Buy Walking VideosWellbeing Vs. Achievement
There is a new book coming out that might give me a hint of why I am obsessed with being thin, even more so than being healthy. It’s called Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body. AlterNet has an interview with the author.
The quote that really hit home for me is this one:
“It’s not just about Ivy League admittance or extracurriculars. It is about a nation of women buying in to the idea that their wellbeing is not as important as achievement and beauty.”
There was a time when I was willing to do anything to get thin. Take dangerous pills? Sure. Starve myself for days? Yeah, but I always ended up breaking and eating like a pig afterward. Have a serious surgery? If I could have afforded it, I would have jumped at the chance. I was willing to do anything to get thin except eat normal and healthy food in moderation.
The big question is: Why is being thin so important that I was willing to risk my health for it?
This book might have an answer to that question and I’m eager for it to be released!
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April 15th, 2007 at 7:47 am
In my case I feel the obsession to be thin because I hear people all the time talk about overweight people with disgust and I just know they would say the same about me if I was not around.
Sad
April 15th, 2007 at 10:07 am
I think people make fun of others out of fear and lack of understanding it’s so easy to judge.
April 15th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
I do hope you’ll post a review when you read it. I, too, would go to embarrassing lengths to be slender.
April 25th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Ironically, I found your blog through a google search for “Weight Watchers Core Frozen Meals.” So, in my obsession to find something that actually is fast and easy to cook, and hopefully tastes good, because I’m too utterly tired after working a full day, commuting, dealing with bills/money/stress, and taking care of my kids (and my husband–haha–kidding—sort of!!), I just don’t have any time to try to reach my skinny goals. I’m reading a book that says I should be visualizing myself at my goal weight (yes, I read weight loss books constantly), think about how grateful I am to be at my goal weight, and why being at my goal weight makes me feel so wonderful. And damned if I know why I want to be skinny. I simply do not know!!!! So why am I obsessed with it??? I guess I want to be healthy, of course, but I’m healthy now, at my current weight. (I’m 150 trying to get down to around 135…). I sure can’t figure out why… I’m excited to hear a review of the book, or buy the book myself!!! Thanks!!