Today became tomorrow....

Hi everyone -

I just flew back to LA from NY where I was on the Today show this morning doing a segment on holiday stress and the tendency to overeat! I am exhausted...but I am also energized to see your comments and feedback - thank you!!

I had two really weird body image experiences flying home. I'll paint the pictures for you briefly. Both had to do with mothers and daughters.

On my outbound flight there was a Paris Hilton clone sitting next to me who spoke at the top of her lungs and wore those crazy Chewbacca furry boots on top of her leggings - as if we were going to Antartica- not NYC. (Is that how you spell Antartica? Why don't blogs come with spell checks?)

Anyway, when we landed she was putting on her winter coat and she said to her mother "Mom, I haven't tried on this jacket since last year it is a little tight." To which her mother replied "Why would it be tight? Haven't you lost weight?" and the daugther snapped at her mother and screamed "No Mom, I gained 500 pounds - I am big and fat - are you disappointed?" This clearly made a huge scene and I wanted to slap some sense into both of them. They continued to speak to each other in the language of fat, sniping at each other along the way - discussing how much they were going to work out and not eat before the holidays. And all I kept thinking was man, that must be a miserable and unsafe relationship to be in - always feeling scrutinized or unable to communicate without screaming to each other. Yuck.

And then on my way home tonight there were three girls and their mother traveling. The two older sisters were almost identical and had very similar body shapes - tall and lean. Their little sister had a different body type - she was shorter and rounder. The little sister asked her older sisters for some of their potato chips and the older sisters proceeded to dole out the chips to her one by one - telling he she can't eat too many or else she will get 'fat'.
They giggled as they said this as though they were enjoying this twisted body image torture. Until the little one started to cry and announced to the plane "I hate my family". To which her sisters replied "I hate my family MORE".

Happy Holidays! HA!

Comments

Why does the frmale population always gain satisfaction out of belittling other females. Wouldn't it have been great if the sisters had shared with their little sister with love and attention instead of such disparging remarks?
When will we learnit is what makes us tick that makes us beaiutiful.

Is it bad to think that mental abuse like that is something we should all be used to, especially with the kind of reality we live in surrounded by media and a strict status quo? Anyone that is overweight will be teased at some point in their lives- as sad as that is- and that is where self-esteem comes in. That poor little girl who doesn't even have support at home to build a strong self image...

But we'll keep fighting! =)

It's Antarctica.

thanks for the spell check! :)

that would be the parents fault! my little one( 5) is plump and loves to eat JUNK FOOD!i do my part by not bringing home the junk..My older daughter (12)goes off on her at times and i have to repeatedly tell her to switch her words around...If my daughter is going to be overweight at least let her feel good and not live a complexed life like I did! that poor child will definately have self esteem issues ! : (

hearing stories like that really hits home for me. When I was a kid I was teased by my siblings about my weight... I was on a diet by the age of 11, or 12, and it had gotten so out of hand by the time I was in high school that I wasn't eatting at all - or I was working out obsessively. Finally at 26 I am at a point in my life when I just want to be happy and healthy - no matter what the numbers on the scale are!

That poor girl! I was a chubby kid and was teased about it. And it hurt, but at least my family was never mean about it.

I walk with pride
By God's law I abide
I'm beautiful--
Inside and out

I don't care what you say and see
You can't convince ME--
That that is THE beauty
It may be one form
But not one for which to conform

I don't need to be unnaturally tall--
A thin waif admired by all!
I am granted the ability to stand--with integrity--
The majority look to media glamour girlz for conformity!
Since when did the majority
become the minority?

There's no glamour living off your body
For a body is for function--but a mind and soul goes deep
Our Prophet Muhammad said that there is a cure for all but death
Through him we know the mind's potential and depth

So live off your mind and become successful
For to live life obsessed about your body is a life so dull.
Discover a cure for any disease--that's a useful find,
Then will you maintain your body and develop your mind.

You guys all get that non-'fat' people get teased too, right?

I mean - I was teased at school for "being American", "reading books" (deliberately for enjoyment on my own time *shock*), "having a weird laugh" - not to mention wearing glasses and braces!

Muslim_poet - thank you, for reminding us all of the true beauty of your religion in these times of ignorant fundamentalism (in all three genesis-based religions).

I wish more religious people actually believed in the values their own religions preach.

Hi Emily--
Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I appreciate that you responded back.