Last night, when Willamina (star character of ABC Family's new show Huge played by Nikki Blonsky of Hairspray) was told to strip down to her bathing suit for the annual group 'before' photo, I cringed. I cringed for her, and for me. It brought back an unpleasant, somewhat traumatic memory.
When I was in second grade, we were told by the school nurse to stand in a line in our underwear. One by one, we climbed onto the scales of injustice. The nurse weighed us, yelled the number to her assistant, and it was logged into the record books. "Janice, 112 lbs." Subtext: Janice, at 8 years old, is 'the fat one.' There is something wrong with her. Let it be written. Let it be so.
I suppose that's one of the pluses (pardon the pun) of Huge, a show that follows the lives of seven teens and the staff at Camp Victory, a weight loss camp, as they delve deep below the adipose tissue to unearth their true, beautiful selves.
Everyone at Camp Victory is overweight - okay fat - and they are not freaks. It is their new normal, for the summer, anyway. And, if we, the audience, are uncomfortable with viewing rolls of fat, we ought get over it fast.
The main character, Willamina, or Will, is forced by her parents to go to Camp Victory to lose it. And she does 'lose it' and who wouldn't? The campers gather around the proverbial campfire and are asked what it's like to 'miss their favorite foods.' AND even though they are fed healthy foods, at the end of the day they are left hungry.
Anger, resentment and rebellion set in, and Will decides to leave, or escape, if you will. I am right there with her, major league pissed off. She's got her reasons for leaving, and I've got mine.
As a weight loss coach and someone who after a lifetime of yo-yo dieting permanently removed over 50 pounds, I can tell you with certainty that focusing on foods that you miss will only increase cravings. We manifest what we focus on, for goodness sake. Don't the writers of this show know that???
As for going to bed hungry, geeze Louise! If you are hungry, then you haven't eaten enough. Camp Victory should have a bowl of fruit and fresh veggies readily available. Food isn't the enemy.
At the end of the day (and show), predictably - because without Will there is no television series - she returns to Camp Victory. And predictably, I return with her.
Tune in next week to see how Will fares, as well as the beautiful Amber, played by Hayley Hasselhoff, who gives a new spin on thin. It's all relative, baby! And tune in here to see what weight loss faux pas the writers have written into the script that will undoubtedly have my head spinning!
Spread the word ... NOT the icing!
Janice
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I will agree that what has been posted so far is correct as far as saying being to thin is also unhealthy as well as being overweight.
However, barring an extenuating medical condition (which in very rare cases may even be psychological) being overweight or underweight is a matter of choice, the same as smoking and drinking. We know they are not healthy lifestyle choices and we are ultimately responsible for those choices.
I'm not suggesting that people with weight issues deserve ridicule from others, but nobody has to accept your lifestyle choice and are free to have their opinions. I've dealt with weight problems since middle school, but never once blamed society for any loss of self-esteem. I made a choice and I dealt with the consequences. Others make the same choices and deal with the consequences. If you are comfortable with your choice then that is excellent. If you're not, do something about.
You can't expect society to ease off your case because, to a certain degree, they're justified in feeling how they do. A healthy lifestyle is not something abstract. It is achievable.
I've avoided genetics in this discussion because, like most things, genetics is not an excuse to adopt a fatalistic attitude.
I know this sounds very unsympathetic, but it's all about personal responsibility.
OK, let the sh*t storm commence.
Having a good self-esteem won't make the myriad of obesity-related health problems disappear, and yes, obesity is correlated with and CAUSES a myriad of health problems, regardless of what anyone may want to believe. Once you hit 35 or so, it starts to catch up with you, no matter how much denial you've been living in or what you tell yourself about your health. You can't just wish away diabetes.
It's funny though that so many people would criticize a fat person at McDonald's but not think to criticize a thin person at the same restaurant. Are they not eating the same unhealthy food?
Show me one study that shows how excess weight causes any health problem (apart from sleep apnea). You can't do it because it's not out there.
Self-acceptance messages are not dangerous. They are necessary to help people gain control of their bodies. When you let others determine your self-worth, you are no longer in control of your body. Study after study after study has shown that negative self-image is correlated with poor health choices. Kids who are self-conscious about their weight are not willing to expose themselves to the humiliation of gym class and spend the entire time resenting their participation, rather than learning to enjoy the movement their bodies are capable of.
Ask any overweight adult why they won't join a health club and they will tell you the same reason: self-consciousness.
Having a good self-esteem won't make your health problems disappear, but it will provide you the breathing room to take whatever steps you CHOOSE to take to improve your health without caring what the outside world thinks.
Peace,
Shannon
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