Too skinny for society

I've never been massively conscious of my body, especially regarding my weight. I wouldn't go as far as to say that I am completely comfortable in my own skin, but I've never taken extreme action to lose weight. Even after looking in the mirror and being dissatisfied with my hair, my clothes, my body shape and my face, I can still eat a few Krispy Kreme donuts and think nothing of it.

But, at the end of the day, like the majority of the female population, I am never satisfied with the way I look.

This thought was particularly renewed for me when I went for my routine medical check up in the doctors last month. I'd pretty much aced the lung capacity test and my blood pressure was perfect. I could see that the doctor was thoroughly impressed by my ability to survive without her constant input.  And so, it was with an air of smugness that I jumped up onto the scales feeling pretty confident that I'd be around my ideal weight.  

However, it was to my (at the time) pleasant surprise that the doctor told me that I was underweight by one kilogram. Which, apparently, is a big deal.

ONE KILOGRAM. GOD FORBID I BE UNDERWEIGHT BY ONE KILOGRAM.

Ok so let's start off on the right footing. I am currently 5ft3", showing no definite signs of growing anymore and, according to my last check up, I weigh 59 kilograms, (feel free to convert the measurements yourself if you aren't sure about them.) I've always been around my ideal weight and to be bluntly honest, I'm pretty sure the scales were lying as there is no way I can possibly weigh so little.

If the scales were correct, however, it isn't down to exercise or healthy eating. I am sure my family and friends will be able to vouch for me when I say that I LOVE food to the point where I am planning my next meal whilst eating my current one. I eat what I like, when I like and, even if I do worry about my weight, these irrational thoughts are quickly dismissed by a doughnut or a slice of pizza.

So no, it wasn't the fact that I wasn't my ideal weight that bothered me. What got to me after I'd left the doctor's office was that she had told that I was too skinny and that I needed to put weight on.

Me? Too skinny? I mean please, has this woman not seen my baby pictures? I put the Michelin man to shame.

Ok, clearly, I am no longer a baby and I probably should be taking care of myself a bit better, I get that. But I'm hardly a bag of bones. I have generous sized boobs, (cringe cringe dad!), hips and a wobbly bum, (yes it wobbles and makes for comfortable sitting on) and, personally, I think I'm quite generously filled out.

What I'm trying to say is that, despite what you might think, being told that I was too skinny actually made me feel a bit shit. I have never ever been called skinny before and, after being told it once, I never want to be told it again. Girls don't want to be skinny and being called it is not a subtle compliment. Girls want to be slim with curves and big breasts. Unfortunately, you can't have it all and frankly, there is a very important difference between the words 'skinny' and 'slim'.

It seems to me that the world doesn't seem to let women have their own opinions about their bodies. I'm sure that not everyone wants to be really skinny and not everyone has tried really hard to get there. Not everyone is worried that they don't look thin enough.

Like I said, I've never been referred to as skinny before but, it didn't feel good. I have friends who are slim and, I'll admit that nearly every time that I see them I always go through the same thought process: My thighs are twice as big as hers and I'm wearing a skirt. Why am I wearing a skirt? Damn all skirts - she's probably feeling sorry for me for having these legs. I could never wear those skinny jeans she's wearing. I could never wear the outfit she's wearing - it looks so good on her. Everything looks good on her because she's so slim. Maybe she's on a diet. Maybe I should be on a diet...

And at that point, I usually wander off and find a bag of crisps to devour.

However, now that I've been on the receiving end of it, I feel so guilty. I suddenly realised that I was one of those annoying women who take the time to care about how skinny other women are. It's far too easy to think that someone else's body is a commentary that you can make. When, clearly, it's definitely not. It's clearly just their body, their shape and the way that they are.

So, is calling someone skinny really an acceptable thing to do? No - I don't think it is and frankly, I think it's just as insensitive as calling someone fat. Moral of the story here, though, is that no one should ever be allowed an opinion on someone else's body or way of life unless they ask for it. And trust me, I will never ask for it.

Courtesy of http://oceanstatefit.com/well-hello-1998-it-is-nice-to-see-you-again/

Oh and to my legs - you looked fine in that skirt. It's a very nice skirt and no one was really paying you attention anyway so get over yourselves. Attention seekers...

