Glamour readers shocked by this photo; what do you think?
CLICK HERE FIRST TO SEE THE PHOTO.
DON’T READ ON UNTIL YOU SEE THE PHOTO.
Glamour magazine ran in its September issue a story about body image and how other people see things in your body, you can’t. With the story they commissioned a photo of a mostly naked woman who looks like an actual real woman – meaning she has curves and a roll of fat around her stomach.
Apparently readers went crazy writing in because they were soooo thrilled to actually see a woman in a magazine who looks like them – who looks normal! (It’s like those Dove ads everybody loved because they were real women.)
There were so many letter that the editor had to write to address the issue.
Here is the original story that ran in Glamour magazine.
Here is a letter from the editor talking about the mail they have received about this one model’s photo.
I didn’t know the background to this story before I clicked on the picture and was really surprised to see a lady with a pooch. I literally thought to myself “Hey, that looks like me.” The next thing I wondered was why are they using a naked photo of a lady with a pooch, which was exactly their point.
The only disheartening thing about this whole story is the fact that the model is considered a “PLUS-SIZE MODEL” because of those curves and that roll. And that ladies, brings us back to reality!
What did you think of the photo? Were you surprised to see it in a fashion magazine? Did you think she looked fat? Did you think she looked “normal”? Should magazines feature more photos of “regular” women? Did she alter your thoughts about your own body? Do you think she should be labeled a Plus-Size model?
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75 comments Add your comment
lakerat
September 3rd, 2009
7:57 am
Interesting read – however, the most telling thing in reading the Editor-in-Chief’s comments on the reactions is looking to the right of the column and seeing 3 of 4 topics they want to us to focus on telling us how to have a GLAMOUR body, how to lose weight in 30 days, and how to eat right! Just food (ahem) for thought!!!!!
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
September 3rd, 2009
8:01 am
hehehh – good reading.
JATL
September 3rd, 2009
8:31 am
I just wish the “industry” -fashion, media, Hollywood, etc. would make it everyday practice to include many types of women (and men) in their advertisements, movies, runway shows, etc. There are some naturally thin (very thin) folks out there, and there are plenty of folks who work to get 6-pack abs, so they could still be represented. We do need a few more curves in our ads and magazines though. I’m not talking about hugely obese, flopping-bellied people in underwear and bikinis (although I’m aware that they exist in large numbers in our population), but just showing some curvy, plump people mixed in with the anorexics would be a nice change up. I do think it’s appalling that a 12-14 (not actual plus-sizes) is what plus-sized models are (there are a few who are larger, but very marginalized), and 0-2 is what regular models are. The supermodels of the 80s were at least 4-6s and sometimes 8s according to Cindy Crawford. I don’t think anyone would say they were fat or unseemly. A 0-2 is normal for a very small part of the population, but it’s not normal even for most thin people to be that thin.
YUKI
September 3rd, 2009
8:43 am
I think it’s great. It’s also pretty sad that such a big deal has to be made about it and that it’s not more of an everyday occurrence. I mean, a big majority of women in the US are that size or larger. I agree with JATL, they don’t need to have obese or unhealthy people represented all of the time, but let’s keep it real. A size 0 or 2 being the standard? Give me a break!
RJ
September 3rd, 2009
8:46 am
On a recent episode of How Do I Look I cringed when the new size 0 host told the woman that she was a beautiful large woman. She was probably a 10! Everybody’s body is not the same. A size 10 is far from large. But in the fashion industry you shouldn’t be larger than a size 4. I think it’s ridiculous. Tyra has spoken many times about her weight and what it took to look the way she did when she was younger. I think she looks better today. Love the curves.
More women should be displayed in these magazines. I have never been nor will I ever be a size 2. I have a few friends that are naturally skinny and they wish they had more curves! Are we ever happy lol!
