This piece thoroughly describes the journey of being a woman and experiencing the minefield of social and commercial pressures to get us to hate our bodies. Thanks for the relatable and refreshing reminder that my strength, my health and my belief in myself have a lot more to do with living in wisdom and peace and a lot less to do with falling for the constant propaganda.
I'm letting out a big sigh of relief after reading your brilliance. Just being who we are seems so easy but in North American diet culture nonsense it is not. I am grateful that I remain firmly in eating disorder recovery. It has almost become innate that I won't fall for the nonsense literally around every corner. I am so grateful that I now refuse to engage. Walk if your able speaks to me as my body is only able to take precious painful steps now usually using my cane. Instead I bask in the glory of swimming. Thank you for all your hard work to ensure every body is heard and that body is ok just as it is.
I loved this so much, Chrissy! Especially, “You can’t eat or exercise your way out of systemic oppression.” Thank you for articulating the thoughts that have followed me around my whole life.
Thank you for this. I was a runner, a yoga-head and a vegetarian before I was diagnosed with MS 12 years ago. Since then, I’ve lost the ability to run, walk for more than 100 yards, or stay awake past 9 pm.
The link between health and weight is such crap. I’ve never been thinner, thanks to muscle atrophy, or sicker.
Thank you for reading and sharing your experience with us. It's such crap and it's designed to make us feel like our chronic health issues are a result of doing something wrong, while ignoring all the conditions under which we are existing.
Thank you. I had a horrific encounter with a doctor a few months ago whose approach to “health” almost triggered my disordered eating. These toxic messages and misinformation are still everywhere and it is so exhausting.
Ugh I'm so sorry you experienced this. I just keep writing and speaking about it because there is so still much change that needs to happen. Sending you lots of compassion.
Social media is actively promoting diet culture in the weirdest dystopian ways, for instance I know an ai agent or something monitors private messages because within minutes of sending a friend a message that I’d been sick in the hospital and my weight crashed out, how sick and unhealthy I was for losing 10lb or so in a week, my feed was full of diet ads and fitness influencers. It’s disgusting. I’m trying not to die here I’m trying to have a healthy weight that supports my heart and mind and eyes and all the organs I need to keep going.. the algorithm is stupid.
Yes to all of the above. In line with the Jenner commentary, I am quite frustrated how there is a wave or praise for this family now that they are being more open about what exactly they did to achieve their looks. Similar to you, I believe every person has the right to do what they please with their body. However, their body alteration honesty still lacks the context of "why", which you touch upon here - "we are all victims of the patriarchal society". This propaganda needs to be called out for what it is - not just another business card or #sponcon for their plastic surgeon.
Once I stepped back and reevaluated my personal relationship with food I saw so many negative influences that had shaped so many decisions I made in the past, and still do.
We are currently living in a period of imbalanced food abundance, the wrong foods, the wrong attitudes about consumption, the wrong idea of tying identity to food, it’s so overwhelming.
I can see why and how people would find the trend aspects of “skinny” is appealing because it doesn’t ask anyone to address their own issues with food and self image. But it’s so, so dangerous.
The “healthy” disorders like disguises eating disorders and workout disorders aren’t taken seriously enough by social media and how it just leads to bad things.
Your message in this essay directly ties in to the disability advocacy work of BroadwayBabyTo, wherein she reminds people that everyone is subject to becoming "disabled" in some way, amd you can't try or health your way out of it. You are entitled to dignity, respect, access to healthcare and social resources regardless of your level of disabilty. And disability discrimination is also rooted in white supremacy and white patriarchy.
