, you can't wear any of the " cool " clothes. It's so

sad.

> > >

> > > Unfortunately, my body image has gotten worse, not better, as

I've

> > > gotten older. I never used to obsess this much.

> > >

> > > Dani

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I have a brother who sounds allot like your son, but he's 23. What

has your son been diagnosed with? And you are right, he will give

you the nicest DIL. My brother has has had some really hard times,

he still does, but the girl he is seeing right now is the sweetest

lady. I don't think this will be the one for him, as she lives in

Australia and they don't see eachother much, it's an online

relationship really, but I know there is someone out there for him,

because he is such a great guy.

> > beauty and not on inner. So without even realizing it, people

learn to

> > judge others by appearance, and thus begins a vicious

cycle.............

>

> This is so true. I have a handicapped son. Basically, some of his

joints

> don't work right and some of his muscles don't have much muscle

mass. Even

> if he could lift weights (he is four now, so I don't know what he

will be

> able to do but the limited joint movement and hand problems will

make it

> rough or impossible), he will never have even " normal " looking

arms.

> Sometimes when I look at him, I am reminded that someday women are

going to

> be so shallow as to judge him by it. It is easy to say they will

be the ones

> to miss out, but he is the one that is going to have the real

pain. He still

> don't completely believe that he deals with things that other kids

his age

> don't have to. So, he has a good self esteem. But, it breaks my

heart. In

> the end he will probably give me the best DIL (I will get to have

four.)

> because she will be the one that sees more than the cover. Oh

yeah, and she

> will be one smart cookie for marrying him. ;-)

>

> Hope that wasn't a soapbox I was standing on,

> WA