Realistic Body Image - I am not conforming to society's standards

Sadly there are very few images of black beauty in the media. When you see ethnic beauty it is usually Latina or Asian. Yes we have Gabrielle Union, Sanaa Lathan, and Taraji Henson but they are "slender". On the "plus" side we have Jennifer Hudson and Monique. There aren't many images that spotlight the category in between "slender" and "plus size".

Personally I think Halle Berry, Scarlett Johansson, Kate Beckinsale, Charlize Theron, and many others are beautiful. However, they are all that you see. I cannot aspire to be a slender/skinny woman. It is not gonna happen. Even if I could, I don't want to look like that. 

I posted new pics on my profile of ladies with bodies that I admire. While searching for pics, I saw some posts online regarding Serena Williams in a bikini that made me want to vomit. People calling her a tranny, a monkey, etc. I think her body is fierce and the fact that she still has boobs and a butt is amazing considering how athletic she is. I have seen the same things written about First Lady Michelle Obama. Because she has hips and a butt, many feel that she's fat. Both of these woman workout on a regular basis. I don't believe they could do anything else to have better physiques other than have plastic surgery.

I love Angela Bassett's body. That woman is 50 years old and looks better than most 20 somethings.

All I know is that when I told my fiancee that I wanted to lose some weight the first thing he said was "I don't want a skinny woman so don't overdo it". I am working to be the best "healthy" me that I can be. I am 5' 1" but have never been "petite". I have always had hips and a butt. I am a size 14 now at 184 lbs. At my goal weight of 144 lbs. I am a perfect size 10. I am muscular and curvy. At my best I would look more like Serena Williams or Ki Toy Johnson in a bikini...and I am more than happy to aspire to that.

i agree with you on the BMI calculator..I rather go by how I look and how I feel...

I also think that the bathing suit of Serena is hella hot..but I also have realistic expectations knowing that I'll never be a Serena..I can only do me and be me... I know what your saying and what your getting at..I also like all the plus size models in Hollywood....it's just how I am..and people that are saying why are you looking at these people? Because we are a celebrity focused society--just how we are....

Original Post by bootser1:

Original Post by kathygator:

Women of color carry weight beautifully, at all body types.

Good for you, honey, wanting to get strong instead of 'thin'. :)

 that's a stereotype..not all women of color carry their weight beautifully....and I'm saying this as a woman of color

I never heard that stereotype before. I have just heard the we tend to be fatter than most. I do believe kathygator meant it as a compliment though. Queen Latifah and  Anansa Sims (Beverly Johnson's daughter) do carry their weight well!

I just went to look at the pictures you posted in your gallery. Those women are gorgeous.

Original Post by moonikins:

I just went to look at the pictures you posted in your gallery. Those women are gorgeous.

Yes they are! However, according to society and the BMI they are overweight/obese. The powers that be feel that there is no "market" or only a small "market" for them...LOL Go figure

Original Post by change_in_sc:

Original Post by octo-luv:

Well in many ways I'm sick of these weak looking celebrities. I know we can't help but compare ourselves to what we see ALL the time, but there comes a point when you realize that you don't want to be a sheep following some popular sheep. I've certainly had enough, to each their own.

On a side note, if someone would please just dress our first lady a bit better, I think more people would compliment her. But again to each their own. It doesn't take away any of her other accomplishments tho.

 I have heard people talk about our First Lady's fashion (mostly online) but the ironic thing is that those that matter in the fashion world LOVE her sense of style. I tune in to things related to fashion week and have seen these same people be harsh with others so it goes to show that one person's toss off is another's treasure.

Well can't she just find something that we all can agree on, lol.  Those people that matter in the fashion world also show skinny minnies as well, I just don't trust them. Her sense of style is fine but she just needs to pick different clothes.

But anyway, people just carry weight differently, some better than others. Like those full size models, they don't look like your average person either. Guess that's why they are models.

stupid double posts!!!!

I am so jealous of women of color. It seems all are endowed with wider hips, small waists, and big boobs and butts! Perfect hourglasses. It took me months of HARD work in spinning classes and countless deadlifts to get a butt, and boobs are another story. It's pathetic that these women are criticized for their body types when they should be considered healthy and ideal. Even the most fit woman of color is sometimes heavier in weight, and they have no control over that. All I can say is, being a white girl, I am jealous!

