I’ve been noticing an amount of search queries on my site that contain the phrases “get skinny,” “skinny models,” “what exercise can I do to get skinny.” I want to sincerely welcome all of you who typed such queries.
So, why do you want to be "skinny*"?
Will it make you beautiful, popular, safe, in control, happy? Can you not be/have those things the way you are right now? Why?
Are you starving, eating in secret, binging, purging, exercising all hours of the day, constantly weighing yourself? Is getting skinny an absolutely must for you? Is getting skinny your sole focus?
There will be things you may have to give up in return for this goal; you know that, right? Things like living your life to the fullest, your health, or perhaps even your life. That’s a high price to pay for obtaining super skinniness, isn't it? And I truly don’t believe it’s worth it.
What do you think about changing this goal of being skinny? How about surrounding yourself with people who love and support you? How about learning to love and care for your body? How about learning to eat healthy and whole? How about exercising for fun and health? How about enjoying and living life to the fullest?
Maybe there's something deeper than this goal of getting skinny? Maybe there's a chance you're suffering from an eating disorder? Could you consider seeking professionals who have the knowledge and compassion to help you work through the hurt and pain that's deep inside you? Having an eating disorder doesn't mean you're a bad or strange person. That's completely false! Choosing to recover from an eating disorder means the giving yourself the opportunity to become a healthier and freer you.
What do you think?
How about not making skinny your goal?
How about changing that goal from getting skinny to being healthy?
Eating disorders support
Links to help you find information and support
ANAD - National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
National Eating Disorders Association - education, resources, and support
Overeaters Anonymous - 12-step recovery program from compulsive overeating using
Pale Reflections - an online support community for those with eating disorders
Radiant Recovery - Program to help heal sugar addictions
Something Fishy - raising awareness and supporting those with eating disorders and their families
*Yes, the term "skinny" is also used without the intention of implying anything negative (i.e., really meaning svelte, sexy, and fit). I can understand this. This post was in response to those who are intent at getting skinny (i.e., really low body weight) at all costs. If the motivation to lose weight is simply to get really skinny, there may be deeper issues at stake, and the individual needs careful attention by a professional counselor so that recovery can take place.
Originally posted 2008-07-09 08:00:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Starving for an Image - The Issue of Super Skinny Models The fashion industry is more than just selling clothes; it’s about selling an image. A large part of that image for many in this industry is looking tall and thin, really thin. The argument for desiring the stick-thin appearance is that the clothes look better on skinny models. Sad when...... -
New Goal: Be Active Throughout the Day I sit too much. This is partly due to my job, largely due to blogging, and mostly because it's my own fault! Sitting all day actually makes me tired! I also dread the Numb Bum Syndrome and the infamous "Blogger's Butt." I believe my body craves and needs to move. ...... -
Sticking with Your Resolutions Why do we make New Year's resolutions? What's the purpose? Did you even bother making any resolutions, or did you refrain due to the associated pressure and oft resulting disappointment from trying to follow said resolutions and failing? We make resolutions because we want to move forward; we want to...... -
What is a Healthy Balanced Diet? Understanding what a healthy balanced diet is, is the key to getting the most out of our health and wellness. The online diet market is continuing to grow, and as a result, there are all kinds of new ways that we are supposedly able to lose weight and get into...... -
Eat More; Lose Weight Yes, it’s possible! You can eat more and still lose weight. The trick is to eat foods that have a high water and fiber content. Water and fiber will make you feel full quicker, so you tend to eat less. Plus, foods with lots of water and/or fiber in them......
Related Websites -
How to Start Implementing Small Changes Into Your Diet The right way to diet is really all about implementing small and healthy changes. This is the way to sound dieting, and the only way that you are going to lose weight effectively. If you are serious about losing weight and getting healthy then you absolutely need to be willing...... -
How to Eat Healthy Without Feeling Deprived By far, the most common reason that diets fail is due to the fact that people simply feel too deprived and they lose sight of their goals. While we all want to lose weight and feel better, the siren call of our favorite foods can be so powerful that we...... - The Pritikin Weight Loss Breakthrough by Nathan Pritikin When Nathan Pritikin found out that he had heart disease, back in the 1950’s, most dietary concepts were pretty basic. He was one of the first to try out a low fat, high fiber diet to improve heart health and his results were pretty amazing. Fast forward to today and......
-
Useful Web Apps for Weight Loss Everyone seems to be getting into weight loss, healthy eating and exercise habits these days, and with that, there has been a surge in the availability of web applications designed to aid in diet and exercise, weight loss, goal setting and other life improvements. Some of these web applications and...... -
Avoiding Dangers in the Kitchen pt 2 Once you're done here, you are going to want to move on to the remainder of the kitchen like so: You need to learn how to read your food labels to make the right food choices. You want to buy a sturdy cutting board to accommodate all of the fresh......
- Hair Loss Hair Care Store
- Weight 12 Downrigger, Outrigger Gear Fishing
- Life Savers Candy & Nuts Advertising Collectibles
- Donjoy Support & Protective Gear Clothing, Shoes & Accessories Gym, Workout & Yoga Exercise & Fitness
- Light Weight Ventilated Hats & Headwear Running Deals
Categories:
Body Image, Health and Wellness, Weight Loss
Tags:
12 comments ↓
I’m really glad that you posted this (as well as all those links). You have such a wonderful attitude towards being healthy and its so important to have this reminder that “skinny” isn’t going to solve any problems and that there often is something much deeper than just trying to lose weight for a lot of people that have that as their mission.
great post.
fabulous links.
I wish we could all wanna be big, muscular, NOTICED and *take up space in this world*———-not small and skinny.
M.
Sagan,
Thank you. That means a lot to mean. Thinking this way hasn’t been natural for me. I had to learn it the long and sometimes hard way.
MizFit,
Thank you! Big or little, as long as we’re healthy in body, mind, and spirit! Healthy, and fulfilled, at peace… I believe those really are attainable.
Great post! And terrific idea to post all those links. The Bag Lady would like to be thinner, but she’s been skinny, and it wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
The Bag Lady,
Thanks! Yeah, living and enjoying life, no matter your size, is much more fun than trying to maintain super skinniness!
Hi Susan,
Great points you’ve made here – I’m so focused on getting healthy, not just on weight loss, that I often forget that there are those who just “want to get skinny”.
At the same time though, I did have a point in my life when I was super focused on that darned scale, instead of being focused on increasing my cardio endurance, reducing inches, and gaining muscle tone like I am now.
JoLynn,
Thanks.
The allure of the scale is tricky, as so many people use that as a way of gauging their health, fitness, and even self worth. Good on you for realizing and changing your focus. I know you’ve got a good perspective regarding health and fitness now, and that’s fantastic.
Great information for many girls and women. We are including this in our “Best Fitness Blogs” read of the week.
Thank you Girl-Woman!
This is a great post. I get called skinny a lot and it drives me crazy. I think of skinny negatively, to mean “too” thin and unhealthy. I may be thin, slender, svelte even, but I am healthy. Great links and resources you provided here and a great message to those who are looking for happiness in all the wrong places.
Emily,
People associate “fat” with a negative connotation, but not necessarily “skinny.” However, being called skinny can hurt just as much.
Thank you for the tips. Almost everyone wants to have a perfect body nowadays. This needs lots of hard work.However, I don’t like the term skinny! Skinny can be as uncomfortable as fat!
Leave a Comment