Jesse's Girl
September 3rd, 2009
8:50 am
I showed my daughters this picture. I hope that this photo of REALITY and the awesome dialogue it seems to have started doesn’t go unnoticed by the powers that be. After all the talk of how these models are photo-shopped to hell and back….I sincerely hope that the truth seeps in and takes hold. THIS IS HOW TRULY BEAUTIFUL WOMEN LOOK!!!!!! You cannot bounce a quarter off of every inch of our bodies. We give birth….breast feed….gain and lose weight….eat muffins….drink wine…drink coffee…exercise….we live in the real world. Real women do not have a bevy of handlers following us around to make us look magazine perfect!! I adore this picture and I think a national freakin holiday should be given to this model. Cause she KICKS A$$!!!!
pd
September 3rd, 2009
9:03 am
She is an attractive woman who needs to lose a few pounds. Yes, unfortunately it is reality that most of us need to lose a few pounds.
I have recently lost 30 pounds myself.
I don’t see anything wrong with magazines using thin or muscular models all the time. After all a “model” is something that is to be worked towards. Any model, whether a person or an archetectural or business model, should be as close to perfect as can be to give your body, building, or business something to strive for.
How does...
September 3rd, 2009
9:09 am
…an otherwise well defined 22 year old get a pooch like that? If she has had kids, I understand, but c’mon!
Jesse's Girl
September 3rd, 2009
9:12 am
Please note…..she was doubled over a bit. I am sure that standing upright, her tummy is likely pretty flat. And I wholeheartedly believe PD that your comment about “perfection ” and hundreds of others like it….is the very reason so many of our daughters are killing themselves. Striving for some airbrushed perfection is insane. You should strive for what is perfect for YOUR body. NOT for the perfection a camera lense and computer generated graphics can attain.
YUKI
September 3rd, 2009
9:21 am
“As close to perfect as can be”??? Excuse me while I puke. Umm, 12 year olds with body issues and eating disorders are exactly why more real people need to be represented. I’m sure they could airbrush me to look different too, but that would not be realistic.
Jesse's Girl
September 3rd, 2009
9:22 am
Word…
SkinnyGirl
September 3rd, 2009
9:25 am
I think that people of all sizes should be represented in magazines and in media. However, I am rather offended with the dialogue that goes on when a fuller-figured person does appear. Everytime a plumper person appears in print, everyone heralds the fact that a ‘real’ person is finally being pictured, implying that the thin person on the next page is somehow not ‘real’ or has to resort to unnatural and unhealthy means to be that way. As a naturally thinner person, I take offense to these discussion lines. I am no less ‘real’ than the next woman. It is just as insensitive and rude to say that the thinner models are unreal, anorexic, or unhealthy as it is to insult a plumper models.
Becky
September 3rd, 2009
9:36 am
Who should decide what is a perfect body? I think as long as each person is happy within theirself, then you are perfect..I’m not trying to say that we should just completely let our bodies go, I just think that some people are never going to be pencil thin..
Like Jesses Girl said though, if this model were standing up, I doubt that she would have any stomach that you could really see..As for how did a 22 year old get a pooch like that? Well I’m 47 and I have never had kids and I have always had a poochy tummy..Even when I was in high school (size 1) I had a small pooch..It happens with or without kids..
Jesse's Girl
September 3rd, 2009
9:41 am
Viva la pooch! Have a meeting peeps…see ya later:)
JJ
September 3rd, 2009
9:50 am
My pooch is an investment. I worked hard for it..
I have a very physical job, in which I am lifting and throwing heavy boxes around, and carrying satellite radios from the lab to the warehouse all day. I do shipping and receiving, and I’m outside most of the day, sweating my a$$ off. I also work out at the gym several times a week, I get plenty of exercise and I eat healthy. I’m happy with myself, and my body.
No I am not a size 0, nowhere close. But I’m happy and I’m healthy and that’s what matters….
Stookie
September 3rd, 2009
10:08 am
Everybody has their own opinion on what a perfect body is and I do agree that all walks of life should be represented. But I’m going to be real here, I want to see those amazingly hot bodies when I buy a magazine. What makes them or myself so unreal because I am fit, eat correctly and live a healthy lifestyle. This country is full of unhealthy, obese folks who get angry at healthy folks because they live correctly. I’ve seen “unhealthy” people get so annoyed when friends of mine are asked about how they keep in such great shape. If you are a size 12-14, you are not healthy and need to change your lifestyle.
