Living the Lifestyle, Wildcard Wednesday, 7-28-2021
steve0mania
Posts: 3,405 Member
We meet here to explore, share, celebrate and (sometimes) agonize over how we do (or don't) incorporate weight loss guidelines into our daily lives. "It's a lifestyle, not a diet" is easily and often said, but sometimes not so simply put into practice.
This is a thread for everyone. If you're new to GoaD, or to weight loss, your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're maintaining, or a long-term loser, your thoughts on the topic may be just what someone else needs to hear. If you're reading this, join in the discussion!
Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion.
Monday -Crewahl (Charlie)
Tuesday – 88olds
Wednesday -
Thursday - misterhub (Greg)
Friday - whathapnd (Emmie)
Today's Topic: The Culture Wars
Many folks believe that we're in the midst of a "culture war," in which there are semi-militant groups seeking to purposefully change the prevailing culture. As an example, the development of "critical theories" around race, gender, and other topics, seeks to overturn more traditional views on these topics.
One topic that I've noticed that also seems to be intermingled with this is the "body positive" movement. According to Wikipedia:
"Body positivity is a social movement focused on empowering individuals regardless of their physical weight or size, while also challenging the ways in which society presents and views the physical body."
A consequence of this is the idea that we should not be obsessed with weight, and an extension of this is that we shouldn't be obsessed with "dieting," or the idea of a "normal" weight.
Have you come across strong advocates of the body-positive movement, or perhaps, are you a strong advocate? How do you reconcile the idea of being happy with your weight (whatever that weight it) while working to get down to a "normal" weight (I'm purposefully using the term "normal" instead of "healthy" here to highlight the issue)? Other thoughts about this topic? Feel free to ramble!
This is a thread for everyone. If you're new to GoaD, or to weight loss, your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're maintaining, or a long-term loser, your thoughts on the topic may be just what someone else needs to hear. If you're reading this, join in the discussion!
Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion.
Monday -Crewahl (Charlie)
Tuesday – 88olds
Wednesday -
Thursday - misterhub (Greg)
Friday - whathapnd (Emmie)
Today's Topic: The Culture Wars
Many folks believe that we're in the midst of a "culture war," in which there are semi-militant groups seeking to purposefully change the prevailing culture. As an example, the development of "critical theories" around race, gender, and other topics, seeks to overturn more traditional views on these topics.
One topic that I've noticed that also seems to be intermingled with this is the "body positive" movement. According to Wikipedia:
"Body positivity is a social movement focused on empowering individuals regardless of their physical weight or size, while also challenging the ways in which society presents and views the physical body."
A consequence of this is the idea that we should not be obsessed with weight, and an extension of this is that we shouldn't be obsessed with "dieting," or the idea of a "normal" weight.
Have you come across strong advocates of the body-positive movement, or perhaps, are you a strong advocate? How do you reconcile the idea of being happy with your weight (whatever that weight it) while working to get down to a "normal" weight (I'm purposefully using the term "normal" instead of "healthy" here to highlight the issue)? Other thoughts about this topic? Feel free to ramble!
0
Replies
-
As always, Steve, an interesting topic.
I guess I draw a distinction between empowering at any weight and not focusing on weight.
At 315 I was just as bright and curious as I was at 180. In other words, I was intellectually capable. However, at 315 I was not capable of meaningful physical activity. Because I was intellectually fit but not physically fit, both society and I felt I was not “all I could be”. It would also be true that my limitations were a result of choices I made. I think I had fewer options in life because of that. (In part, at least. I wouldn’t argue that anything I didn’t accomplish was solely due to society’s view of my weight.)
On the idea of focus on weight, I think we get into semantics a bit. At 5’9” and 205 at yesterday’s scale, my weight is “normal” for an American male - but not for a Swedish or Swiss or Somali male. I’m not obsessed with my weight, but I am focused on it. I pay attention to it, but I also pay attention to my wife and my investments and my health - in other words, other things that are also priorities for me. I think focus becomes obsession when it gets to “never enough” weight loss and to perennial dissatisfaction with your body - and I don’t think obsession is good. Focus, on the other hand, I think is good.
