This is coming from a girl who used to have a very successful thinspo tumblr. I was a full supporter of it for a long time, and I looked down my nose at people who said “Thinspo is unhealthy!” thinking they just didn’t get it.
Yeah there’s the argument that thinspo is pretty warped, because it creates a world of unnatural people to compare with, people shot in the best light on their best day, after working day in and day out to look their best. But that’s not the argument I’m gonna address now.
The main problem with using thinspo to lose weight is that losing weight takes time. And every time you look at a picture of a thin person, it reinforces to you that you are not that person and that your body is unacceptable.
And if you tell yourself that every day, then every day you will be checking and re-checking to see if your body makes the cut.
And every day you will be disappointed. Because (I repeat), losing weight takes time.
But we are a society of people who want results and want them NOW. Without the hassle, without the patience it takes to get results.
If you were to show a child practicing an instrument a professional musician and say “This is where you need to be” and every day make them watch that musician and ask “Are you there yet? Why aren’t you there? You lazy bastard,” that child would eventually hate the instrument, find no joy in music, and think themselves incapable of the talent it takes to learn an instrument.
This is what we do to ourselves with thinspo.
You know how I finally lost weight? I ended up not giving a shit how I looked. I ignored my body. I ignored obsessing over calories and working out and crying after I ate an ice cream cone because “my whole week is ruined.”
Yeah, there’s the argument that thinspo creates low self-esteem by making an inattainable body image the standard. There’s that.
But there’s also the fact that thinspo just doesn’t really work. It makes you crazy. It makes you obsessive. And it keeps you from losing weight the correct way, because every day you don’t meet the “standard” is a day that you spend figuring out what more you can do to get there (starve more, work out more, obsess more).
I say, fuck this.
Make a stand. For yourself, for your body. Stop looking at it, stop comparing yourself to it. If you want to lose weight, fine, lose weight.
But for God’s sake, don’t do yourself the disservice of using thinspo as a weight loss method.
Revolutionary thinking? Probably not. But it could make a big difference in your life. I know, because it did in mine.
<3elle
let’s see if i can do this.
(Source: thischicklosesweightold)
My one year post-op photo.
Before and after.
*I didn’t just wake up thinner one morning. It did take everything I am to get this far. It wasn’t magic, it wasn’t easy. It took over a year. I am 21 years old, and yes, I had gastric bypass surgery and I am proud. Because it was NOT easy or a quick-fix. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Don’t have anything nice to say? Don’t say anything at all. Thank you for all those who support me. I wouldn’t be here without any of you or the people in my life who have kept me motivated to stay strong. <3
Amazing
(via kkddhh)
Anyone else see this on the NPR website/hear it on the radio this morning? I missed the radio show but there is a huge, lively discussion on NPR’s Facebook page here. There are many people that are rude and just fat bashing (ignore them), people that say they are helpless when it comes to their weight, those that think losing weight is as simple as dropping calories, and others that take a holistic view and suggest a lifestyle change. I am with the latter. I find it courageous that this lady has shared her story but I do not feel sorry for her. I might not be 300lbs but I am 5’2” and started out at almost 220lbs and for my height that is getting up there. I have learned in the past few months that if you want a change in your life, you must make it. No, you may not get thin quick, hell, you may not ever be thin, but shit, at least get your shit together and take care of yourself. I’m not exactly responding to her in this article but to all the people in the Facebook thread that have blamed their weight on their genetics, society, and a myriad of other excuses. You know, I was once a person that blamed my weight on the world. Until I was able to own up to my part in it I was unable to understand how to make a change. I might not be to my UGW yet and when you look at me you might think “shit, what has SHE been eating” but I am healthy. I eat very well (and constantly under scrutiny and improving everyday) and work out on a regular basis. I take care of my body and I am conscious about what goes in it (minus a few of my vices, eehehhehe :P). Never again will I blame what I look like on my family or how “expensive” it is to eat clean (BECAUSE IT IS NOT) or how I don’t have the time (I have been working almost 50 hours a week for the past month and I have still found the time, even after a long day of work and exhaustion) or how it’s too hard or blah blah blah blah blah. If you are unhappy with how you look and how you feel then stop looking for excuses and fucking change. That is the only way you will get to where you want to be. Whining about your food options, whining about your thyroid glands, your genetics, whining about how you just keep working out but nothing happens, getting a gastric bypass, taking diet pills, fad diets, buying healthy choice meals, eating motherfucking lean pockets, drinking diet soda, and filling your body with junk will not get you anywhere!!! EDUCATE YOURSELF ON NUTRITION. At the very least be healthy, regardless of your size! Like the picture I posted earlier. Your excuses are pissing me off. /end rant