Theresa, I’m a single dad who reads your blog everyday, keep up the great work.
pd
September 3rd, 2009
10:19 am
I’m sorry, but we have a much larger issue in this country with obesity than we do with anorexia. I am not trying to down play the negative effects of anorexia or make light of that disorder. However, I believe that if we began heralding fatty bodies as being “OK” then we would have our kids believe that they don’t have to work hard for their health.
I see women who do not have eating disorders on a daily basis that have close to no body fat, are very thin, and should be the “Models” for other women to try to strive to be.
As a man, I don’t look at guys with big guts and think, “Hey, thats what I should try to be.”
Staying thin and fit is hard work. Those who are able to do it deserve to be on magazines. Those who don’t put in the effort should not be heralded.
marcus bales
September 3rd, 2009
10:27 am
That men prefer a woman in shape (and women desire a man that can provide security-both fiscal and financial) is an inborn part of us. Yet, we are faced with an onslaught telling us there is something wrong with us (men in particular) for following our genes. As a man, I am made to feel there is something wrong with me for wanting a women that takes care of herself.
One more concern: why is there not some campaign aimed at changing women’s attraction to men with money and power?
Stookie...
September 3rd, 2009
10:27 am
…you may read this blog everyday, but you are also a dumba$$ – “If you are a size 12-14, you are not healthy and need to change your lifestyle”. Not if you are 5′10″ – 6′3″ tall! The gal in the picture is quite fit to be a size 10 -12. Here’s a quarter and a suggestion – get a clue!!!!
So, JJ...
September 3rd, 2009
10:28 am
…you are saying that size matters?!?!?!?!?
pd
September 3rd, 2009
10:33 am
If we were talking about actresses instead of models, I could see the point. An actress can be any size. She is playing a part in a movie or television show and for it to be realistic, she should look like everyday women. BUT models are by their very definition, the ideal.
When you talk about role models for your children, you are talking about ideals. You want your child’s role model to not be “real” or “like everybody else”. You want them to be better. Soemthing to strive for.
JJ
September 3rd, 2009
10:35 am
Stookie, You are a jerk. How the hell do you know what’s unhealthy? I happen to be a woman who is a 12-14 and I’m quite healthy thank you. Chances are, you couldn’t keep up with me.
I go to the doctor regularly and take care of my health and body. While I may need to change some habits in YOUR eyes, my doctors are very happy with me and my lifestyle. So am I, and that’s what matters.
Becky
September 3rd, 2009
10:40 am
Stookie, I’m not trying to start an war of words, but a size 12 isn’t always unhealthy..I am a size 12..I don’t eat anything fried, I don’t drink sodas and I rarely eat sweets..I ride a bike every weekend with my 7 year old grandson (about 8-10 miles)..I have a coworker that barely weighs a 100 lbs. and she is always calling in sick, leaving early because she’s sick, blah, blah..Oh did I mention that she goes to a gym 3-4 times a per??
YUKI
September 3rd, 2009
10:42 am
Ok people. I think what most people on here defending the picture are saying is that it should be OK for a bigger woman that is not the “normal” runway model type to be represented in a magazine without everybody losing their minds over it. Nobody is saying that all thin, fit people are unhealthy and have eating disorders. Yes, please get a clue. We are also not saying that “heralding fatty bodies” is what the norm should be either. There are plenty of people who excerise and eat right, but are not a size 0 or 2. And Stookie, you are a fool with your “you need to change your lifestyle” comment. I know plenty of tall women in shape who wear a size 12. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT…..trying to pretend that everyone should be fitting your standards about what “in shape” is.
Becky
September 3rd, 2009
10:45 am
oops..per week I meant…
Becky
September 3rd, 2009
10:47 am
pd, they are ideal if you like counting a womans rib bones..
