This just really annoys me!

[tlbwriter]

I don't hear a lot of fat guys attack the media because guys with six packs or V-shaped bodies are in magazine adds or on television but women seem to go out of their way to attack other women. I've never heard of David Beckham for example refereed to as "not a real man".

I think there are a couple of reasons for this.

First, because "real" (aka average) men ARE shown in the media, to a much greater extent than average women. Look at all the shows with an overweight man who has a smokin' hot wife and/or girlfriend (Sopranos, World According to Jim, King of Queens, etc.) If a woman on TV is allowed to be overweight, she cannot have a smokin' hot husband or boyfriend - with a few exceptions, he has to be overweight too (Roseanne, Mike and Molly). So men are less likely to feel they are being held up to such a standard.

And second, because clothing choices for men are so different. Unless she's buying custom-made clothes, a woman cannot walk into a store and say "I want a pair of pleated pants with a 34" waistline and a 30" inseam." Womens' clothing assumes that if you have a certain waist size, you also have a certain hip size and a certain bust size. So men are much less likely to throw up their hands in frustration and say "Why isn't anyone making clothes that fit ME?????"

 

[SaraJayne]

Good gravy, first a thread about smokers, now a thread about the obese. Throw in a thread about spanking, how old boys should be before they're allowed to go to the public bathroom alone, lying about a 4 y/o's age to get them into the parks as a 3 y/o, which way the toilet paper roll should be hung on the spool and the old standby - resort mugs and reusing them - and we'll have run the gauntlet.

Full moon's not until Saturday, folks. Pace yourselves.

 

[The Pink Cupcake]

I've worked real damn hard to get into a healthy weight range, and now I'm not even real!!!??

But you are real Why would you think you weren't real? Be confident in yourself. Hold your head up high and know that it is just a silly little article.

Go get your hair done, mani/pedi it up, buy yourself some great makeup and a new outfit. You will feel great and not even think twice about "not being real". It's all how you carry yourself and how you feel inside.

I repeat: You are real

 

[princessmom29]

I'm reading an article on how this woman was asked by her mother to find a nice dress for her because she couldn't find anything in her size in the "regular stores." The mother is a size 16 (plus size) and the title of the article is How Fashion is Failing Real Women.

I've been on both sides of the spectrum, I've been a size 20 and a size 4, but for the life of me, I can't understand why plus size = REAL WOMEN. I mean, what is that saying about women who are able to take care of their families, and also take care of themselves, i.e. eat right and exercise?? Are healthy woman not real???

Maybe this is one reason our country is so damn obese - because we give ourselves such leeway, so many excuses, as to why we are over weight. Its OK to not worry about portion control, eat everything fried, and not get any exercise, because we are "REAL WOMEN"!!

sorry, but I think this is not realistic. There are those of us who, no matter what we do short of starving to the point of malnutrition, will NEVER, EVER see a size 4. Fashion caters to a certian body type, waiflike. Most woment are NOT waiflike, or a size 4, even women who eat right and exercise. Most women have curves, and have real difficulty finding "fashion" clothing to fit them, becuase styles are set wih that size 0-4 waif in mind.

 

[NotUrsula]

The issue, I think, is that the images that marketing likes to push are of women who are that most unusual of combinations; very thin, very tall, AND flat-chested. For the majority of American women that particular combination is essential impossible.

Forget about weight for a moment -- what about height? In reality, the avg. American woman is 5'4", yet most mass-merchandised clothing is cut to fit women who are between 5'7" and 5'9". I'm a hair short of 5'4", and in the past 20 years I've only ONCE been able to buy an off-the-rack pr. of pants that did not have to be altered. (Most petitie-cut clothing does not come any larger than size 14. Note that size inflation is most prevalent in higher-end brands; the cheaper the clothing line, the less size-inflated it usually will be.)

Also, ftr, I'm a sz. 16. My bp last week was 112/70, and my cholesterol numbers were 78HDL and 118LDL. Those are normal numbers for me; I'm not presently on any kind of special diet. If I could be any size I wanted I'd like to be around a 10-12 again; much thinner than that and I would look out of balance and top-heavy. (Which is probably why some people may be saying that Jennifer Hudson is too thin -- if you are a chesty person there is a limit to how thin you can get before you start to look like you've been "enhanced", and JH has nearly reached that point.)

