Great Body Image Article

I think it's most important to try and stop comparing yourself at all and that is the big problem, as it seems ingrained in many Western societies.

Yes, this, and not just as regarding looks, bodies, etc.  Why does everything in life have to be an effin' contest?!  That's what I want to know.  Too much stress.  Is the dirt going to care how you looked, how much money you earned, what you did better than, when you're six feet under?  No.  Fuhgeddaboudit and just live.  /rant over

 

I hate my breast size. I think they are too small. And it really doesnt help when everytime i open a magazine or turn on the tv theres adverts to increase your boobs. theres one advert that sticks in my mind where a woman is holding a sign over ur boobs saying "ive got breast implants but the biggest improvement you see is in my face"
Meaning you have to get breast implants to be happy. I wish I can afford them,but unfortantley £5000 is out of my budget!

Yes, this, and not just as regarding looks, bodies, etc.  Why does everything in life have to be an effin' contest?!  That's what I want to know.  Too much stress.  Is the dirt going to care how you looked, how much money you earned, what you did better than, when you're six feet under?  No.  Fuhgeddaboudit and just live.  /rant over

 

 

I care about my body because I want to be healthy.

I exercise and watch what I eat not because I want to look like a model, but because heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and osteoporosis run in my family, and I want to have a healthy, active life for many more years.

I want to be able to run to catch a bus when I'm 70, without getting  out of breath or feeling sore afterward.

If I can make myself look more attractive in the process, that's just an added benefit.

Yes, this, and not just as regarding looks, bodies, etc.  Why does everything in life have to be an effin' contest?!  That's what I want to know.  Too much stress.  Is the dirt going to care how you looked, how much money you earned, what you did better than, when you're six feet under?  No.  Fuhgeddaboudit and just live.  /rant over

 

Couldn't have said it better myself! 

Makes you lovely inside & out. 

I thought it was a good article, although I agree with the earlier posts about men caring about their appearance more than was implied in the article - as an example, my 19-year-old brother is about to fly out to the US to work at a summer camp and he's desperately trying to bulk up a bit ready for it... lots of sit-ups and drinking of protein shakes, lol. He's not out of shape by any means, but he's tall and a bit lanky (and it probably doesn't help that his older brother is a gymnast and is very muscular!).

In terms of my own body image, I don't find that the things he mentioned in the article (airbrushed photos, adverts, feeling 'fat', cosmetic surgery etc.) really bother me all that much. Sure, there are things about my body that I'm not so keen on (I have slightly wobbly underarms, my thighs could do with a tone-up and I'm a little fuller in the hips than I'd like), but at the same time, I know I'm a healthy weight for my height and body shape. I'm not fat, but I'm not stick-thin either; my boobs aren't massive, but I'm a decent B/C-cup (depending on what band size I buy) and I wouldn't want to go any bigger (I used to want them to be a bit smaller because as a teenager I wanted to be a ballet dancer but my bum and boobs were too big for it !).

I really hate the way that the media is influencing women in regards to body image though. I work in a pharmacy that has several beauty counters too (Clinique, Estee Lauder etc.) and the girls who work on the counters are obsessed with looks and gossip magazines. Recent conversations that have been overheard in the canteen at lunch include:

- How to date a footballer (one of the girls is apparently dating one)
- When they want their boobs done (they seem to think they'll be sagging by their mid-20's)
- Whether they are wearing enough fake tan (most of them are already bright orange!)

One conversation the other day actually went along the lines of:
Beauty Girl 1 (aged about 20): I really wanted to be on Big Brother, but it's too late now because it's finishing this year. I was going to apply, but I couldn't because I hadn't had my boobs done yet.
A slight pause, then...
Beauty Girl 1: Only 10 weeks to go now
Beauty Girl 2: 10 weeks until what?
Beauty Girl 1: Until I get my boobs done

I can barely stand to listen to some of their conversations because it makes me feel sad that they don't seem capable of talking about anything intellectual or real .

I think it's most important to try and stop comparing yourself at all and that is the big problem, as it seems ingrained in many Western societies.

Yes, this, and not just as regarding looks, bodies, etc.  Why does everything in life have to be an effin' contest?!  That's what I want to know.  Too much stress.  Is the dirt going to care how you looked, how much money you earned, what you did better than, when you're six feet under?  No.  Fuhgeddaboudit and just live.  /rant over

 

In fact, comparing income with peers seems to cause unhappiness, unsurprisingly:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/10182993.stm

I'd wager a bet that comparing most things with peers generally would cause dissatisfaction and as part of this, I would include comparing bodies.

When I was growing up, girls whose families had money got nose jobs.

Now they get boob jobs.

What cracks me up is a few friends here were talking about a girl they knew who complained to the doctor so much about her chest they approved a boob job!  The NHS paid for it since it was causing depression and low self esteem - I was appauled

What cracks me up is a few friends here were talking about a girl they knew who complained to the doctor so much about her chest they approved a boob job!  The NHS paid for it since it was causing depression and low self esteem - I was appauled

Do you know the girl? I think on Embarrassing Bodies they gave a girl a boob job, but she literally had no breasts at all, which was embarrassing for her and made her depressed. I can see how some women would feel that way if their chest looked as flat as a man's. In that case, I would say its on par with other cosmetic procedures the NHS might approve, such as laser treatment for facial discolourations, embarrassing birthmarks, etc. But I guess it would depend on the person specifically.

Jewelz - I know there are many people that don't like something specific about themselves whether birth mark, boobless or anything else.  I guess I just don't see the UK people paying for this and I know others see it different but cosmetic surgery is cosmetic but since the NHS will pay for of course take advantage of it.  I feel the same away about seeing commercials for stress and people taking off days of work for stress and think damn I never had that working in restaurant. Its just an opinion but I guess you adapt to each culture you are in and if its available use it. ;-)

I also agree with the people before saying love yourself as you are but that's always easier said then done. IMO

I also agree with the people before saying love yourself as you are but that's always easier said then done. IMO

Never said it was easy.  I think that sort of thing is usually a work in progress, for me at least. 

What cracks me up is a few friends here were talking about a girl they knew who complained to the doctor so much about her chest they approved a boob job!  The NHS paid for it since it was causing depression and low self esteem - I was appauled

I can understand that.

 I know girls who developed early in junior high school and they were severely harased for for it - they were called whores and other things, had rumours started about them, boys tried to grab their boobs, etc.

Girls who were flat-chested got insulted and harassed as well.

I don't think it's much different than having a big scar on your face.

sweetpeach - I was one of them...I was called flat as a board so I get it but I still think its cosmetic just like some other surgeries like gastric where the community people pay for it but as I stated if in the UK they allow then go for it.  I found it appauling because I know what my DH pays and to think it goes towards boob jobs and gastric seems crazy when I think of my sister in the states that cant get insurance for shots for her MS.
So as it goes back to the system here when in rome...I don't begrudge anyone for it but I dont agree with it sorry...

The problem with access to any type of health care in the States is an entirely different issue.

Stress and depression are not trivial.

They are not the same as being a little nervous about something or being a little sad about something.

They involve problems with the chemistry of the brain, be completely debilitating, and in some cases, lead to suicide.

ETA: Gastric bypass surgery and breast reductions are done because not doing them causes the patient to suffer physically.