JJ
September 3rd, 2009
10:57 am
Of all the guys I work with, (and I just asked all 10 of them), 8 out of 10 said they like a woman with meat on her bones. They can’t stand skinny women, with their hip bones sticking out and ribs you can see through clothing.
The other two are gay and don’t really care.
Stan
September 3rd, 2009
11:04 am
I can’t view the picture while at work, but I’m all about looking at a woman with curves. Skinny chicks just don’t do it for me. I love seeing “real” women in adverts too.
I’ve NEVER looked at a “model” as someone to look to for my image of myself or image of my ideal spouse. To each his/her own.
HB
September 3rd, 2009
11:20 am
“There are plenty of people who excerise and eat right, but are not a size 0 or 2.”
Amen! In fact, many women, if they are of average height or taller, will be unhealthy at that size. A few years ago, at 5′6″ with a medium frame, I was 5 lbs below what is is considered to be my ideal weight range, and I was still a size 4! And it was certainly not healthy habits that made me that size. I exercised regularly and followed an VERY healthy diet before that and weighed 10 lbs more — an injury resulting in inability to eat much of anything for a while caused me to be underweight. I would never have wanted to continue eating so little, while still exercising regularly, to become a size 0!
BeanMommy
September 3rd, 2009
11:27 am
What shocks me is that I hardly consider that woman “fat” or someone who should have body image issues. If SHE is fat, I don’t WHAT half my friends are! To me that almost makes people feel worse: It’s like saying, “Look! You can be fat like her and still be pretty! Tt’s okay to be fat, see?!” and then showing you a picture of a woman who is twenty pounds thinner than you are.
Skinnygirl, I’m sure you and your body are real. What is NOT real is that 95%+ of the population looks like you. I believe that is what people mean.
Expanding the topic … my husband and I were just talking about this this morning. He said it is almost impossible for him (and, he suspects, most guys) to find a overweight woman attractive. He also said that no matter how “plain” a woman looks, if she is in good shape, she is more attractive than ANY overweight woman.
He says that men who say, “My wife is still just as beautiful to me, even though she gained thirty pounds” are …. LYING!!
Any thoughts?
YUKI
September 3rd, 2009
11:39 am
I think it depends on how overweight we are talking about. 10 or 20 lbs over ideal body weight for your height is quite a bit different than somebody who is 100 lbs overweight. I would agree that most men don’t find overweight women just as attactive as healthy slender woman. But, I think most “normal” guys, if they saw the woman in the picture on the street in normal clothes on any given day would find her quite attractive.
Brooke
September 3rd, 2009
11:40 am
Have any of you ever seen this YouTube clip below? If not, please watch it. No wonder our perception of beauty and perfection are distorted..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U
Maleman
September 3rd, 2009
11:43 am
I think she looks fine. I’d rather see someone that looks like her than some stick woman with 10 lbs. of fake boobs. If you think she is fat, try shedding your own clothes and sit in that position and get your picture taken.
New Step Mom
September 3rd, 2009
12:02 pm
BeanMommy, that is a very interesting point. My husband and I have had the same conversation. I am fortunate to be taller and have never had a weight problem. I generally wear a size 8. I do have two very close friends who are very overweight. One of them is single and I feel for her. Guys who are not as attractive, smart or funny as she is will not give her the time of day because she is large. My husband says guys do not care what they look like when looking for a mate in a lot of cases but the woman better look good. He says it is not right, but it is the way it is.
I do not think anyone can define “a perfect body,” but physicians do understand that being obese is bad for you even if you work out and eat right. They also can define eating disorders as being extremely unhealthy. I think if your doctor is happy with your weight, than that is the goal to strive for.
itpdude
September 3rd, 2009
12:15 pm
She looks like a “real” woman? What are you talking about? Are you saying the fit models aren’t “real?” It seems you are giving your fat ass readers an excuse to hit the all you can eat bar and avoid exercise.
This nation is not suffering from too much fitness. It’s suffering from too much fatness.
Woo Hoo
September 3rd, 2009
12:31 pm
Does the “media” parent your children or do YOU?? If you want the answer to your child’s issues, look in the mirror.
