You call this FAT?!?

I was at the tail-end of my lunch hour yesterday and was grabbing some contact solution at the drug store. While standing in line saw the cover of People mag. It had Tyra Banks in this strapless swimsuit and the headline "You Call This Fat?". I don't keep up on news/drama so I didn't know, but apparently she's being called 'porkchop' and being criticized for recently putting on 30lbs. This brings her total weight at 5'10" to 161lbs. (hmmm I'm that height... that's a really healthy weight). So she posed in this little suit and is totally throwing their criticism in their faces and pointing out how absurd it is. Disclaimer: I only saw the cover, didn't open the article. All the same: GOOD FOR HER!

I just had to share. It's about time models started standing up and making a big deal out of the rail-thin standards. I've been on both sides of this. For years I couldn't put on a POUND and had no curves (heck I would have loved them) and was accused of being anorexic...until a run in with birth control that, well, let's just say my body didn't seem to enjoy - overnight (*grumble*). But even then I noticed my friends around me 'watching their diet' and such and felt as if I was expected to do the same. It's pathetic that today little girls are feeling such pressure that they've begun taking appetite suppressants at 12!! And same goes for obesity, it's far FAR too common in kids these days. Good old American eating habits huh? McDonald's anyone? And parents just don't seem to care! Or at least notice. I definitely see the need for a 'healthier' medium to be established in the modeling industry. I was pretty impressed with Tyra's stand.

And may I say I love what she says down there "If I had lower self esteem I would probably be starving myself right now." Because, isn't that what it comes down to? Self-esteem? I know it was for me. Thinking that for some reason because I no longer looked like the girls in the magazines, people would see me differently. I've only recently learned not to dislike the 'new me' so much, or, as the media would have me do. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean I'm letting myself go. I'm busting my ass to get back into climbing shape for the season, better shape than ever this year hopefully. It just means I have a healthy view of myself. I don't cringe when looking in the mirror anymore. I can appreciate my good proportions and good features, and realize that with hard work I can improve on the 'bad'. Maybe never get that perfectly chiseled yet feminine body I'd like to have back (crossing my fingers! dammit I'll try!) but be okay with being in shape and in good health.



I sent a version of this originally to a few girlfriends, and it got such a great string of email discussions going in different directions on the subject that I had to post it. Hopefully they'll take the time to impart their wisdom on here as well.