Not that I am surprised to see this in eating-disorder-mongering Shape Magazine, but the idea of taking two women from “Fat to Fab” sounds more offensive than the magazines usual “change your weight-change your life” mantra-bull-shit. Can one not be fat and fab at the same time? Can’t one be “fab” (or thin) and be unemployed? Having relationship problems? An illness? Or other problems that complicate a life of complete fabulousness? This time of year, I cannot even turn on the news without being confronted with ridiculous dieting fads, and fat-phobic pressures, but this article stands out for its fat prejudice. Not only does it make “fatness” the opposite of “fabulousness,” it pins two readers in a weight loss battle that other readers vote on. Aren’t women fed the myth of sexual selection/competition enough? I’ve sent countless concerned e-mails and website comments to Shape about their dangerous health tips, but they just don’t seem to care.
Magazines like Shape are much more dangerous than fashion magazines. (Hear me out!) Fashion magazines are alluring because they show the unattainable- from bodies to designer clothes, “health” magazines on the other hand, show the same bodies- but under headlines like “drop the last 10 pounds!” or “your best body ever!” which make the claim that it is possible for every woman to have such bodies and that if they don’t it is because of their failure to follow this months get-fit plan.
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I agree with you completely. There's crazy tips like drink water when you're hungry and work out on an empty stomach and whatever lunacy they're peddling these days. I used to be surprised at how much crossover there was between pro-ana tips and fitness magazine tips but now I just expect it and avoid reading them.
As someone in recovery for an eating disorder, I completely disagree. Shape and similar magazines have always inspired me to treat myself right and approach things in a healthy manner. Are fitness magazines problematic? Sure. But saying they "eating disorder monger"? I disagree completely.
I agree that Shape and Fitness magazine are problematic. Muscle and Fitness and Oxygen actually were helpful in me living a healthier lifestyle because they gave better advice and showed models who were muscular and obviously were eating (though they might, as fitness models, do that sever calorie depletion before photo shoots or a competition). They also focus on improving strength, building muscle and endurance,etc. about evenly with losing weight. I also don't remember them ever having women compete against each other to drop pounds which implies that all women are the same and evenly matched so failure to lose as much as another female is your fault. Shape and Fitness, on the other hand, often feature women who are simply regular model thin and look like their bodies are more a result of genetics and less of the kind of hard work the Oxygen models put in. The biggest issue with Shape and Fitness though, is that most of their advice is complete garbage. I don't know if they still do this, but they used to feature workouts geared towards one small body part like arms and then give you a "routine" to target them featuring 10 exercises. Often with low weight and high reps. Once I gained more knowledge about weight lifting I was so mad that I waisted time on those routines. No wonder I never saw results! I have also come across advice in them ranging from downright silly to dangerous. (If any one wants a good book on weightlifting and to a lesser degree nutrition, with science to back it up check out The New Rules of Lifting: Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess.
I'm both fat and totally fabulous and my skinny friends are fabulous too so fuck it all.
yes!
So true. Fat and fab are not mutually exclusive! Thin does not automatically equal self-actualisation! Not to mention that women come in many shapes and sizes. What's healthy for you could be unhealthy for your neighbor.