Stookie
September 3rd, 2009
12:52 pm
JJ, the only thing that I couldn’t keep up with you is the run to the all you can eat buffet
JJ
September 3rd, 2009
12:53 pm
Whatever…….that comment just made you a bigger idiot.
Stookie
September 3rd, 2009
1:11 pm
C’mon JJ lighten up, I’m just playin. I’m not an idiot, maybe a little ignorant in that I thought I knew something about sizes for women. I definitely didn’t take the height of a woman in consideration when I said that and I apologize to everyone. But my point is still the same, if you are 30 pounds over weight, that’s not a good thing, no matter how happy you are.
Liz
September 3rd, 2009
1:11 pm
I saw the photo/read the adjoining article in the original issue of “Glamour”, and I figured it would garner the publisher a huge positive reaction. However, to be perfectly honest, I’m kind of turned off by the whole thing. I view reading fashion magazines as a form of ‘escapism’…therefore, I don’t really care to see fat rolls, pudge, etc. on the models. I appreciate articles that show how women of varying sizes should dress their body types or whatever, but I am slim and in-shape and just don’t want to see overweight women with everything hanging out, no matter how pretty or well-groomed they are.
Many will read this and think, “well, she can’t relate to the women who feel “under-represented” by the use of only thin models.” But let’s face it, gals…while size 12 or 14 may be the “national average”, it’s not particularly healthy for most women to be that size. I don’t think we should champion emaciated, size-00 women, nor should we champion overweight women.
Well, duh, Stookie...
September 3rd, 2009
1:17 pm
…no one mentioned anyone being 30lbs overweight while being a size 10 – 12; your male chauvenist pigism just came through naturally!
Dang, Liz...
September 3rd, 2009
1:39 pm
…your comment “But let’s face it, gals…while size 12 or 14 may be the “national average”, it’s not particularly healthy for most women to be that size” shows you to be just as much of a dumb a$$ as Stookie – and you are female (at least I think Liz is a female name)! You, too, fail to take into account that there are huge (pardon the pun) numbers of women size 12 – 14 and are quite “normal” at heights of 5′10″ and above who are no where near overweight at that size. And I can’t even call you a pig, just an uninformed beotch!
wtf Stookie...
September 3rd, 2009
1:39 pm
So Stookie, you are saying that people who are 30 lbs overwieght are more healthy than people who are 95 pounds with eating disorders? Healthy isnt the size you are, it is the amount of phisycal activity that you can endure, and that you have a good heart, healthy lugs, great immune system… Those kind of things. Please tell me that the models that we look at in the magazines, who usually are anorexic, and live off of coffee, and ciggarets and their drugs of choice are healthier than those of us who may be 30 pounds overwieght, but still have all of the criteria in which I listed previously…
wtf Liz
September 3rd, 2009
1:42 pm
So Liz… what you are saying is that if we have a fat roll, or our ribs are not sticking out, we are not beautiful.??! Its people like you, who contribute to little girls having eating disoreders and big girls to feel self concious. You are very ignorant….
Stookie
September 3rd, 2009
2:02 pm
wtf stookie, any extreme is not healthy for men or women. 30 lbs underweight is as bad or worse then 30 lbs overweight. I agree your size isn’t what reflects your health, but your body composition (body fat %) sure does. The woman in the picture looks like she has a high body fat and should not be looked at as a good example.
wtf Stookie
September 3rd, 2009
2:10 pm
No. The woman in the picture looks beautiful, and healthy. I would rather look like her, than look like most of these models. She is beautiful, and and anyone who disagrees is plain stupid… Stookie…
Denise
September 3rd, 2009
2:13 pm
I read an article in O magazine (I think) that talked about how some heavier (not obese) people are actually more healthy than slimmer people. The premise is that heavier people are always encouraged by their doctors, families, friends to eat better and to exercise, thereby becoming more healthy, and skinny folks are not given the same advice. In the article, a lady who was very slim (naturally) had 30% fat because she never worked out to build or tone muscle. Sure she was wearing a size 4 but she had a higher % fat measurement than someone like me who wears a size 10 (and looks damn good in a pair of low rise jeans! LOL). I say all that to say that size is not a good indicator of health.
