Outrage Over Muffin Billboard

I found this bit of news amusing. We all know the term "muffin top" in reference to excess weight that sits around the hips and tends to pour out over tight pants. I have referred to my own excess weight on the hips as a muffin top, but mostly I call it my inner tube or spare tire, since it seems the one place the weight won't leave no matter how hard I try.

Anyway, in Michigan there is a billboard advertisement for a plastic surgeon's office that was vandalized and has been receiving a lot of criticism. The ad has an image of two muffins sitting in tins that look like jeans, an the text reads: "Friends don't let friends muffin top" then gives the name of the surgeon and contact information. Someone defaced the billboard, covering the muffins with smiley faces, crossing out the text and writing "you're beautiful"on it.

While I applaud the vandal's want to make people feel better, it is not meant to be taken serious. It's meant to be humorous. A lot of people are very upset over the ad, saying that it is body shaming and is full of negativity, and so forth. They are happy with what the vandal did, Then there are others saying there's nothing wrong with it, people being overweight and obese is all too common, etc.

Clearly, the ad is working because people are talking about it; it's in the news. That whole notion of bad publicity is better than no publicity holds true. A good advertisement gets people talking. The whole purpose of advertisements is to get word out. This billboard is receiving press around the globe, thanks mostly to social media.

Apparently though, this isn't the first time that Ann Arbor Plastic Surgery has received backlash over their advertisements. They previously had a billboard using similar humor regarding breast implants. That one had an image of two cups of coffee on it labeled "B" and "D" and said "Size Matters". . . now I can see how that one would anger people, mainly women, because of the shame it imposes upon small breast size and the need for larger ones, and it's sexualization of women. That would upset me a lot more because what woman wants to feel inadequate or insecure about their sexual being? I'll admit I am sensitive of my own small breast size, but when it comes to weight––that's a health matter. Whether your breasts are large or small, doesn't matter. But if you're over or under weight, that can have a serious impact on your physical well-being.


So is the billboard offensive? Is it funny? Depends on who you ask. Everyone sees and reads things differently.

Model Shows No Fear of Her Body

Robyn Lawley is at it again! The "plus-sized" model who has spoken about body image and has done the re-imagined SI Swimsuit cover with three other plus-sized models, posted a photo of herself to Instagram, promoting her new swimsuit line.

I would never consider her plus-sized, she seems like an average, healthy, and happy young woman. And many people agree. Social media is flooding with positive comments about her, and negative comments about the modeling industry.

Lawley has been an activist for body image, and has never feared any backlash about her body or weight. She is not shy when it comes to food. *Gasp* models eat?? Lawley certainly does, she blogs about it too. You can read about her food escapades here, she also had a cookbook due out next year.

Way to go Robyn! Keep the positive body image going. Young girls (and women) today need more people like you.

Why BMI Calculators Are Wrong

So I came across this article shaming BMI calculators on how unrealistic they are because they don't take into account real people.

HALLELUJAH!

It's about time someone said it.

I'm sure a lot of people have gone online and checked their BMI or maybe even had it measured at their doctor's office, and you might have wondered how can something so simple be so accurate?

Well, it's not. Sure it can give you an estimate and can help you have an idea of your body, but it does not take into consideration how much of your weight is muscle or fat, water, or even bone density. People can weigh the same, but have different body shapes depending on their fat/muscle ratio.

Take a look at these photos for example:

“BMI is a useful number in general terms, but it doesn’t tell us where the fat is distributed or distinguish between fat and muscle,” said Subhashini Ayloo, MD, a bariatric surgeon at University of Illinois Hospital.

So pretty much if you're an athlete who packs on the muscle, which takes up less space than fat, you can be classified as overweight or obese according the the BMI formula because of your high number. Which when you look at the person, you know there's no way they're overweight. There's barely any fat on them!

A writer from another blog said it best, "You cannot simply calculate your healthy weight from a general source - it depends on several factors, including your overall general health, height, muscle-fat-ratio, bone density, body type, sex, and age".

So don't think about the numbers on the scale. Instead, measure your body. Measure your thighs, hips, waist, and bust. Think more about losing inches or dropping down a size in clothes, and less about pounds.

Body Image Isn't Just About Women

Look at this man:

For those of you who don't know, this is Major League Baseball player Prince Fielder. He plays for the Texas Rangers, and is currently being fat shamed and attacked for his photo in this year's ESPN Magazine Body Issue.

People are taking to Twitter and other social media outlets to bash Fielder, saying things like "he's fat" "he's out of shape" "he's injured often" "I thought the body issue was supposed to show hot bods" "he doesn't deserve to be in this issue" and other hateful things. Just go on Twitter and search his name. It's really disheartening the nasty, negative things people are saying.

Granted, there are some people out there who are praising him for being healthy and not some "carved-up freak". His body is realistic. He doesn't have a six-pack, but he does have muscle, and he works out every day. I mean, HELLOOO he's an MLB player! He's successful, and people are jealous.

