Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Overweight and being openly blasted in a fashion mag?

http://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/dating-blog/overweight-couples-on-television

The article above has me beyond livid. A friend sent it to me today, because she knows that 1) I love this magazine and 2) this article would make my blood boil. Especially the horrendous back-peddling by the author.  The list of "nutritional advice" from the author is also laughable:

(I'm happy to give you some nutrition and fitness suggestions if you need them — but long story short, eat more fresh and unprocessed foods, read labels and avoid foods with any kind of processed sweetener in them whether it's cane sugar or high fructose corn syrup, increase the amount of fiber you're getting, get some kind of exercise for 30 minutes at least five times a week, and do everything you can to stand up more — even while using your computer — and walk more. I admit that there's plenty that makes slimming down tough, but YOU CAN DO IT! Trust me. It will take some time, but you'll also feel so good, physically and emotionally. A nutritionist or personal trainer will help — and if you can't afford one, visit your local YMCA for some advice.)

Seriously? What about women like me? Women who spent 10-15 years CRYING at Weight Watcher weigh-ins? Women who had doctors tell them that they would need weight loss surgery b/c of "lack of self control?" I'm an overweight (obese, to be honest) woman in the U.S. who had to fight her primary care physician to get a referral to an endocrinologist. He only agreed if I saw the specialist to get approved for weight loss surgery. What was the first thing my endocrinologist tested me for? A brain tumor. Yup. He was so concerned about my lack of "health problems" and my weight steadily increasing over time that he thought I had CANCER.  (I don't, I have insulin resistance due to ovarian tumors/cysts that are reoccurring; I need to eat a highly regimented diet and take medication, but it's nice to know that those 10 years I thought I was 'doing it right' (fruits, veggies, walking...) were right, just not right for me.)

What do you guys think? Fat people making out on TV — are you cool with it? Do you think I'm being an insensitive jerk?

yes, she's a jerk, but more than that, she's a mean girl. What about this author? is she black? Indian? Asian? 

So anyway, yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. 

Does she have small boobs? Small boobs make me uneasy, we shouldn't let small-boobed women on tv. Oh, even grosser? What if she's a tall woman? Ewww.... any woman over 5'5" inches is gross.  What if I wrote for an  international magazine and said "black people kissing grossed me out." Or Indian people. Or gay people. Fat is the last acceptable "mean girl" target and I am tired of it! I've had coworkers, bosses, friends, family and complete strangers feel like they had the right to make fun of me for being overweight. Really? Do I tease the BALD one in the family? What about the one with the learning disability? No. Because I am NOT MEAN.

To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room — just like I'd find it distressing if I saw a very drunk person stumbling across a bar or a heroine addict slumping in a chair.

To that point (and on a more personal level), a few commenters and one of my friends mentioned that my extreme reaction might have grown out of my own body issues, my history as an anorexic, and my life-long obsession with being thin.

And really? You are going around making fun of people with weight issues and you have one? Welcome to the real world, sweetheart... I really hope no one starts telling you how disgusting you look. How you make them feel uncomfortable for just being the room with them. How the sight of your lack of muscle tone and creepily sagging skin over your  bones makes them want to hurl. Because that would be bitchy and mean. Like you. 

Marie Claire editors: fire this person. Fire her now. Pack her desk and leave her on the sidewalk. She doesn't do anything for your magazine but perpetuate the idea that woman are disgusting, slovenly and worthy of hatred being spewed upon them unless they are 100lbs.  You put Nina Garcia on Project Runway touting the "every woman" design and you let this filth be printed and associated with your magazine? Shame. Shame. Shame. 

4 comments:

  1. They are talking about this right now on The View!

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  2. I just read the article, I wasn't going to try to read the 101 pages of comments. She is wrong. These are obviously hang ups she has. She is entitled to have her own opinion but I don't think it belongs on Marie Claire's web site or in their magazine.

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  3. I love it. You are so right. There are certain groups that the rest of society can bash (overweight people, Catholics) but heaven forbid anyone should bash one of the politically correct people with issues (can't be mean to the poor, little anorexic girl, for example).

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