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I have seen all these healthy, fit people in all shapes and sizes. I have known of larger women able to run the local memorial day marathon. I have seen heavy set females swim hundreds of laps in less than an hour and then go out and win races. They are heavier women, yet their fitness levels would run circles around many smaller, supposedly "healthy" women.

Don't judge a book by its cover. It is possible to be a heavy set woman and still be in excellent, physical shape. Not just working on it, but being there.

Yep - I have a friend who had her son 2 months before I had mine. She was back down to her skinny jeans in no time and she looked fabulous. I was actually quite jealous and spent a lot of time thinking about how horribly fat I was. Then when my son was 4 months old (her's was 6), we both participated in a 5K stroller walk. Pushing both of my kids in a double stroller, I easily outpaced her and finished the 5K with no problems. She was ready to quit after the first mile. After that I quit putting myself down and quit comparing my body to other people's.

 

[palavra]

This is so true. Jennifer Lopez commented in a recent article that people are always surprised when women maintain their looks, as if most people are used to other folks not maintaining. And it is also true - people take these comments as if they're personally directed at them, and get very defensive.

Yes, but Jennifer Lopez has lots of money, can hire a personal trainer and isn't driving kids around all evening after getting home from work, cooking dinner and straightening up the house.

 

[tlbwriter]

Someone really thinks Jennifer Hudson looks too thin?

 

[tar heel]

It was someone on this thread who threw away those donuts, wasn't it?

 

[Hoodie]

It was someone on this thread who threw away those donuts, wasn't it?

Or ate them all!

 

[kwelch10377]

Oh my goodness - Sweetie, calm down - Who have I attacked?!? Where did I call anyone a "unhealthy slob"? As FireDancer said, I'm just annoyed that the "new thing" is to call plus size women Real Women. Like, where do adverage size women fit in now?? I've worked real damn hard to get into a healthy weight range, and now I'm not even real!!!?? I did all this to become fake somehow??? How is that even fair?!?

And a huge congrats on your bloodwork. Its very important.

I don't think you are looking at the defintion of "real" correctly here. They are talking about the "reality" of what sizes a good portion of woman are. They aren't talking about a "real" vs "fake" situation, they are talking about a "real" vs "unrealistic".

There wasn't a link for the article (at least one that I couldn't click on), so I don't know exactly what was said. It seems though that they just want to the fashion industry to have a realistic view that not all women are size 14 and below.

 

[jodifla]

Using people in the entertainment industry as a measuring stick for weight is ridiculous. These are people who work out for HOURS a day as part of their JOB description, whereas most of us are sitting at a computer for 8 to 10 hours a day, trying to squeeze in our life around work and commute times, kids, spouses, cooking, cleaning, etc.

 

[disneyquestions]

Yes, but Jennifer Lopez has lots of monay, can hire a personal trainer and isn't driving kids around all evening after getting home from work, cooking dinner and straightening up the house.

See this is my point. It has nothing to do with money and personal trainers!!! If you WANT to be healthy (not talking about weight, I'm talking about health) you can do it. Its sad that people think that the only way you can do this is by being rich, and having others do the work for you. Thats my point (or at least one of them). Its called dedication - and its something that to many people have lost when it comes to themselves, and their health. Of course, I'm not talking about anyone on the Dis, because here, we are all perfect.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

It was someone on this thread who threw away those donuts, wasn't it?

Surprised it took this long for that to get said !

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I know this is going to sound strange and yes I am a married woman, but because others have mentioned Jennifer Hudson and we're talking about "real" women I'd just like to say YOU GO GIRL! LOVE THOSE NATURAL LOOKING BREASTS! It's obvious that she HAS NOT had implants and she was flaunting them on the red carpet anyway.

I especially love the websites online that show stars without their makeup. THAT'S a "real" woman. Damn I could look fabulous if I had three people primping at me for 2 hours and had a stylist. It's about realistic expectations for me and you know what, when you lose a lot of weight or have a baby, chances are things are going to sag a little.

 

[goofy!]

It was someone on this thread who threw away those donuts, wasn't it?

