No more Size Zero...

So as a few of you may have heard or read already, Germany's top Women magazine, Brigitte, will no longer be using professional models for their adds and stories. They have spent too much time on photoshop, to fatten them up. How ironic, huh? The full article has comments that I just can't help but think how 1.)selfish, 2.) ignorant, 3.) closed minded, 4.) rude, 5.) stupid, 6.) unknowledgeable, and 7.) blinded people are. Comments such as "This wont last." or about how obesity is actually helping people live longer.... what? None of these messages are good except for a comment:

Kazbah

06 Oct 09, 8:55am

Doesn't matter what size someone is, it matters whether they're healthy. How's their blood pressure? Cholesterol levels? How much fatty tissue around the internal organs (this one's more important than how much fat anywhere else. Clue: Sumo wrestlers have lean internal organs, a thin person can have "obese" internal organs).

I've known a couple of women who were very physically active - one an aerobics teacher, one a martial arts teacher and competitive martial artist - both of whom ate healthy diets, cycled, worked out, and hiked. Both were size 18+, and were regularly treated as if their size indicated a moral and intellectual failing.

I've also known a very wiry woman who, again, had a healthy diet and very active lifestyle (lots of kyaking, long distance running and cycling) who was constantly being told to "eat more", as if she was starving herself.

The last thing we need is fat folk and thin folk slagging each other off.

What we do need is a wide range of models of various ages, heights, body shapes and ethnicities who have healthy diets and lifestyles.

Exactly! What about just being healthy, eating healthy,exercising as needed and not excess, and everything is good on the inside (not just health but soul too.) Accepting yourself for who you are. This article makes me especially happy because as I am only a size 4, weighing 114 lbs, at a height of 4'11", very healthy, I still feel "fat" when I know I don't need to change anything. As much as I like to say that the media doesn't effect me, over all it does. Not in a way that I binge eat or practice anorexic or bulimic traditions to try and look like the images I see, but knowing that most men's standards are the media and if I don't possibly look like that then I may never find someone. That's when I get upset when thinking that I will not be noticed because I'm not a size -2. Luckily, I have a boyfriend that is not one of those men and finds most of the media images unattractive and agrees with this article too.

Women, ladies, and girls, please don't put yourself down and practice unhealthy habits because what you see in a magazine or on a billboard is not you. Keep yourself healthy and know where your body is at. Stay up to date with doctors appointments as often as you can. Eat healthy. Remind yourself that what you see is fake and is not achievable. If your with a guy who wants you to look like the cover of a magazine, then he isn't the guy for you. He should let you be you and not expect anything more or less. If he doesn't like it then you can tell him to fuck off because you will find someone who appreciates you for you and every little part of you. Have patients if you have not found that guy who accepts you for you, and enjoy time for yourself. Don't force yourself to be with someone that you're not truly happy with either. It's ok to be alone and not in a relationship, that's probably when you will learn most about who you are and what you like and who you really want to be with. Take advantage of knowing yourself and having control of your standards, never lower them for any circumstances. You have the right to have high standards.