Just saying no... to plastic surgery

For you lucky few who have the privilege to know me personally, you'll all be able to agree that I am rather an opinionated person. (If you don't realise this by now, please make effort to get to know me better. Bring me some cookies. Buy me a sambuca and we'll be best friends.) Aside from that, I'm also a rather opinionated person with nothing to do for at least the next month other than read newspaper articles online. And today, I came across a rather interesting one.

Now, I realise that I have already ranted about the government pressuring us lovely British people that we need to generally be better at everything. But this article really bothered me. To all you 'manly men' out there reading this delightful blog,  I'm going to introduce you to a topic that circles women like a shopaholic let loose at a shoe sale. Something which you think you understand, but let's face it, as men, you don't understand much other than the offside rule and eating. So, here we are lads, the one thing you can't fathom about women - Breasts.

Yes boys, BREASTS. Not boobs. Not tits. Not nunga nungas, (though if you do have the chance to watch Angus, thongs and perfect snogging, I thoroughly recommend it.) Looking at breasts in lads magazines isn't going to broaden your knowledge of the subject, though it may distract you from zombie games for five seconds. Pretending to be fascinated by the quality of writing on page three of the Sun won't do it either - and yes we've all been there. Including me.

Different shapes and sizes don't make us different 

Boys, I know it's tempting but let's try not to objectify women, eh?  We have enough trouble as it is, what with all our 'sandwich making', 'ironing', 'cleaning' and shoe shopping to do. I don't think we need  a bunch of lads talking to our chests and not our faces on top of our problems. I'm not saying women are oppressed these days, but I'm not saying that we aren't either. But, that's a topic for another blog.

Now, as I've already said, I came across a rather interesting article today, courtesy of the BBC themselves. The link is just here >> BBCnews - Health. But, as we are the British population and we are slowly becoming too lethargic to even click a button, here's an overview.

So round 7,000 women in England along are being checked for have faulty breast implants. And around 47,000 women who live in the United Kingdom go under the knife privately, rather than with the NHS. I remember once reading that over 300,000 a women a year in the US alone undergo breast augmentation. That's a lot.

Apparently, there has been a major cause for concern regarding breast enhancement as it has recently been discovered that the cosmetic service industry may have been using substandard materials. The materials aren't toxic but, there are safety concerns. The French started the whole thing off, interfering in the way only the French can. Though, to give them credit, they were fully justified to do so in this situation. These PIP implants were statistically found to have double the risk of rupturing.

It isn't even the risk of having toxic tits that deters me from having implants. If anything, I'd have a breast reduction from a D cup to a C cup but, sadly, I am a poor student without a job and with enough common sense not to go through with it. Ladies, we all want to change something about ourselves, but selling off the family pet and taking out a loan with 1746% APR is a bit extreme. Let's all just calm down. Put the kettle on. Have an Irish coffee. And in the words of Uncle Bryn from Gavin and Stacey; "WILL YOU JUST LOOK AT YOURSELVES??"

You are BEAUTIFUL the way you are. You are born with everything you have and frankly, you should be grateful. Like I've said in a previous blog, and a billion times about the world's population, it's the person inside and not the package that counts.

Admittedly, we Britons enjoy pointing out our flaws to not only ourselves, but each other. The amount of times I've asked my boyfriend if my bum looks big in something is ridiculous. Plus, even when I get the answer I want, (ALWAYS a resounding NO, for future reference boys), I'm still not satisfied. We women never are. But that doesn't mean we should go under the knife unnecessarily  to embrace ourselves.

Plus, let's be honest here, nobody wants to end up looking like Katie Price. It isn't natural beauty and it isn't a true depiction of the typical British woman. Breast implants, lipo suction, bum enhancement and face lifts - all of them just make you look like a Barbie doll. I'd rather look like Ursula from the little mermaid and be happy than fear for my face if I get too near an open flame.

Valeria Lukyanova - The 21 year old Ukrainian seeking to be the real life Barbie doll 

Not to mention all the dangers that come with surgery itself. Women often have had to have additional surgery to fix their haphazard breasts, have complained of joint problems and suffered symptoms similar to 'Rheumatoid Arthritis ', (type it into Google and prepare to be put off surgery.) Some women have even had to take steroids to fix the millions of repercussions of cosmetic surgery, which, have negative effects in themselves.

