The Size Zero Debate...

[vixie]

I was watching Louise Redknapp Special yesterday, she went from a healthy size 8 to a size zero (uk 4) in just 30 days, showing the restrictions and exercise regimes the stars have to do to maintain their 'perfect' bodies...she couldn't eat anything that wasn't green or white fish, and the portions were to be no bigger than her fist...she achieved her 'goal' much to tthe detriment of her health, her emotional well being and that of her families...

It was good exposure for Eating disorder association and I only hope that it could discourage those younger ones to believe that size zero is somewhat aspirational, as this documentry was anything but inspiring...However for myself, in a sick aqnd perverse kind of way, it made me realise how I hate bulimia (my current ed) and how I wish I could give it up to eat these tiny portions without vomitting...I set my mind to becoming this size zero...regardless of the fact I have seen the detrimental effects of it and dealth with them first hand...

Anyway, it was a recommended viewing for impressionable people who should watch it before making these grandeur ideas of dieting, because once you cross that threshold, theres not much one can do to reverse...

[Trev Williams]

I think I'm fortunate being a man, as size and weight seem to effect women much more. the media imagery of a 'perfect' weight is sick really, encouraging young girls particularly to get slim, as aposed to being healthy. because i was on medication i put on about 2 stone of weight, this was beyond my controll.. so i did experience what it was like to a certain extend.. i am pretty slim now.. but the focus should surely be on healthy eating. did anyone see that kill it cook it eat it? i thought that was vey interesting and certainly if we value food more we would have a better diet i think. trev

[vixie]

Well, as far as kill it, cook it, eat it, I watched the advertisements and then also turned it on for around a minute or two, but they were slaughtering a cow and decided to turn it of..

As it is I am and have been vegetarian since I was 11, this choice was made because I didnt like any meat except beef, but mad cow came about and I decided it wouldnt hurt to give that up either...and now, well, i one day hope to be cured on this ED and if I ever did (doubtful) eat meat again, I believe watching or knowing something like this, then I wouldnt eat meat at all!!!!!!! lol

I have serious weught issues that do require help, though I have just wrote a letter ot my local mp as there is no help in my town or the next one available for ed sufferers...

[Trev Williams]

yeah I was a vegetarian for a year, but I gave in to meat again on christmas when I had some chicken.. that was a while ago.. I still eat quite a lot of vegetarian food.. my fav is nut roast.. but I think I thought as I eat meat I should know where it comes from. Certainly if you have an ED it's probably more important to find something that you can stomach.. I watched a program last night about a guy who only ate Heinz Spagetti Hoops and toast.. that must be horrible.. they linked it back to his childhood, as not eating as a baby was seeking attention from the mother.. and his mum had just had another baby, and his dad had just gone back to work. that was when he was 2.. but I guess these problems can become really serious, and there isn't an easy solution.

[Erica]

This is a very interesting conversation. It is easly to have wrong ideas of people who want to be very thin.

I happen to come from the other side of the spectrum and am overweight. It’s been a struggle to eat healthy and keep weight off, and find a healthy size.

I know there are prejudice and a lot of misconceptions about weight on both sides of the scale. (Pardon the pun). People think if you’re fat, just lose weight, and if you’re skinny just gain some.

It’s not that easy though. Food is something we all need, yet it can take an unhealthy place in our lives.

I was watching a talk show, and they had woman who had surgeries to lose large amounts of weight. They went from 300 lbs to 150 lbs (21 stones to 10 stones), but they went wild in other areas. Several of them started drinking obsessively, and others were gambling and having affairs. They traded one addiction of food for another.

So thank you for opening up this conversation, Vixie. It’s a good discussion.

[Tessa]

I watched 'freaky eaters' this week and this guy was really brave about trying new things. I find it astonishing that such serious problems can be traced back to an event in the person's life - in this case, his father walked out when he was five.

It got me thinking about my attitude to food - I am overweight - and golly gosh I suddenly noticed that there's a whole lot going on with regards to giving/not giving love and who was in control of what I ate.

I have never seriously dieted, and I think this is because I knew what you said Erica, that one addiction would be replaced by another. It certainly is a complex issue.

[lorraine1]

I am interested reading this section and the 'weight'debates and attitudes to 'size' and 'acceptance'. There is so much importance placed on 'success' and 'size'. Even, in my experience, some employers have been known to be prejudiced against employing a 'larger' person. I feel it would be helpful to have more support available for understanding our relationships with ourselves and food and the triggers that might make us eat more, or the not so healthy options. The diet culture is not successful, if it were, then many of the slimming clubs would have sent themselves out of business by now because of their success! The constant images pushed at us by the media of the rich and famous, slim and gorgeous' is so 'unreal' and unhelpful. Food, and eating issues could warrant a really big space, but for my little contribution, I am overweight, but fit! I have to live with it, and try when I can, to maintain a 'healthy' perspective to my food. The odd Friday night curry doesnt torment me anymore, and thats just o.k!!!

[vixie]

Its great to hear different points of view, though I am happy that the fundamentals remain clear and somewhat similar.
Too much emphasis is placed on weight and size, and people can be very judgemental of another person just by observing their size...which raises all sorts of moral issues as well as legal ones if one were to press it that far.

I do believe however that healthy attitudes as well as physical awareness should be taught in schools, we do P.E, though not explain the needs of a healthy mind to an adolescent, and I believe this would benefit just as much...an healthy attitude towards oneself and ones intake could promote so much more..

Anyway, thanks for the replies to the topic,