You owe me a new laptop as I am currently trying to wipe up DIET Dr. Pepper off the keyboard

 

[Conservative Hippie]

See this is my point. It has nothing to do with money and personal trainers!!! If you WANT to be healthy (not talking about weight, I'm talking about health) you can do it. Its sad that people think that the only way you can do this is by being rich, and having others do the work for you. Thats my point (or at least one of them). Its called dedication - and its something that to many people have lost when it comes to themselves, and their health. Of course, I'm not talking about anyone on the Dis, because here, we are all perfect.

There are a lot of skinny rich people that I would not call healthy...

 

[SereneOne]

I'm reading an article on how this woman was asked by her mother to find a nice dress for her because she couldn't find anything in her size in the "regular stores." The mother is a size 16 (plus size) and the title of the article is How Fashion is Failing Real Women.

I've been on both sides of the spectrum, I've been a size 20 and a size 4, but for the life of me, I can't understand why plus size = REAL WOMEN. I mean, what is that saying about women who are able to take care of their families, and also take care of themselves, i.e. eat right and exercise?? Are healthy woman not real???

Maybe this is one reason our country is so damn obese - because we give ourselves such leeway, so many excuses, as to why we are over weight. Its OK to not worry about portion control, eat everything fried, and not get any exercise, because we are "REAL WOMEN"!!

Excuse me? Probably ignorance like this post displays. How do you know the size sixteen is not healthy? How do you know the size four is? Because of size? I know big people that are perfectly healthy and I know thin people who are not, and I do not just mean those suffering from anorexia, I am talking about people who are thin although they eat crap and do not exercise.

Maybe the reason this country is so damn obese is we tell women they have to be a size zero and have double d cups.

You are either part of the problem or part of the solution....

 

[Free4Life11]

Yes, but Jennifer Lopez has lots of money, can hire a personal trainer and isn't driving kids around all evening after getting home from work, cooking dinner and straightening up the house.

Sounds to me like one would burn a lot of calories with all that activity!

 

[FireDancer]

I think there are a couple of reasons for this.

First, because "real" (aka average) men ARE shown in the media, to a much greater extent than average women. Look at all the shows with an overweight man who has a smokin' hot wife and/or girlfriend (Sopranos, World According to Jim, King of Queens, etc.) If a woman on TV is allowed to be overweight, she cannot have a smokin' hot husband or boyfriend - with a few exceptions, he has to be overweight too (Roseanne, Mike and Molly). So men are less likely to feel they are being held up to such a standard.

And second, because clothing choices for men are so different. Unless she's buying custom-made clothes, a woman cannot walk into a store and say "I want a pair of pleated pants with a 34" waistline and a 30" inseam." Womens' clothing assumes that if you have a certain waist size, you also have a certain hip size and a certain bust size. So men are much less likely to throw up their hands in frustration and say "Why isn't anyone making clothes that fit ME?????"

I get the fat guys with hot wives thing but for the most part those are sitcoms that portray the guys as dim-witted buffoons so they have their own negative stereotype built in. I'm more talking about things like ads, most magazine covers, and the majority of actors in dramatic rolls. I have never seen, at least outside of a parody, people that look like John Goodman on billboards with underwear ads or in just about any clothing ads. Those are full of guys in pretty good shape just as ads for women's clothing are full of women in good shape.

That second is something I never understood. I don't understand why women's clothing isn't sized by measurement instead of size like some of ours is. It would get rid of the discrepancy between manufacturers and would get rid of the vanity sizing B.S. At the same time though it is often hard for me to find shirts that fit. Because they don't make a lot of shirts for guys that have a larger chest circumference than waste.

See this is my point. It has nothing to do with money and personal trainers!!! If you WANT to be healthy (not talking about weight, I'm talking about health) you can do it. Its sad that people think that the only way you can do this is by being rich, and having others do the work for you. Thats my point (or at least one of them). Its called dedication - and its something that to many people have lost when it comes to themselves, and their health. Of course, I'm not talking about anyone on the Dis, because here, we are all perfect.

That is true. Having a personal chef, nutritionist, and trainer would sure help but I know plenty of normal working people who hit the gym and stay in shape (physical shape, not health). It is about making it a priority. If you don't want to that is fine, it can't be everyone's priority but there are people who fit the gym or running or swimming or whatever into their normal, average, everyday lives.