Girls, I'm not saying the fires of hell will burn down on you should you even consider cosmetic surgery. And I'm not saying that some very obnoxious people may even encourage you to do it. I just want to make it clear that this is 2012. Our rights to be strong and independent women weren't handed on a silver platter. The sandwiches and crumpets might've been, but our rights to think for ourselves weren't. Try to embrace your bodies. Don't allow the media to pressure you into becoming something you weren't built to be.

Anyway, that's enough of that from me. If my negative ranting isn't enough to put you off enhancing yourself , feel free to watch Embarrassing Bodies on Channel 4. You will never eat at ten o clock in the evening again.

With my sincerest thanks to my boyfriend, who lies to me every day about my 'beach ball body'. If you enjoy my ranting, I'm sure you'll enjoy his a lot more! 

http://whatdidchrissaynow.blogspot.co.uk/

British media making us Britons feel insecure

Recently, I had the traumatic experience of my own mother ruthlessly informing me that I need to go on a diet before I become too large to fit into our new extension.  Of course, these weren't her exact words, as the extension would fit about ten sumo wrestlers inside it, but the sentiment was there.

Adding to that, I just told the wonderful woman herself that I had dedicated a blog to her wise words, to which her reply was, "Yes. So go to the park and get some exercise."

Charming.

Now, I know all too well that I have possibly pilled on some pounds. Since being at home from university, I have probably consumed my own body weight in KFC, McDonalds and snacking on crappy food. Twice over. I'm becoming the next endorser for Woman Vs. Food. Britain style.

Honestly, I have never been one of these outgoing people and I have never really been comfortable in my own skin. We, especially in Britain, are very good at finding our own 'imperfections' - and apparently, mine is my sky rocketing weight.

I'm not saying I'm huge, despite likening myself to The Venus of Willendorf in my previous blog. I'm a comfortable size 12 and whilst I find many things to dislike about myself, I am ultimately happy with that. I'm not one of those girls who wears a size 8 and posts pictures on Facebook with the description reading, "Look how fat I am!" or "I hate this picture!" If you feel that bad, don't post the photo. Stop fishing for compliments and raining on my 'hideously huge' size 12 parade.  If I'm fat, so be it. I like food too much to quit eating it.

According to the media, our 'reliable' government and the general public, people need to be a certain size or shape nowadays. Who do these people think they are to pass judgement and tell us how we should be?

Isn't Britain a multicultural country?  Our country is pretty much built on immigration, and we embrace that fact. We welcome those from other nations into Britain, and we accept cultural differences for what they are. Britain, (grudgingly maybe) accepts difference, be it race, gender, religion or culture.

All I'm saying is, that if we can embrace immigrants into our country, can we not accept the people who already reside in Britain?

Britney Spears showing the World her 'imperfections'

The 'ideal woman'

People, and women especially, have pressure thrown at them from every angle. The big bad media companies are increasingly seeming to take great pleasure in telling us how to look, what to eat, how to act and blah blah blah. The fact is, the media isn't as much the deterrent  as everyone believes.  Teen Mom didn't discourage teenage girls to frolic into the great outdoors and impregnate themselves. Not even the sequel did. So, no, BBC, ITV and every other program out there blissfully putting images of doctors measuring pounds of fat onto my TV screen while I'm happily adding up the calories in my lasagna, I AM NOT INTERESTED. I'm constantly being told that I need to be skinnier, where nicer clothes, style my hair a certain way and generally be more attractive. Have they ever heard the expression, 'it's what's on the inside that counts?' Maybe that should be promoted more often.

Alongside that, the government is installing 'competitive sport' into all schools in the UK. Oh David Cameron. What happened to good old, clean and friendly physical education classes? I hope the conservative government realise that making PE competitive will only encourage children to fight and bully other children who may lack prowess in sports. Well, the liberals may be able to shed some light on the whole lacking in prowess issue.

Basically, I'm saying all this 'media huff', and pressure is absolutely ridiculous. Just embrace what you are, despite how difficult that may be. Accept your curves, or lack of, and just be damn well happy with who you are. At least then I won't have to put up with having my calorie loaded meals interrupted by Supersize Vs. Superskinny.