Posted by paxvox on July 19, 2003, at 15:29:34
In reply to babbling, posted by girl on July 19, 2003, at 11:58:02
Self-image is, indeed, an important issue. However, one needs to be very careful in traversing the line between esthetics and obsessions. For instance, I have lost over 40 pounds over the last 3 years, to a weight I have not been since I was 17 (I'm 43 now). For a while, I was worried about the weight loss as, perhaps, having a more profound medical cause. Now that I think that is not the case, I am OK with my slimmer self. As a matter of fact, now that I've purchased smaller waist pants, etc...I am uncomfortable that I have picked up a few pounds lately, and am watching what I eat. This is really ridiculous if one was to look at it objectively. True, healthy dieting is good, and there is evidence that being UNDER weight, if DONE healthfully, can actually prolong life. But one must "weigh" (ha ha) the risks of weight vs. health VERY carefully. I am 6'1" and weight 167 (male), I used to weigh in at about 195-200,which is OK for my height. That is a fairly dramatic change. I feel better about myself at this size, as I also work out, and am in good shape muscularly. But when I see that little spare tire starting to expand on my waist, and my pants start to feel a little tight,I begin to "feel" fatter. This is true only in that it IS fat that I have gained around my waist area. It is not, however, a health issue. SO, what I am trying to say (after all this babbling) is that you should be certain that your goals are not tied to an obsession with being thin if you are already well within the "normal" BMI for you height and weight. WE should not so closely align our feelings of self-worth with our body image at the cost of our overall health. Think carefully about what your TRUE motivations are, ask some of your friends what THEY think, and try to listen to them objectively.
PAX
poster:paxvox
thread:243471
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030719/msgs/243509.html