In this blog I hope to track my adventures in fitness, food justice, gardening and body acceptance. I will do so with a critical eye--examining how anti-fat bias, economics, class, sexism, urban (suburban and rural) development deprives us of satisfying movement, and how health is collective and personal.
Many media outlets are currently harassing Rob Kardashian with unflattering pictures. It s because the media is finally holding male celebrities to the same unrealistic body standards of female celebrities? Or is it because he is a Kardashian and they are such easy targets. I guess the only person who truly benefits from this media train is Khloe Kardashiancause she is no longer labeled that fastest Kardashian. On all fronts, publicly discussing a persons weight always creates hurt feelings.
This is really sad. The girl in the clip suffers from lipodystrophy, which causes the fatty tissue under the skin to deteriorate. Her face appears to be that of a middle-aged woman (although she's only 13) and the stigma of her condition has caused her mother to take her out of school due to the taunts and bullying. She wants a face lift, although how effective that would be in the long run is questionable. The coverage on Today was much better than that conducted by Good Morning America which was even more sensationalist and insensitive, but fundamentally, both news programs focused singularly on the social implications for the 13 year old of her appearance. Lipodystrophy also contributes to heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure and other life-threatening medical conditions that this young woman is likely to face as she actually ages. Her mother, who also suffers from the disease, has seven children, three who inherited Lipodystrophy.
I'm not discounting the desire to appear one's age--or to free oneself from a clef palate or other non-life-threatening, but life-quality diminishing condition. If I were to get breast cancer (goddess forbid), I would most certainly have breast reconstruction surgery (although Twisty at I Blame the Patriarchy makes a good case for why this choice should not be the default or any more valid than living proudly with one's post-operative chest).
I do think that this story uncovers several anxieties about aging and the tragedy of the existence of the ugly, or non-beautiful in this world. Dealing with a bus driver refusing her a youth pass on the bus is serious and upsetting. The bullying she experiences at her local school denies her right to an education and should be dealt with by the school system appropriately. Her mother expressing the wish that she had never had Zara--that because she inherited this condition it would be better that she not have been born at all is just too sad and should be deconstructed.
She is not beautiful, but should the tragedy of existence as a non-beautiful person be cause for the wish for non-existence? Does the mother mean she should have received genetic counseling when she considered pregnancy or became pregnant? These are two very different questions.
I was very uncomfortable with this story and with the manner in which the news outlet dismissed the probability of heart disease, diabetes and kidney failure to instead focus on the appearance of advanced age. Of course, without that "freak of the week" quality, a story about a 13 year old girl with a non-appearance impacting genetic disease that might result in heart disease, diabetes and kidney failure would never make it onto our version of "morning news."
I have added some photos of Eartha Kitt and Lena Horne. Even though Thealogian has great intensions and will be featuring Dorthy Dandridge in a future post. She like others first think of White Women when thinking of Vintage Beauty.
Also with the limited parts for black actresses Lena Horne and Earth Kitt also had to pursue singing to stay in the entertainement business.
I'm going to start a new series "Vintage Beauties" to remind readers that our present view of beauty and ideal body-type is not timeless, let alone universal. If readers can direct me to images of vintage women of color, that would be great. Vintage Beauties will post every Friday.
The above video explores the European ideal of beauty in women over the past five-hundred years or so in the visual arts. Its all white, but then so was much of Europe prior to the 19th Century (with notable exceptions, of course). So, it wasn't just Ruben, lovin' the fatties--plus, notice the relatively small breasts compared to the Victoria secrets models. Plastic Surgery certainly changes what's possible, let alone what is "idea."
Personalize your goals. Set goals that are within your capabilities and take into account your limitations.
Aim for realistic weight-loss goals. Healthy weight loss occurs slowly and steadily. Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week.
Focus on the process. Make your goals "process goals,"
Think short term and long term. Short-term goals keep you engaged on a daily basis, but long-term goals motivate you over the long haul.
Write it down. When planning your goals, write everything down and go through all the details.
Start small. It's helpful to plan a series of small goals that build on each other instead of one big, all-encompassing goal.
Pick a date. Timing is crucial, often making the difference between success and failure. Choose a definite start date and don't put that date off for anything. Be sure to account for life circumstances that might hamper your efforts, such as work or school demands or relationship problems. You may need to resolve some issues before starting.
Plan for setbacks. Setbacks are a natural part of behavior change. Everyone who successfully makes changes in his or her life has experienced setbacks. Identifying potential roadblocks and brainstorming specific strategies to overcome them can help you stay on course.
Evaluate your progress. Review your goals each week.
Reassess and adjust your goals as needed. Be willing to change your goals as you progress in your weight-loss plan.
1. Personalize: Lose 10 lbs in 7 weeks. End date 2-10-10. 2. Realistic: That is 1.4 lbs per week. 4. Think Short & Long Term: Short term maintain my Jump Start losses when I return to school. Will do another Jump Start in the Summer. 5. Write down when planning: I track my progress at www.diettalk.com and WeightWatchers.com 6. Start Small: Track all Eating. Do purposefuly exercise 7. Set Start Date: 12-30-09. 8. Plan for Set-Backs: I didn't chose to lose 14 lbs in 7 weeks. I gave myself "wiggle room". 9 & 10 Evaluate & review Progress each week; Reassess & Adjust Weekly: : Every Wednesday I track my weight, set new goals, and measure the success of previous goals.
Thealogian: Goals and Progress Updates
Recommendations from the Mayo Clinic:
1. Personalize: Shed 50lbs by my birthday July 8, 2010. 2. Realistic: That is 2lbs per week, I have successfully lost 3.3lbs per week in the past, so with systematic exercise regime, 2lbs is realistic for me. 3. Progress Goals: Exercise 4-6 days per week, don't obsess on food. 4. Think Short & Long Term: long-term, exercise 4-6 times per week; short term, go to gym Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, do pilates or yoga Friday & Sunday. 5. Write down when planning: I'm doing that now (and in a journal); I will also eat Greek Yogurt/granola (measured) for breakfast & Turkey Chili for lunch Mon-Thursday; crackers/2% cheese snack & raw veggies. Dinner will be lean protein with veggies & one piece of dove chocolate for dessert. 6. Start Small: Pack exercise bag & prepare Breakfasts/Lunches for week Sunday night. 7. Set Start Date: TODAY, Jan. 3, 2010. 8. Plan for Set-Backs: I wanted to exercise this weekend, but it was too cold to walk outdoors (I tried), the treadmill is on the frtiz and the gym is closed; I couldn't do yoga or pilates because I pulled a muscle in my back, but that's mostly worked out now (thanks to my sister in law's massage knowledge and nursing skills). Despite all this, I was able to eat non-neurotically and I cleaned out the fridge and organized my bedroom, plus dusting, vaccuuming. So, set back #1 dealt with compassion for body. 9. Evaluate & review Progress each week: each Sunday, I'll do a status update here, in this window. 10. Reassess & Adjust Weekly: Come back to this window to check out weekly goals.
Goals Jan. 4th-10th Exercise at Gym Mon-Thurs; Pilates or Yoga Friday and Sat or Sun. Eat pre-packed breakfast/lunch Meditate 5-10 minutes per day
