Big Black Women

Well, it goes both ways... I wouldn't put a Whole Foods in a neighborhood where the demand for organic, fresh food isn't that high. Then again, you have to wonder: IF we had nothing but stores like that around us, would we eat that way and make it work on our budget?

I do agree that there is a double standard when it comes to what is considered acceptable in terms of size for black women vs. white women, but I am part of a community of black women who do want to be healthy, who are not in favor of being overweight, and who embrace a more healthy lifestyle. I was 260 lbs and lost down to 180, but I was never criticized for wanting to lose weight, I had nothing but cheers of support from family and friends. I think when women want to lose weight to embrace a superficial image of beauty, thats when its criticized. I realize and accept I will never be a petite size 2 or 4, and this just fine w/ me. I'm happy at my present weight which is 185 and a size 10/12. That may be considered overweight by society's standards, but I am actually more healthy and fit than many people smaller than I am.

I personally have never seen a case where a heavy black woman is preferred over a heavy white woman. From what I have experienced, heavy black women catch alot more flack about weight than heavy white women. I think the reason black women handle being overweight alot easier, is because we come from a background where we have heavy family members and heavy friends, so we don't stand out, where alot of times white women tend to be thinner in general, so when a white woman is heavier it's more obvious. Also, white people have always been celebrated as being diet and exercise conscious and the black race, not so much. Now that is rapidly changing as w/ the black race having statisically higher incidences of diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, we are embracing more healthy living.

Weight, diet, fitness, should never be a race issue, but due to how alot of us have been raised, taught, and exposed to, there are some color lines. All of us should embrace healthy living, not fit in to ideal weight standards, or anyone's standards, but because it benefits our health and quality of life.

My daily struggle. After losing 18 pounds so far i hear many things like, "why did you lose weight?" or "you looked fine before" well the fact that I was nearing a size 14 and knocking on 200 pounds, no way you can tell me i was fine before. And also, black people are on the top percent of all obesity related diseases and because of this reason. I wish there was a way to reach out to the entire black community and just say "it's okay to be healthy and you can do it!"

My daily struggle. After losing 18 pounds so far i hear many things like, "why did you lose weight?" or "you looked fine before" well the fact that I was nearing a size 14 and knocking on 200 pounds, no way you can tell me i was fine before. And also, black people are on the top percent of all obesity related diseases and because of this reason. I wish there was a way to reach out to the entire black community and just say "it's okay to be healthy and you can do it!"

I definitely heard the same thing and I wasn't even trying to lose a lot of weight. In college and high school years, your look and figure is ESPECIALLY important. When I talk to my non-black friends they always gush and say that I look really great but when I talk to my black friends they always say you were so "thick" before! When did being fat all over turn into being thick and desirable? The difference in perceptions is crazy to me.
When going grocery shopping and faced with the choice of healthy food or junk food, more often than not they would go for the junk. I just don't get it. Even though we are in our early twenties, don't they realize it will catch up to them eventually? I've seen their overweight parents ---> it just seems like a never ending cycle.

Well, after reading all the different views from a large variety of backgrounds I just have this to say: People it is what it is! You are what you eat, but you can also be what want to be. To quote another MFP member whose name currently slips my mind, "Discipline is the diffrence between what you want now and what you want in the long run."

I was raised in a sourthen home environment where there was biscuits and gravey, lots of foods fried in lard. And sweet tea made with lots of sugar! I decided I was tired of being overweight and feeling like crap! I grew up in the inner city of Toledo, Ohio I went to school with Blacks, Hispanics and whites. It is the individual that choose what they are going to eat. No one forces us to eat unhealthy foods. If we have children it is the PARENT's responsiblity to see that they eat healthy not the schools or society to govern. America is over weight and it is not a Black, Hispanic or any other ethnic back ground issue. It's an American issue! Start manning up and being repsonsible for your own decisions and that of your children. Besides I though this was a site to encourage strength for all people to diet and get the support they need. I see over weigth White people just as much as I see over weight Black and Hispanic people (and if that's not the point, don't bring race into it!).

As for the stores the grocery owner is going to put on the shelves what his customers want to buy! I have asked my store to carry items when I want them and can't find them. Good luck to all who are taking their issue of weight into their own hands and accept it is their responsibility not that of the world to solve. Don't set yourself up for failure by making excuses that put the blame on others.

Down 85 lbs.

she wasn't putting the blame on anyone. she was addressing cultural differences in the standards of beauty and expectations of women. and there ARE different expectations from culture to culture. i honestly think you missed the entire point of this thread with all due respect.