Original Post by hbd512:

I am so jealous of women of color. It seems all are endowed with wider hips, small waists, and big boobs and butts! Perfect hourglasses. It took me months of HARD work in spinning classes and countless deadlifts to get a butt, and boobs are another story. It's pathetic that these women are criticized for their body types when they should be considered healthy and ideal. Even the most fit woman of color is sometimes heavier in weight, and they have no control over that. All I can say is, being a white girl, I am jealous!

 Girl don't be jealous...I mean creating your own butt is no small feat LOL Oh and I have 2 friends that are black and size 0-4 without hips. They both have large breasts though

More Pics on my profile page! I had to put up pics of Queen Latifah, the Fabulous Toccara, and Plus Sized Model Anansa Sims

I'm a woman of color. I believe that for people of color (not Asians though)generally, we're allowed to hit the upper limits of BMI but we're not supposed to go above. I think there's a cultural acceptance of curviness in certain cultures and that's great. However, there's also higher incidences of diabetes, heart disease and other obesity-related diseases probably tied to that cultural acceptance (among other factors of course) of those first few extra pounds that tend to lead to a whole lot more pounds later on.

I think sometimes we ignore the reality that some of our cultural norms may be harmful to our health. Most Americans are overweight but that doesn't make being overweight "normal."

Original Post by filthylucre:

I'm a woman of color. I believe that for people of color (not Asians though)generally, we're allowed to hit the upper limits of BMI but we're not supposed to go above. I think there's a cultural acceptance of curviness in certain cultures and that's great. However, there's also higher incidences of diabetes, heart disease and other obesity-related diseases probably tied to that cultural acceptance (among other factors of course) of those first few extra pounds that tend to lead to a whole lot more pounds later on.

I think sometimes we ignore the reality that some of our cultural norms may be harmful to our health. Most Americans are overweight but that doesn't make being overweight "normal."

The BMI does not work for every body type. Serena is not obese or unhealthy but she has said herself that she can't pay attention to the BMI because it says that she is overweight. I am not talking about people that are actually obese. I am saying that the women on my page are representative of the kinds of women that I see in real life. These women are active and taking care of themselves but according to the BMI they are overweight/obese. Smaller framed people of any color can effectively use the BMI but medium/large framed people need something that is more effective.

Thin small built women, OR medium framed women who work out extra hard dominate the movie screens and are portrayed in the media the most because that is what the majority - NOT ALL OF- society demands.

If the majority of people thought athletic, curvy women had better bodies then why aren’t more of them featured in the media?

Or perhaps it is a more small, select group of people who decide what we want? They make assumptions, and we watch their movies, therefore they keep doing the same thing? I really don’t know.

I think it is GREAT to be proud of your body. However, I do not think there is much point flaunting a skinny OR athletic body; a lot of people prefer smaller built women to athletic large framed women. It is simply a visual preference, and does not mean people who prefer the look of a more petite women would not consider a large athletic women if her personality and who she was appealed.

So, people hate both skinny and athletic women. I don’t see a reason to flaunt either body sizes.

People will "hate" whatever they are jealous of. It's pretty normal to want what you can't have or don't have. I don't hate her, but damn I wish I looked like or had Megan Fox's body. Will never have it but... *dreams*.

Whatever I end up looking like at 115-120 in the very end I'll be happy with because it certainly beats what I have now/whole life. =D

Original Post by change_in_sc:

 However, according to society and the BMI they are overweight/obese.

 You mean doctors?....

A lot of doctors have not been trained extensively on what constitutes a healthy weight

In fact, a some doctors do not know enough about what a reasonable weight is for different people.

I have heard of VERY under weight people, with BMI’S of 15 - 16 going to see doctors, who said it was okay to be that thin, and just dismissed them as being “ naturally skinny” and therefore not in danger of the risks of being under weight.