The only place I run across strong advocates of body positivity is on Connect. I can say that at 315 I didn’t view my body as beautiful. However, anyone who posts a starting picture at whatever weight - 200, 300 or 400 pounds -which an expression of dissatisfaction gets a “you’re beautiful just the way you are!” Call me shallow, but I don’t agree. You may be a beautiful person, but your physical presentation to the world says you prioritize food over many other things.
I guess I draw a distinction between accepting people and their choices, and validating some of those choices.
All of this sets aside the question of “healthy”. I’d be hard pressed to argue that 315 pounds was healthy regardless of blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. Eventually, the higher weight is going to lead to health issues, and probably at a point where those costs will be passed along to society via Medicare. To that extent, higher weight has an element of social irresponsibility.
(THAT may set off some comments!)1 -
Like Charlie, I think there's a key distinction to be made: now versus the future.
I strongly believe that no one should be made to feel badly for how they look NOW. There are certainly forms of shaming and discrimination that occur because of one's appearance. As Charlie noted, folks who are heavy are nevertheless "normal," and should be treated as such.
At the same time, being heavy is not healthy. As such, I think one should have a FUTURE goal of losing weight and getting into a healthy (or at least, healthier) range. Per my understanding, this may not be really aligned with the body-positivity movement, where (from a practical point-of-view) trying to lose weight seems to be a non-acceptance of being heavy.
I don't know anyone who is a strong advocate of the body-positive movement, but I was recently surprised to receive an advertisement for a clothing manufacturer (it might have been for work-out clothes, actually) that featured some significantly plus-sized models. There's nothing wrong with that, but it struck me as really unusual to see. Maybe it's just the times we live in, where we have to be careful to ensure full inclusion of all viewpoints, but it just seemed strange to see. I guess I will get more used to it as it becomes more mainstream.0 -
Unrelated thoughts.
My last ML was a woman about 6’2. She had lost about 150 lbs. said she had lost 100+ on WW 5 times. I sort of cringed when she started talking in terms of things the were or were not “normal” as regaled to the WW lifestyle. But uncharacteristically, I said nothing. Last time I saw her she looked like she had gained it all back. She’s 6’2. Normal wasn’t happening. Aren’t we about to the point where normal for people older than 50 is overweight?
We seem to live in an age where nearly everyone is looking down their nose at others. Maybe it’s always been like that but folks just weren’t as vocal about it. But I think it’s a function of our prosperity. And accompanying lack of gratitude. Seems like when I was younger people were too busy working just to get by to expend so much energy on what other people we’re doing wrong. Gossip used to be a pass time. Now it’s big business.
Remember a guy named Andrew Weil? Is he still around? I recall him as overweight and obviously fine with it. But I see overweight people struggling and it just makes me sad. It just isn’t necessary. I go over to the Motivation board where a lot of newbies show up with problems. I try to help them. Seems pretty obvious that calorie counting works but it doesn’t work the way nearly everyone thinks. So much of the pain is just not necessary.
I’ve got more on this for later. I can think about it while I drive to Fort Myers.0 -
I'm not activly in the "body positivity", but, unless a person is so overweight it affects their ability to live "normally" , I'm ok with "overweight".
As to older people being heavier, my ols (younger than me, and now retired) said, as you get older, you will get pnumonia and land in the hospital, at some point. You will lose about 20# there, and if you don't have that 20# to spare, well.....
If you of us elders ask your PCP for a WW note, they will usually write it for about 20# higher than your "perfect" BMI, which is what WW uses for "goal" weight.
0 -
We seem to live in an age where nearly everyone is looking down their nose at others.
Interesting. I actually kind of feel the other way...we've moved to a culture where anything and everything goes, and "how dare you" suggest anything to me! ha ha ha. If I want to "non-conform" around an area, then you can't say anything to me. This is what body-positivity is to me (at least as a cultural manifestation), "how dare you suggest that my being overweight is not good for me!"0 -
Your right. Both things exist in the same time and space.
When everything is subject to criticism, criticism becomes meaningless. Especially since all criticism is dialed up to 11. People defecate in the streets, but show up in the wrong place with the wrong political button and a mob will beat you to death.1 -
I guess it just depends on your "perspective" at the moment. We, as a society, have an amazing ability to maintain cognitive dissonance across many axes. Personally, I find it hard to be perfectly internally consistent, and yet I can't stand hypocrisy! Ha ha!0
This discussion has been closed.