Society's standards

samisacoolkid
samisacoolkid Posts: 6
edited September 28 in Health and Weight Loss
The other day I was cleaning my room and found a journal I had FOREVER ago, i'm talking 8 years ago. In that journal I wrote down my new year's resolutions, and #1 was to lose weight. It was bolded, underlined, and circled. I was 11, and worried about my weight.

At the time when I wrote that, I saw nothing wrong about that. But I mean, at age 11 you should NOT be worrying about those kinds of things. You should be out playing with your friends and not caring about weight.

What do you guys think about the pressure to be slim?

Replies

  • capal2
    capal2 Posts: 7
    It's pretty sad isn't it? I developed disordered eating at the age of 10, and it continued all through my teens. I remember being as young as 7 or 8 and hearing that my mum was on a 'diet' and copying that behaviour and speech without really knowing what it meant. But then around 10 I started being teased for being chubby and I decided I needed to lose weight, so of course I did the only thing I ever heard or knew about, which was to start dieting. And dieting meant not eating and skipping meals... anorexia in the making.
    Seriously, I often think I wish I could meet my ten yr old self and teach healthy eating habits and self esteem to myself. It would have made my life so much easier...
  • Andythefitfamilyman
    Andythefitfamilyman Posts: 420
    It sucks, I remember doing the same thing when I was the kid, wanting to lose it. I hated it
  • SimplyDeLish
    SimplyDeLish Posts: 539
    Saw a study this week that said girls as young as 3 are worried about being fat. What? It's crazy what "society" has done to promote the overly thin as the "perfect" body.
  • deeharley
    deeharley Posts: 1,208 Member
    My daughter is healthy and seems to have a healthy view of weight, health and fitness. It's my boys I'm suddenly worried about - one is too thin and the other is overweight. ARGH!
  • Tennessee2019
    Tennessee2019 Posts: 676 Member
    As the intro on my profile page says -"I'm not drop dead gorgeous...I haven't got an amazing figure or a flat stomach... I'm far from being considered a model, but I'm me.. I don't pretend to be someone I'm not. I am who I am, love me or not, I can't change ME!!!!"
    That is the problem with the generation of today. They want to be skinny & don't accept themselves for how they are. Now I'm not saying that a weight loss of a few pounds is a bad thing - but to come to the point where your bones are showing is taking it a bit far!!!
    The models of today have professional make-up artists, hairstylists & other ways to make them look great. Women in the real world are not that lucky.
  • BethanyMasters
    BethanyMasters Posts: 519 Member
    I think it's sad that children are made to feel bad about the way they look and their weight.

    But i also find it sad that childhood obesity is a problem to begin with because parents are not teaching their children good eating habits.

    It reminds me of those episodes of maury with the 2 year olds that weigh close to 100 pounds and the parents just throw up there hands and say "BUT IF I DON'T FEED HIM HE CRIES!"
    Well yea. Kids cry when they don't get what they want! That's what they do!

    It just really makes me sad when I see a morbidly obese child because I know they have no chance because they have to eat what their parents feed them.
  • mkcalvert
    mkcalvert Posts: 219 Member
    I can relate....My best friend and I did a WW type thing when we were that age, I'm talking weigh ins and everything!! Sad I know, then I ended up spending most of my elementary and early middle school days as a tomb boy...I hated my body, then in 9th grade something happened(I was thin)!! Well as life happens gained some weight, had a baby, and finally decided I'm going to take my body back!! As much as possible, things just aren't the same after giving birth, but it is by far THE BEST thing I have EVER done!!
  • MayMaydoesntrun
    MayMaydoesntrun Posts: 805 Member
    I was just talking about his with my sister in law the other day. I looked GOOD when I was a teenager and I thought I was fat. Because I had hips and my inner thighs touched. I had a 25 inch waist and I thought I was fat. WTH? I wish like hell I l still had that figure..Yes, society does a number on the mental images all kids have on themselves. It's really sad. I try to focus on positive terms now when I speak out loud about my fitness journey because I have a 5 y/o little boy who is a chunky monkey and I don't want him to create a negative self image. We talk about healthy foods and exercise as being fun! So far, so good. We will see.
  • angelicdisgrace
    angelicdisgrace Posts: 2,071 Member
    In today's society most kids are overweight. My son is in his ideal weight but of course he's got a condition which requires us to have semi strict diet plan at all times. In his classroom there were probably 15-20 kids overweight. Not enough exercise. Kids now a days don't go outside to play they stay indoors and play video games. I do think kids need to be thought about health and push the importance of a good diet. I was one of those parents, always fast food every night bc I did t have time to cook but in reality I was just making excuses. My reality check was when my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Now I agree, models in the magazines should not be the role models for young children but some sort of health push should be made.
  • FearAnLoathing
    FearAnLoathing Posts: 4,852 Member
    All my time growing up I never noticed or felt the pressure to be thin.I would see the super skinny modles on tv,but I never felt that was how I needed to look.
  • LeeKetty1176
    LeeKetty1176 Posts: 881 Member
    The media pressure got really bad during the 80s and 90s for the super slim girl etc.

    and now i see the same thing happening now.........but for guys............... and i have really issues going in to certain shops etc cos of a feeling of not belonging !

    Media have always shown us what THEY think is really people! I hate it and can only see that we place more and more pressure on us and our kids to slim!

    At 11 years old and to be thinking like that is scary. and such a shame, when you was at a time of life that you should of been care free etc.

    I think we need to teach our kids, good eating habits !

    Home cooked foods with fresh veg and meat.
    Junk food is OK...but as a treat !
    We should be teaching kids about food................ how to cook it ! how to grow it ! and they should enjoy a happy life
  • dsak
    dsak Posts: 367 Member
    It's crazy these days that the focus always seems to be on being a size "0".... WTH... that is insane. With the internet, more TV programming and media focus on Hollywood and the elite models out there who are super skinny and unhealthy, it is a tragedy. Sure... everyone wants to be healthy and fit, but... it's OK to have a little meat on your bones. Everyone doesn't need to be a size "0". There is definitely too much focus on how people should look.
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