Props to him for being proud of who he is and his body. He was asked to be in this special issue and accepted.

I think the reason this is becoming a huge deal and attracting so much attention is because he's a man. We see almost every day women being chastised for their bodies and whether they're too fat or too skinny or not toned enough. And while recently women have been fighting back, and plus sized models have been gaining more positive attention, it's rare to see men being attacked. They tend to be praised or just ignored by the media (unless their body does a total 180, then people are like WTF?).


I fear that men, particularly young boys, are going to start falling into the body image pit with women. I know that it does happen, and it has been happening for years, but I think now more than ever people are obsessed with their bodies. I see more and more young boys popping up at my gym (and others too I'm sure) trying to bulk up before they've even hit puberty! This is not healthy. Lifting weights more than they weigh is only going to stunt their growth or at least hinder the growing process. Young people should be healthy, obesity is an epidemic that is dominating America, but hitting the gym isn't where they need to be. They need to be playing sports or games, being active and social. Not blasting music in their ears, ignoring everything around them, and pumping iron. I don't ever remember boys in elementary or middle school being obsessed or needing six pack abs. We probably didn't even know what abs were!

I think the media, particularly advertising, has realized that the female market is already saturated and it's time to attack the male market. They want to squeeze out as many dollars as they can, from as many people as they can. And while the target audience has mainly been women, because it is assumed that women do more of the shopping or control the spending, women are starting to fight back against this; Which then leaves men. And with smartphones and the ability to look something up and purchase it almost instantly, men who don't typically have the patience for shopping, can do it much easier now.

Even if the cost is a person's self esteem or health, the bottom line is the dollar––and how much can be made.

Being Called Skinny Just as Detrimental as Being Called Fat

Calling someone skinny can be just as detrimental to one's ego as being called fat. In some languages and cultures, skinny is a negative thing. For example, in Latin American cultures where being bigger or curvacious is sexy. In Spanish, skinny translates to "flaco"––even just pronouncing it sounds harsh.

It's also interesting to note that many many years ago, heavier women were deemed best suited for partnership since it showed they were wealthy or came from a wealthy family, where they could afford to eat, drink, and be merry. More weight equaled higher social status. Skinny women (and men) were seen as poor or of lower status.

Then in the last decade, mostly in the fashion/modeling industry, being skinny was ideal.

Thankfully now in recent years, it's all about being healthy, fit and toned, or muscular. Gyms are popping up on every corner. Tons of companies are expanding their workout selections of equipment and clothing. Retail stores have more larger sections for health/fitness. Protein bars and shakes are all the rage. It's great that we are moving in the direction of being healthy, especially considering that obesity is an epidemic in America, and the number of overweight children is frightening.

But there is also a problem at the opposite end of the weight spectrum. Those who are (naturally or not) skinny or extremely thin. Being called skinny can have a negative effect on both men and women just as much as being called fat. Men want to be "big and strong" not skinny, which can be a sign of weakness. While (some) women may feel insecure and less feminine if they are lacking curves in all the right places.

When I was younger and heavier, I craved to be thin and for others to call me skinny. Now that I'm older and beginning to understand and accept my body, I don't want to be skinny. I want to be told I'm "in shape" or be called healthy or fit. I have always been an active person, but I've always battled with my weight. I'm only 5'2, so weight gain is obvious (unfortunately weight loss is not as noticeable) and I know I will have to worry about what and how much I eat, and be sure to exercise my entire life. Thankfully the exercise part is not a problem, since I love going to the gym and playing sports/games. Unfortunately food is my problem.

I like to eat, when there is something I really like, I want a lot of it. Especially sweets, like cookies. Mmm cookies. . . My other issue is that my eyes are bigger than my stomach and I always take way more than I can handle. And sometimes I feel guilty leaving my plate so full, so I will eat until I feel sick. Which by the way, is awful. Sometimes I get to the point that I really do get sick and throw up because I ate too damn much and my stomach feels like it is about to explode. Ugh, not fun.

Though lately I've been learning to take smaller portions, and I try to listen to my body, if I'm eating at home and I'm still hungry, I know I can have more. I also don't feel guilty about bringing home leftovers after a night out. I'd say 90% of the time I bring home leftovers whenever I go out to eat. But seriously, sweets are my weakness. I always have room for desert. Which is one reason the gym is my home away from home. I workout hard to work off whatever 'bad' things I've eaten. While I know that this pattern isn't going to help me lose weight or get six-pack abs, at least I'm not gaining weight. I'm maintaining, which isn't a bad thing. But I want to lose those stubborn 5 pounds that just won't fall off my hips.