I’m so glad you’re writing on Substack now. It’s always so inspiring to read your long form work. I agree with everything in this piece. I find this same pressure to be thin creeping into the menopause space as well, it just never seems to end. I’m 56, single and sober and have never been more at peace with who I am. Your work is an inspiration 💜
So much healing happened after my divorce and when I got sober. I also spend a lot of energy protecting my energy - deciding who and what I want to let into my life 💜
Great piece thank you for that. I do me, eat burgers when I feel like it, eat fruits, eat sometimes healthy and sometimes unhealthy. Don’t wear make up for work all the time! Yes I’m that far hahah and I don’t care if I look sometimes fresh and sometimes not so fresh. I’m presentable but I don’t need to wear make up everyday if I don’t want to. I don’t care if I look sexy or not. It is sooooo liberating . Try it :)
I must say: I love women that are embracing their age and forms! Be you! I love you the way you are even if I don’t know you! Really. Spreading love ❤️ here on Substack :)
Hi Chrissy. I had a neurologist use the BMI on me yesterday, and I instantly thought of you. My instinct is to run and never return to this practice. Have you ever had anything similar happen, and how did you respond?
Hi Kelsi. First of all, I'm so sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately, I have had this happen to me, and in my situation, I looked for a different doctor. In the moment, I was shocked so I didn't immediately respond, but obviously it bothered me a lot. Medical racism and fatphobia is so real and so for me, I didn't feel comfortable continuing with that practictioner because I didn't feel that my actual needs and concerns would be met or even listened to. It's so unfair, but I researched new doctors until I found someone I felt comfortable with and who I felt would actual listen to my concerns and not immediately default to my weight being the issue.
Thank you so much for responding. I really appreciate the validation and support. The world would be a much better place if all doctors and medical professionals were required to read your work before ever seeing a patient. :)
A wonderfully educational piece. I learned a lot. I heard of skinny tok in passing but did not know much until this. Thank you for that. I will avoid it
This piece thoroughly describes the journey of being a woman and experiencing the minefield of social and commercial pressures to get us to hate our bodies. Thanks for the relatable and refreshing reminder that my strength, my health and my belief in myself have a lot more to do with living in wisdom and peace and a lot less to do with falling for the constant propaganda.
Thank you for reading and I'm so happy you found it relatable.
I'm letting out a big sigh of relief after reading your brilliance. Just being who we are seems so easy but in North American diet culture nonsense it is not. I am grateful that I remain firmly in eating disorder recovery. It has almost become innate that I won't fall for the nonsense literally around every corner. I am so grateful that I now refuse to engage. Walk if your able speaks to me as my body is only able to take precious painful steps now usually using my cane. Instead I bask in the glory of swimming. Thank you for all your hard work to ensure every body is heard and that body is ok just as it is.
Hi Michelle. Thank you for reading and sharing your experiences with us. I love that swimming has become your happy place for movement!
I loooove my water and how it carries me effortlessly and painlessly.
Yassss!🩵🩵🩵💙💙💙
I loved this so much, Chrissy! Especially, “You can’t eat or exercise your way out of systemic oppression.” Thank you for articulating the thoughts that have followed me around my whole life.
Thank you so much for reading and I'm so happy it resonated with you!
Thank you for this. I was a runner, a yoga-head and a vegetarian before I was diagnosed with MS 12 years ago. Since then, I’ve lost the ability to run, walk for more than 100 yards, or stay awake past 9 pm.
The link between health and weight is such crap. I’ve never been thinner, thanks to muscle atrophy, or sicker.
Thank you for reading and sharing your experience with us. It's such crap and it's designed to make us feel like our chronic health issues are a result of doing something wrong, while ignoring all the conditions under which we are existing.
Thank you. I had a horrific encounter with a doctor a few months ago whose approach to “health” almost triggered my disordered eating. These toxic messages and misinformation are still everywhere and it is so exhausting.
Ugh I'm so sorry you experienced this. I just keep writing and speaking about it because there is so still much change that needs to happen. Sending you lots of compassion.
Social media is actively promoting diet culture in the weirdest dystopian ways, for instance I know an ai agent or something monitors private messages because within minutes of sending a friend a message that I’d been sick in the hospital and my weight crashed out, how sick and unhealthy I was for losing 10lb or so in a week, my feed was full of diet ads and fitness influencers. It’s disgusting. I’m trying not to die here I’m trying to have a healthy weight that supports my heart and mind and eyes and all the organs I need to keep going.. the algorithm is stupid.
Ugh I hate this so much and it's so sick and disgusting. Sending you lots of compassion.
