Okay, so I would like to introduce you all to a world where there are ano’s, bullimic’s, skinny bitches, “landmines,” rugby playing girls, “grenades,” average sized girls (which are usually just referred to as “fat” because lets face it – if your diet does not only consist of water, vodka, 90 calorie special k bars, and at least 2 hours at the gym on a daily basis, “bro’s” will call you fat regardless of what your friends, your parents, your doctor, and your boyfriend may think), fat girls, obese girls, and gigantic girls that don’t really have a word to classify them.
The image perception problem has expanded way beyond a girl throwing up her dinner because she saw Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen on the cover of Glamour in bikinis. Now, it has expanded to Facebook – and I don’t just mean pictures.
First of all, looking at someone’s Facebook pictures have a much different affect on us than seeing celebs in magazines or on E! News. Most of us have realized (or at least I hope so) that celebs live in a different world than us (although US Weekly likes to tell us that “stars are just like us,” showing pictures of them walking their dogs and eating Pinkberry). Celebs have the money to work out with a personal trainer multiple times a day, and they can pay the world’s best nutritionist to make a daily meal plan for them. I mean how did J.Hud lose like 100 pounds this year??? Uh, MONEY, duh. Well, I’m sure eating healthy, giving up alcohol, and working out around 10 times a day isn’t easy… but if you have the money to buy supporters, trainers, and nutritionists – and don’t have to work over 40 structured hours a week – then I’m sure it’s a little bit easier…
Anyway, when you look at a “friend’s” Facebook pictures and see how much thinner she is than you, you begin to wonder what you’re doing wrong. Why can’t you have a body like that? You know that the girl is not a celebrity… SO she must have worked really hard at her body (at least harder than you’ve been working), been born with her body, or have a deadly eating disorder that you are going to tell all your friends about and laugh at. Either way, all of these thinner-than-you girls you see on Facebook are real people that you actually know. And to face the facts – they know you too… Since you strive to look better than everyone you encounter each day, you’re going to have to do some serious work to look as good as these real-life and non-celebrity “skinny bitches.”
In addition to pictures, words can make you question your image just as much. FOR INSTANCE – The Facebook Event. Although I graduated from college, I am still “Facebook friends” with many people currently in college. Recently, I was invited to a house party hosted by a couple of football players. (When I say invited, that doesn’t mean I was “personally invited.” It means a boy literally invited everyone on his friends list without looking at names, and I just so happened to be his “friend.”) ANYWAY, the event description explained that one of the boys was going to be the night’s taxi for “fat girls” (or something along those lines).
Oooookay, WHAT does that even mean?! Does this mean the boy is going to be shuttling “fat girls” away from the party all night because they aren’t allowed? Does it mean they are making fun of the boy by associating him with “fat girls?” Or does the kid actually enjoy “fat girls?” Oh, the little things in life that we will never know. But seriously, as I said before, “fat,” to many boys (especially college boys), means not anorexic looking. Meaning that maybe one in ten girls at the party are actually going to fit the description of what they define as a “hot girl.” Ever seen Jersey Shore? Not all the so-called “grenades” are actually unattractive and overweight… Should the girls who have some extra meat on them fear that they too are grenades??
Over the years, I’ve come to embrace the fact that I am just not what the majority of society would call “skinny.” I work out on a daily basis and have been on a never ending diet since I was a freshman in college. I look good. When I was single, I had a number of guys that wanted more out of me than just a hookup. And now that I’m in a relationship, I probably still do. I know I am not a big girl by any means, and that is what bothers me most about the definition of “skinny” these days. There are more than plenty of people in the world that are bigger than me, and compared to them, I hope no one would ever call me “fat” and get away with it. YOU people are the reason that us girls throw up what we eat and can’t indulge in a sandwich and fries once a month when out to eat with friends. Think about it.
I know that everyone has different definitions of “skinny,” “fat,” “average,” etc… but you just have to accept what you’re given and work with it! Everyone is built differently. All that really matters is that you are healthy and happy. Fast food is a no no. And working out at least 3 or 4 days a week is a must. What matters the most, though, is NOT giving into the horrible pressures of conforming to society’s shitty standards – that being-so-thin-your-bones-show is beautiful. While it may be for some people, the beauty that matters the most is your inner beauty. It will shine through your skin, and confidence will score you more dates than a diet ever did. Trust me.