Let’s face it, when we look at a person, we’re not thinking “he may be heavy but he I bet has low cholesterol and low blood pressure”. We’re thinking “I do/don’t like the way he/she looks”. It’s a matter of preference and we have to deal with it in our own way. I know I’ve felt bad about myself sometimes because I don’t look like the girls in the magazines until I realize that I’m looking at a fitness magazine and these women make their money off their bodies. Hell, I’d be a sexy beast if my check depended on my six-pack! I had to put that in perspective to get over it but I do sometimes get down when I don’t like the way I look that day, be it my hair, my tummy (it’s not big but it’s SOFT! LOL), my clothes, etc. But most days I say fluck it and roll out feeling good!
YUKI
September 3rd, 2009
2:16 pm
Well unfortunately there are people out there that no matter how healthy, in your preferred weight range, etc. you may be, if you are not stick skinny than you are considered fat. whatever floats your boat…….
New Step Mom
September 3rd, 2009
2:20 pm
The woman in the picture definitely does not look fat or like she has more than a healthy amount of body fat. She is posed in an odd angle and is not airbrushed. I would have guessed that she was a size 6-8 not a 12-14, but she is likely very tall….
Interesting info Denise, thank you for sharing!
JJ
September 3rd, 2009
2:21 pm
That’s why we shouldn’t judge someone, based on their appearance. We don’t know their situation……
Amen Denise!!!! Roll out feeling good!!!
And don’t compare yourself with magazine models. Remember – Airbrush is a models best friend…….
JJ
September 3rd, 2009
2:22 pm
I’m comfortable in my body and in my skin. I don’t really care what some stranger thinks. I’m happy with me, and again, that’s what matters.
Stookie
September 3rd, 2009
2:24 pm
WTF stookie, you know it’s OK to disagree and I don’t think you are stupid for doing so. She is beautiful, but definitely not healthy. Just b/c you are skinny like those models doesn’t mean you are healthy either and for me personally, not my type.
BeanMommy
September 3rd, 2009
2:30 pm
This reminds me of an article I saw in a women’s magazine about 15-18 years ago. It said across the cover something like, “MAKE YOUR EXTRA POUNDS WORK FOR YOU!!” and then had a headline of, “These women didn’t let extra pounds stop them! They made their extra weight work FOR them!”
So I was picturing some women who were overweight but still successful, or dressed in a flattering way, or built other strenghts or something …
Who were the women featured in this article? Kathleen Turner … Tina Turner … Kirstie Alley (back in the day) … and several other similar stars I can’t remember.
Yup, poor Tina Turner … it’s a good thing she overcame her unfortunate figure and became successful in spite of it — LOL!
Maleman
September 3rd, 2009
2:54 pm
I recently went to a car show and noticed a bunch of men mulling around one area so I made my way over there. The men were there to see a Playboy Playmate of the year. Some of the guys had the magazine that she posed in and for $25.00 bucks a whack (no pun intended) she’d sign her picture. She was nothing like the pictures in the magazine. The magazine had her listed as 5 foot 9. She was closer to 5 foot 5. She had a few leftover from her teen years acne scars on the left side of her face. She also weighed about 20 lbs more than she looked in her Playboy pictures. The young looked good but not anywhere as close to looking after the editors turned her human flaws away and turned into every males fantasy of a living Barbie doll. I don’t believe any of the women in magazines look that way all the time. Several years ago my wife and i saw Namoi Campbell in a resturant in Atlanta and again, same thing….I see women 25 times a day that are as attractive as she was. Airbrushing works wonders, miracles even.
Becky
September 3rd, 2009
3:05 pm
Am I 100% happy with my body? No..I want to lose weight, thats why I’m riding my bike and changing my eating habits..I do think that I am healthier than a lot of people I know that are smaller than me..
beanmommy, lol about Tina Turner..I saw her in concert about 10 years ago and I would love to see someone skinny (or fat) keep up with her..I would die for those legs..