Yes to all of the above. In line with the Jenner commentary, I am quite frustrated how there is a wave or praise for this family now that they are being more open about what exactly they did to achieve their looks. Similar to you, I believe every person has the right to do what they please with their body. However, their body alteration honesty still lacks the context of "why", which you touch upon here - "we are all victims of the patriarchal society". This propaganda needs to be called out for what it is - not just another business card or #sponcon for their plastic surgeon.
Yes, I agree with everything you are saying. And while they are victims of the systems, they are also ACTIVELY perpetuating the same harmful systems.
Once I stepped back and reevaluated my personal relationship with food I saw so many negative influences that had shaped so many decisions I made in the past, and still do.
We are currently living in a period of imbalanced food abundance, the wrong foods, the wrong attitudes about consumption, the wrong idea of tying identity to food, it’s so overwhelming.
I can see why and how people would find the trend aspects of “skinny” is appealing because it doesn’t ask anyone to address their own issues with food and self image. But it’s so, so dangerous.
The “healthy” disorders like disguises eating disorders and workout disorders aren’t taken seriously enough by social media and how it just leads to bad things.
Yes, I absolutely agree with all of this. The noise online is so loud and so overwhelming.
Your message in this essay directly ties in to the disability advocacy work of BroadwayBabyTo, wherein she reminds people that everyone is subject to becoming "disabled" in some way, amd you can't try or health your way out of it. You are entitled to dignity, respect, access to healthcare and social resources regardless of your level of disabilty. And disability discrimination is also rooted in white supremacy and white patriarchy.
YES YES YES. All of this.
I think they are giving young people the wrong messages about their body. We should all learn to age gracefully and natural
agreed!
I needed to read all of this. Thank you so much for reminding me that I am simply worthy because I exist.
Thank you for reading and I'm so happy you found it helpful.
I’m so glad you’re writing on Substack now. It’s always so inspiring to read your long form work. I agree with everything in this piece. I find this same pressure to be thin creeping into the menopause space as well, it just never seems to end. I’m 56, single and sober and have never been more at peace with who I am. Your work is an inspiration 💜
56, single, sober, and at peace?! That is an inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing ❤️❤️
So much healing happened after my divorce and when I got sober. I also spend a lot of energy protecting my energy - deciding who and what I want to let into my life 💜
Great piece thank you for that. I do me, eat burgers when I feel like it, eat fruits, eat sometimes healthy and sometimes unhealthy. Don’t wear make up for work all the time! Yes I’m that far hahah and I don’t care if I look sometimes fresh and sometimes not so fresh. I’m presentable but I don’t need to wear make up everyday if I don’t want to. I don’t care if I look sexy or not. It is sooooo liberating . Try it :)
I must say: I love women that are embracing their age and forms! Be you! I love you the way you are even if I don’t know you! Really. Spreading love ❤️ here on Substack :)
love this so much!!!
Hi Chrissy. I had a neurologist use the BMI on me yesterday, and I instantly thought of you. My instinct is to run and never return to this practice. Have you ever had anything similar happen, and how did you respond?
Hi Kelsi. First of all, I'm so sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately, I have had this happen to me, and in my situation, I looked for a different doctor. In the moment, I was shocked so I didn't immediately respond, but obviously it bothered me a lot. Medical racism and fatphobia is so real and so for me, I didn't feel comfortable continuing with that practictioner because I didn't feel that my actual needs and concerns would be met or even listened to. It's so unfair, but I researched new doctors until I found someone I felt comfortable with and who I felt would actual listen to my concerns and not immediately default to my weight being the issue.
Thank you so much for responding. I really appreciate the validation and support. The world would be a much better place if all doctors and medical professionals were required to read your work before ever seeing a patient. :)
❤️❤️
A wonderfully educational piece. I learned a lot. I heard of skinny tok in passing but did not know much until this. Thank you for that. I will avoid it
Thank you for reading! and yes, avoid it AT ALL COSTS!
This piece makes me think of Cheslie Kryst. What was ever enough or too much? And we lost her. We stand to lose ourselves as well, Chrissy.
And it's so easy to lose ourselves, amidst all the noise.