I TOTALLY don’t see this as an attack. I appreciate your opinion and I also understand Carries perspective.

The one thing you said that really caught my eye is the fact that I’m “beating myself up” That’s is NOT what I’m doing. I’m facing the reality of the situation and I use the blog and a way to face the times I eat out of emotional reasons or make not so healthy decisions. It may seem like I’m punishing myself but I’m just trying to live “consciously”. It’s not healthy for me to eat a half of pizza or a sleeve of girl scout cookies so I like to analyze why I did that. It’s a way for me to face the decisions I make and learn from my self.

Not sure if that makes any sense.

Thanks again for adding you opinion in a thought out non-condescending way. That is also what I’m trying to get out by doing the whole series. We can share our opinions without making others feel bad for theirs. KWIM?

-Roni

With that said, Lindy, I think you and I agree on these issues more than you realize. I absolutely believe that exercise and healthy eating are important goals for anyone, regardless of their body size. The thing is, there is no way to tell, just by looking at how fat or thin a person is, whether they are exercising and eating healthy. There are plenty of thin couch potatoes who eat fried foods all the time and there are plenty of fat people who exercise and eat lots of vegetables.

I certainly was not trying to hold myself up as some example of health because yeah, I could eat better and I could definitely exercise more. The thing is, there have been stretches of time in my recent life where I was eating a vegan diet and running nearly every day and I looked exactly the same as I do now. You just can’t tell by looking at someone.

So yes, please understand that I’m not trying to advocate unhealthy behaviors. I’m trying to advocate for healthier behaviors for everyone, regardless of their size. In my opinion, obsessing about one’s diet (which I am NOT saying is something people here are doing, I’m just talking about the idea in the abstract as something some women in our society do.) is an unhealthy behavior and makes some people pretty miserable, yet they still do it because we’re told over and over that women are supposed to have bodies of a certain size and to go beyond that is wrong.

I object to that idea and though it was wrong of me to just assume that everyone on this site was mindlessly dieting so they could fit society’s ideal, I think it is still a valid concern that there are too many women out there making themselves crazy over a few pounds on a scale just because some magazine said they should be wearing a size zero.

http://thefatlazyguyslog.blogspot.com/2008/07/weekly-weigh-in_14.html

While I agree that Carrie’s difference of opinion was expressed in a very sarcastic and condescending manner, I can understand her opinion.
I can also understand your defense as well.
However, I think the readers retaliation was slightly misguided, assuming that Carrie is “fat and unhappy” because of her difference of opinion.
I guess my point is, when I first read Carrie’s comment, I got what she was trying to say.
How frustrating it is to read the words of someone who has lost weight and is still not happy with their bodies over “loose skin”. Or the notes to self about overeating on a regular basis.
As someone who still has a lot of weight to lose, perhaps it is a myth that once I reach my goal weight I will suddenly be at peace with food and my body.
We all know the journey is not over when the weight is lost, thus why so many people re-gain weight. I know your posts are yours, and out of honesty, so I respect that and this is your blog, you can say what you want.
Intellectually and logically, I know that this is your journey and your blog and you have every right to say what you want. I think for those of us looking for inspiration, its hard to read about someone constantly telling them selves “enough is enough” or “get it together!”. It makes me want to sometimes call you up and say “hey! roni! its okay! you’re beautiful, stop beating yourself up” and maybe I have the wrong opinion about what you’re saying.
Its just that, I beat myself up all of the time and I think women do in general, and perhaps that in itself is the problem? And maybe Carrie is pointing that out, not to point fingers at you specifically, but to all women, to stop the parade of self-hate and punishment over food and our bodies.
If we clear things up mentally, and celebrate ourselves more, would having a healthier lifestyle be easier?
Wow, this is so long and I really hope this isn’t taken out of context or as an attack.

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