I am a University student conducting a study on body image, the effects media, personality, family as well as others have on our thoughts about dieting and our self image.this is for my own purpose of interest and is confidential.Body image is how you see yourself in the mirror/ mind, what you believe about your appearance, how you feel about your body(weight, shape,height), and how you sense and control your body as you move i.e. how you feel in your body not just about your body.
The desire for thinness among women is so prevalent that it is identified as a "normative discontent" (Rodin et al, 1985). 42% of 1st -3rd grade girls want to be thinner ( collins, 1991). 81% of 10 year old girls are afraid of being fat( Mellin et al., 1991)and report this is a greater fear than parents dying.
The average American woman is 5'4" and weighs 140lbs, the average model is 5'11" and weighs 117lbs. Media content- ideal body image promoted for females is: young,, extremely thin, long-legged, tall, an image that is impossible for most women to achieve. The ideal body image for males: young, lean, muscled, 6-pack abdomen, broad shoulders and narrow waist, image may be achievable if genetically endowed and through unhealthy means.
So many of us are taking this image of the perfect body to an unhealthy level, i as well am guilty of this in previous years. The idea that should be promoted is everything in moderation, instead of litterally killing ourselves to get to this much sought out "ideal".Being healthy is best, in my opinion. My question to you, is how far are you willing to let your desire to be "ideal" affect your own personal health and everyday living? Comments please!
no offense... but get a real degree in something usefull that will benefit humanity and you will actually get paid a decent wage for... $24k a year for a bachelors in.... human relations(?).... worthless.
to each their own. Thanks for the rude comment. Dont be so quick to judge others.
If someone is happy with "$24k a year", then let them.
As for the actual topic, I'd say it's hard to not let the media control how you perceive yourself. It's hard not to compare, as I think it's something people do without realizing. I mean, my goal, based on a BMI chart is 5'4, 115lbs. I do hope by the time I get there that the media doesn't influence me to go lower because I like the look of those numbers.
Thanks for the reply! yes its definately hard not to be influenced by the media in someway or another, afterall its all around us. It sounds like you have set good goals for yourself, good for you and keep up the good work!
No matter what mindset you have, the media definitely influences everyone at least a little bit. I think a lot of people don't even notice the influence the media has on them because it is everywhere.
While losing weight initially, I did get kind of obsessed. I have reached my goal, and I am maintaining. However, a small voice in the back of my head tells me that I should lose 5 more pounds and then I will be perfect. But, I know that another 5 pounds will not make me happier or healthier. I am perfect where I am right now. I think distancing myself from active calorie counting has helped, even though I do keep a kind of running count in my head everyday. I have also focused on strength training, and made gaining strength/muscle my focus, rather than losing weight, and that has helped a lot too. More or less, I have changed my goal from losing weight, to being as healthy as possible.
Original Post by kdh1221:
no offense... but get a real degree in something usefull that will benefit humanity and you will actually get paid a decent wage for... $24k a year for a bachelors in.... human relations(?).... worthless.
Where did she even mention her major? You're incredibly rude and have a very high opinion of yourself to assume that you're helping humanity...
Original Post by kdh1221:
no offense... but get a real degree in something usefull that will benefit humanity and you will actually get paid a decent wage for... $24k a year for a bachelors in.... human relations(?).... worthless.
1) She never mentioned her major.
2) Students often have to take classes outside of their major for college.
3) Who are you to judge what she wants to study? Not to mention, who are you to judge what is worthless or not?
Take your negativity somewhere else.
Original Post by kdh1221:
no offense... but get a real degree in something usefull that will benefit humanity and you will actually get paid a decent wage for... $24k a year for a bachelors in.... human relations(?).... worthless.
HOW IS THIS NOT A VIOLATION OF FORUM ETIQUETTE?
Thanks for brightening my day Kim. Be well.
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wow. i may need my a$$hat today.
hmmmm...im 47 and i work very hard at maintaining my figure and my waistline - im not ready to give up all the attention and inherent power of being an attractive female. ana-thin is not a goal however, i loooove me some muscles and i loooooove feeling strong. i am getting to the age where societys norms have very little affect otherwise though. i will be the quintessential crotchety old lady with a foul mouth. heh.
Original Post by watergirl:You so awesome, wg :)...