And many athletes have HUGE amounts of muscle and therefore they are classified as OVER WEIGHT for the height - any one with common sense can see that this does NOT been the person has too much body fat and should lose weight - it means that muscle ways more than fat hence they have a high % of muscle and very little fat.

A pro athlete or hard working trainer of gym junkie who is classified as over weight for their height does not necessarily need to lose weight - if they have very little body fat than they have no medical reason to lose weight.

Thats from the muscle being different weight than fat...

The subject of big black women is just...well...they are fat. Taadaaa. No magic going on, its just they are in a sub-culture that is more accepting of being fat....so....they tend to run with it more and claim its just because they are black....

You see, our bodies have bones in them. And around those bones are muscle....and around the muscle is fat. Either you have more fat percentage compared to the muscle/bone....or you dont.

Being black or white or asian doesnt make you fat or thin....that would be the result of your caloric intake vs your usage...

Original Post by loriklorik:

Thats from the muscle being different weight than fat...

The subject of big black women is just...well...they are fat. Taadaaa. No magic going on, its just they are in a sub-culture that is more accepting of being fat....so....they tend to run with it more and claim its just because they are black....

You see, our bodies have bones in them. And around those bones are muscle....and around the muscle is fat. Either you have more fat percentage compared to the muscle/bone....or you dont.

Being black or white or asian doesnt make you fat or thin....that would be the result of your caloric intake vs your usage...

Did you even read her original post?  She was not talking about big black women...in case I missed the fact that Serena Williams is one.

*sigh* Fine, I'll be a geek.

Black women typically have a better waist to hip ratio than white women. Asian women typically have a higher waist to hip ratio than both. This means that African american women can have a higher BF% and still be at no increased health risk. This means that Asian women can not. Hence the idea that it is black women's 'healthy weight' is on the high end of the healthy BMI, and asian women's are at the lower end. Everyone in any given race doesn't match this, it's just trends.

And yes, of course body shape matters, as does frame size. As does muscle mass. Calorie in/out is awesome at changing weight, but it's not a magic forumula for choosing 'ideal' weight.

Original Post by fayeonherway:

Original Post by loriklorik:

Thats from the muscle being different weight than fat...

The subject of big black women is just...well...they are fat. Taadaaa. No magic going on, its just they are in a sub-culture that is more accepting of being fat....so....they tend to run with it more and claim its just because they are black....

You see, our bodies have bones in them. And around those bones are muscle....and around the muscle is fat. Either you have more fat percentage compared to the muscle/bone....or you dont.

Being black or white or asian doesnt make you fat or thin....that would be the result of your caloric intake vs your usage...

Did you even read her original post?  She was not talking about big black women...in case I missed the fact that Serena Williams is one.

 I went a step beyond that...did you look at the pictures in her profile of women she was speaking about? Some aren't bad, but others are simply fat.

Basically, instead of letting one culture tell her she isnt thin enough...she is just letting another culture tell her its ok to be fat. But, culture or not, excessive fat from a combination of lack of exercise and poor eating habits....just seems like something you wouldnt want to embrace?

Original Post by loriklorik:

 I went a step beyond that...did you look at the pictures in her profile of women she was speaking about? Some aren't bad, but others are simply fat.

Basically, instead of letting one culture tell her she isnt thin enough...she is just letting another culture tell her its ok to be fat. But, culture or not, excessive fat from a combination of lack of exercise and poor eating habits....just seems like something you wouldnt want to embrace?

 Owning one's weight at any size and saying it looks good is not a crime. She's on CC with the rest of us losing weight, challenging her motivation looks silly. And many of the overweight women ARE proportionate, which would make them at no increased health risks, which, if they exercise and eat their maintenence calories from nutritious foods, would make them... healthy. Fat and health are not contrary concepts, it is entirely possible for someone overweight to be 'healthy.'

Also, choosing to believe a culture that isn't obsessed with underweight thinness in favor of one that doesn't judge someone one overweight as bad, isn't necessarily a bad decision.

Though don't worry lorik, it turns out that african american women are beginning to change and value thinness. As such, the number of EDs in black women has gone from practicaly nil, and is now skyrocketing. I'm so glad us white people were around to teach them about 'health' with our thin obsessed 'culture'