Denise
September 3rd, 2009
3:08 pm
Airbrushing and makeup work miracles. I am 36 and I still have mild/moderate acne but honey, when I pull out that concealer and MAC studio flex you’d think I was a skin care model. LOL!
I think all people can look nice if they are honest with themselves about what they look like and what does/does not look good on them. Some larger sizes cost more but you just have to get it or look crazy. I’d bet that folks we look sideways at for being “too fat” wouldn’t even rate a second glance if they had on clothes that fit. Now, this is not just for heavy people. Some skinny folks take “skinny” too far and end up looking a mess. Say it with me: Just because it’s in your size doesn’t mean you can wear it!
Becky
September 3rd, 2009
3:34 pm
Denise..Amen on your last line…Saw a girl at the grocery store yesterday that had to weigh at least 225 (all 5 foot of her) and she had on low ride jeans and a top that was just under her boobs..Not a pretty sight.. I’m 5′6″ tall and weigh 150 lbs and I would not wear anything like that..Hopefully by the end of this year though, I will be about 125 (or less)..
JJ
September 3rd, 2009
3:55 pm
Well, based on what I have seen, mexican men prefer their women with A LOT of weight on them…..like I said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder……
abc
September 3rd, 2009
3:56 pm
The model in the photo would look a lot better if she lost 20 lbs. She’d still have the roll, and that’s an unfortunate attribute, but really, what’s the big deal? Nobody is perfect. Besides, it’s only appearance. Some folks focus on appearance a bit too much.
wow
September 3rd, 2009
4:29 pm
I just found a cute site – peopleofwalmart.com. Some interesting pics there LOL
nurse&mother
September 3rd, 2009
4:55 pm
Amen, Maleman! I understand that air brushing is used extensively in magazines.
Folks, there is a happy medium. Being neither “anorexic” thin nor obese is healthy.
Denise you are right on. When I was younger I was VERY slender through college. I never exercised. Period. The last few years, I have been exercising to try to lose about 15 pounds. Much to my dismay, I have not lost much weight. BUT, most importantly, I had my cholesterol and lipids checked in the spring. My cholesterol went from about 220 down to 140. All my lipids had improved tremendously. I was so pleasantly surprised at the results. I may not be a size 4, (rather an 8/10) but my heart is much healthier.
nurse&mother
September 3rd, 2009
4:58 pm
Oh, you guys should check out on fox news.com. I’ve seen some stars without their makeup!!!! OMG, you would not recognize them as stars. That makes me feel a lot better. I was amazed at just how much makeup some women wear!! Good heavens! It must take them an hour!
nurse&mother
September 3rd, 2009
5:03 pm
oops, sorry for the typos. I meant to say that you guys should check out some reports on foxnews.com ( about a week ago). I’ve seen a few articles involving female stars without their makeup. Very interesting….
I would be interested in seeing just how I would look if some Hollywood makeup artist made up my face.
nurse&mother
September 3rd, 2009
5:06 pm
Theresa- what is your email? I wanted to send you something, but I can’t seem to find it on the page. Is it ajcmomania@? Thanks. I had a couple of ideas for you.
wtf Stookie
September 3rd, 2009
6:03 pm
alright everyone so acorrding to Stookie, if we are not 110 pounds, we are not healthy
Denise
September 3rd, 2009
6:16 pm
I think age plays a part in how we view weight. I know it does for me. When I was young I played sports and was nothing but muscle. Couldn’t BUY any boobs, hips and butt. (But I thought I was the finest thing going.) I was the “skinny one” (read: slim but nowhere near what I call sexy now). Fast forward many years and I weigh probably 20-30 pounds more than I did then but look and feel so much better, IMO of course. I look at those old pictures and think somebody should have fed me a sandwich and some Krispy Kreme donuts or something. I admit that when I first gained the weight I was horrified because I thought my “attractiveness” was tied to being thin and when I wasn’t thin anymore I couldn’t deal. Then people come out the woodwork telling me how when I was skinny (when I thought I was hot) I looked hungry! LOL!!! I go to the gym and I could stand to get on the floor right now and do some crunches but I like my softer, curvier me. My body has matured along with everything else and, like I said, MOST of the time I love it.