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wow. i may need my a$$hat today.
hmmmm...im 47 and i work very hard at maintaining my figure and my waistline - im not ready to give up all the attention and inherent power of being an attractive female. ana-thin is not a goal however, i loooove me some muscles and i loooooove feeling strong. i am getting to the age where societys norms have very little affect otherwise though. i will be the quintessential crotchety old lady with a foul mouth. heh.
can i have some of your boobage then? since yours are so amazing? ;)
My original reply does not violate forum rules.
Back on topic:
My question to you, is how far are you willing to let your desire to be "ideal" affect your own personal health and everyday living? Comments please!
What kind of reply do you expect to get from a healthy weight loss/gain forum? The people here are trying to, or are already no longer swayed by media to look a specific way.
btw, kycher - are you a male from Russia?
Original Post by watergirl:LOL!can i have some of your boobage then? since yours are so amazing? ;)
*hands wg some boobage* ;P
Original Post by kdh1221:
My original reply does not violate forum rules.
Back on topic:
My question to you, is how far are you willing to let your desire to be "ideal" affect your own personal health and everyday living? Comments please!
What kind of reply do you expect to get from a healthy weight loss/gain forum? The people here are trying to, or are already no longer swayed by media to look a specific way.
btw, kycher - are you a male from Russia?
Oh, okay. So you're just uneducated and rude.
What are you doing so wonderful with your life that you have the nerve to think you can judge others? Oh, I forgot: Kim just discovered a cure for AIDS, cancer and made a special pill that makes her not 100lbs overweight.
Personally, I'd rather die than ever go over 200lbs, and I am 5'10".
Good luck on your weight loss girl - you obviously need the support of others much more than I do.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Hey guys, cool it.
kdh might have been less than polite, but amyscount, it's not any less rude (and against forum guidelines) for you to attack someone for her weight.
Please keep this thread on topic.
Original Post by amyscount:
Personally, I'd rather die than ever go over 200lbs, and I am 5'10".
Good luck on your weight loss girl - you obviously need the support of others much more than I do.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Who should be ashamed? In no world is that kind of comment acceptable.
Original Post by kdh1221:
What kind of reply do you expect to get from a healthy weight loss/gain forum? The people here are trying to, or are already no longer swayed by media to look a specific way.
1) Everyone has self-image issues no matter how comfortable they claim to be with themselves. The question asked is what standard of health or beauty (not just from the media) is the root cause of this dissatisfaction with ourselves. If you're so confident why are you even here?
2) There are plenty of people here who have had severe eating disorders and can answer the question in depth using their past experiences.
To answer the question, my body image issues started in 5th grade from my peers making fun of how muscular I was. I loved exercise and sports so I never really did anything about it, but when I got into college and started losing weight literally by accident (dorm food=nasty) I started losing muscle mass because I've never really had any fat to speak of. So I noticed (I think more subconsciously than anything) that I could still work out but as long as I hardly ate I wouldn't build muscle. That's where my problem started.
Original Post by kdh1221:
My original reply does not violate forum rules.
Back on topic:
My question to you, is how far are you willing to let your desire to be "ideal" affect your own personal health and everyday living? Comments please!
What kind of reply do you expect to get from a healthy weight loss/gain forum? The people here are trying to, or are already no longer swayed by media to look a specific way.
btw, kycher - are you a male from Russia?
Your original reply did not stay on topic, not to mention the fact that it was totally rude. That is a violation of the posting guidelines.
Original Post by hotrebeccainmesa:
Original Post by watergirl:
can i have some of your boobage then? since yours are so amazing? ;)
LOL!
*hands wg some boobage* ;P
*juggles my new boobage*
I <3 U!
*glomps rebecca*
Thanks everyone! I am very pleased to see that most individuals on here have good guildlines set for themselves and dont seem like they are willing to go overboard, good for you! No im not a male from Russia........ lol im a 23 yr old female from Canada studying psychology and going for a masters in counselling psychology. I work with 2 wonderful autistic children to helpmake their lives better. I dont believe that anyone is better than anyone else, so i dont believe in bashing others including their comments, so yes lets stay on topic, everyone's opinion counts and everyone has meaning. Absoultutly no one is better than anyone in my eyes just different qualities, including myself; im not better than anyone else, just the same!