But back to the skinny. As I said earlier, for men being skinny may make them seem or feel weak or less masculine and for women they may feel less feminine for their lack of curves. When I would see really thin people in the gym (mainly women), as someone who's always struggled with their weight, I used to get angry and in my head yell "you're skinny! why are you here? go away!" but now I realize that maybe they want to gain weight/muscle, or they just want to be fit/healthy. Just because someone is skinny or thin does NOT mean they are in shape. Maybe it's because I'm a member of Planet Fitness, the judgement free zone (not always the case), but I respect everyone who is at the gym. If you are at the gym, you are better than the person sitting home on the couch with a bag of chips, bottle of soda, binge watching bad TV. Anyone trying to get fit, skinny or not, deserves respect for taking control of their health.

We really need to be careful of what we say to others in regards to body weight. It is a sensitive subject, and everyone has their own story or personal battle with weight or health. It's not up to us to decide or to judge, and while we may feel like attacking the skinny pretty blonde in the gym, or shaming the obese guy eating a cheeseburger, but we don't know them. While we may feel bad or disgusted by the overweight or underweight person, it's not our body, so no reason to worry about it. Sure we can (and will) be observant, it's human nature. But the shaming needs to stop. We need to accept the variety of body types and focus on being healthy, because you can have all the money in the world, but there is no wealth as great as your health (and your life).

"Why should a woman be made to feel bad about wanting to feel good about herself?"

I've previously mentioned my fear of what will happen to my body when the time comes that I become pregnant. It seems I am not the first, nor will I be the last, who worries about their weight and body image as a result of pregnancy. Today I came across this article which talks about just that.


Here is the link to the article:

"Beauty After Baby"


How we look and feel about how we look is greatly linked to confidence. It's no wonder that when we feel we look good, we feel better about ourselves. Whether it's the outfit we chose to wear that day, or a new shade of lipstick––when we look good, we feel good, and vice versa. Plain and simple.


So why is it that women don't talk about how awful they feel about their bodies after pregnancy? Why is it shameful for a woman to be upset about how they look?


Yes, they just brought a beautiful boy or girl into the world, the circle of life goes on, it's wonderful...but what about mom? People get all excited and revolve around the baby and mom seems to be left behind as far as attention goes. The baby is new to the world, but mom's been through a lot of physical (and probably mental) changes that need some acknowledgment.


I cannot speak on this personally since I am not (nor have I been) pregnant, but I've been around pregnant women and one of my closest friends recently gave birth, and I know one day I will too. It is nice the saying "your body is not ruined, you're a tiger who earned her stripes", but what about women who become honestly upset or depressed about it? Not talking about postpartum, just general sadness one may feel about themselves (as we all may feel from time to time). While some women may lose the baby weight easily after giving birth because of breastfeeding or being healthy enough to begin working out afterwards, what about the women who had a difficult pregnancy? Those who were on bed rest, or can't breastfeed, or aren't well enough to hit the gym after giving birth? Those women are in a predicament because while they may want to do something about the excess weight or some other aspect of their appearance, they physically cannot, which can be detrimental to the psyche.

The writer says, "having been a beauty publicist for more than 14 years, I’ve seen firsthand on several occasions how beauty is so greatly linked to confidence. I’ve also witnessed beauty’s power to transform and heal others . . . beauty is powerful". It's the little victories that matter a great deal for some women, such as being able to get their hair or nails done, have the energy to put on makeup, or some other thing they couldn't do while pregnant because of the chemicals or whatever reason. I'll say it again––if we feel good, we look good and if we look good, we feel good. It's a circle that has no end, and it's something that everyone feels, pregnant or not, mother or not.


While this all may sound superficial, since I am talking mostly about physical beauty, I don't mean it to. I do not mean to take away from the importance and miracle of having a child. How we feel about ourselves reflects on other people, and impacts how we interact with each other. We need to feel good about ourselves and accept our bodies, but this isn't easy for everyone, which is why little things like makeup or hair, can make a difference in the body image we have of ourselves. If we feel good and confident, both inside and out, we can live our lives to the fullest. And for those moms and moms to be, you are beautiful and when you feel good about yourself, that positive energy will reflect on your child, in turn giving them good feelings about themselves and the ones they love.


Keep the positive energy flowing.

Plus Sized Swim

Summer is upon us, and that means swimsuits, and the world famous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition is available on newstands everywhere.

"The last thing I would want for my future daughter would be to starve herself because she thought a thigh gap was necessary to be deemed attractive"

- Robyn Lawley

Not long after the world has seen the cover of three beautiful women in their itsy-bitsy bikinis, do we have a recreation done with plus sized models! And it's just as beautiful! The plus sized models came together for the brand Swimsuits For All, which prides itself on producing fashionable swimwear for all shapes and sizes. I recommend anyone who has trouble finding a swimsuit to fit their body (both large and small) to check it out! What a variety of collections they have!

www.swimsuitsforall.com


Below is the link to some of the photos from the shoot:

SI Swimsuit: Plus Size Edition