Stookie
September 3rd, 2009
7:36 pm
WTF Stookie, I love how you put words in my mouth. Don’t be so angry, this forum is just about opinions. Clearly if someone doesn’t agree with you, it’s wrong. Go back, once you’ve gotten over yourself, and actually read what I posted.
motherjanegoose
September 3rd, 2009
8:02 pm
Overboard busy today and no time to post….back in the saddle as it were.
Kudos to women with real bodies. When did a REAL body become a size 4?
I was always chunky as a child, then lost weight and was trim in HS, then put it back on in college, then trim when I married, then I had my first baby who was 10 pounds 8 ounces! Yikes, he ate all the time and since I breastfed him I could eat anything I wanted and was a smallish size 10.
Now, I am near 50 and am a size 14. I agree with JJ, I can run circles around most people and am healthy. I DO NOT care if I am not thin, I have way too many other things to do and am active.
When folks are eulogized, has anyone heard this:
She had the best BOOBS! Her butt was so firm! What I would give for her tiny waist! Her kids adored her because she had the flattest tummy and looked great in a swimsuit! HELLO?
I am on my feet for 6 hours giving presentations and some participants look exhausted after 2 hours with me. I had a twenty something tell me that she could not keep up with me…she said she was more worn out than when she did her aerobics routine. I also had a 72 year old retired teacher who hung with me the entire time. Said she was tired of sitting around and was subbing in Kinder!
Could I stand to lose 30 pounds….YES but I have other things going on and I am not going to live on celery and yogurt. I have no health issues and feel blessed to have family and friends plus be able to make money doing what I love to do TALK and share my expertise…..haha! Not everyone gets to do what they love every day.
DB
September 3rd, 2009
8:35 pm
ROFL!!! I’m absolutely amazed at the number of discussions regarding people’s weight, and the number of prejudices.
WHO CARES!! I have long since stopped caring what anyone else thinks about my body. If you are only impressed by my boobs or my waist, you probably aren’t worth my time or a second thought. If you are superficial enough to make assumptions about my life, personality and work habits from a dress size, then you’re an idiot. My body is my business. It has served me well, but I do not worship at its shrine.
Personally, I can think of nothing more boring than to be constantly obsessed by a dress size.
Dan
September 3rd, 2009
10:15 pm
She is a pretty woman, but she is a tad big, that may be average but that doesn’t mean it is healthy or something to strive for (she is clearly not fit). Some people may like that and thats fine. But to hold her up as a state of health and fitness to strive for is every bit as wrong and unhealthy as insisting everyone get to 110 lbs (or the body fat equivelent for their frame)
nurse&mother
September 3rd, 2009
10:22 pm
Am I the only one who finds it frickin funny that majority of males (not all of course) love to tell you when a woman is overweight, yet their bellies hang out over their waist line (and they haven’t even birthed a baby). I’m betting that most of the chauvenistic (sp?) males are a bit round around the belly too. Just a wild guess.
scott
September 4th, 2009
1:39 pm
so that is considered a big belly?
ZsaZsaATL
September 4th, 2009
3:08 pm
I love it!! Bring it on! :o) We need more photos like that.
JenD
September 8th, 2009
5:11 pm
I love this!! A normal woman featured like that… finally! She is NOT fat. I wish we saw a lot more of this. Women and girls of all ages would have much better self images if they compared themselves to average sized girls/women like the one in that photo. She looks very healthy and vibrant. I applaud it.
Bon D
October 2nd, 2009
1:26 pm
What I don’t understand is why they had to be nude. I don’t see (or want to see a photo of 7 thin models). Why weren’t they dressed to the nines to impress the fashion industry? That is supposed to be what the magazine is setting out to impact, isn’t it??