Thinspiration Or Fatasy?

http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2011/06/14/claire-richards-poses-naked-to-show-weight-gain-as-she-goes-from/
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/isabelle-caro-the-face-of-anorexia-dies-at-28-2172590.html?fb_action_ids=2790638042952&fb_action_types=news.reads&fb_source=other_multiline#access_token=AAADWQ6323IoBAJyGfAZA8ZAzGaM65IwZCadRMm0PrEduYWIZB2Kx95dF7D4M5aU4T5ZAlT0FqiMTQsckZCO9jvzr7xXwYY7LzUMCfVJdngTwZDZD&expires_in=3612

As I spend my Friday evening recovering from a horrendous cold, I decided to curl up on the couch and flip through the TV and internet. Oddly enough, when I decided to read one article, a television show with similar information comes on. 

The article I was reading is based on Isabelle Caro, the show is hosted by Claire Richards. Any of these names sounds familiar to you? If not here's some brief information. 

Isabelle Caro was a french model who was known as the 'face of anorexia', her image shocked the world as she portrayed herself across billboards, naked, to bring to light the seriousness of her condition and how anorexia is something the fashion industry in particular, needs to take note of. Isabelle was one of the few women who spoke out about anorexia, trying to highlight how it was something she wasn't proud of, and in fact wanted young women to understand just how serious this condition is.

Sadly, Isabelle passed away in November 2011 aged 28. She had been battling her anorexia since she was 13, ironically it was amazing she had lived that long. 

Claire Richards is a former Steps singer who is known as one Britain's biggest Yo-Yo dieters. Her heaviest was 16 stone, and now she is currently looking into loosing her weight as she has shrunk and ballooned constantly. As part of her show, Claire looks into different alternatives on how to loose weight in certain areas's i.e. her legs. This has involved her researching Liposuction and hiring personal trainers (who just happened to eat dog food...yes seriously). 

So this got me thinking. In a world where people are either size 28 or Size 4, what does it take to help us understand the impact it will have on us in the future, what is considered 'acceptable' and more importantly what will it take to get us to change our perspective on weight? 

As mentioned in my previous blogs, I have always considered women of different sizes and shapes to be acceptable. What will it take however, to get those with influential power to help us change our minds? 

I (like many women), wish I could change parts of my body to feel more confident. However, sometime's I do think I'm lucky to have what I've been given naturally. 

Surrounding myself with friends of different shapes, often leaves me thinking as to how far they are willing to go to look good. I've seen some loose and gain weight, I often wonder if they've gone too far, but more importantly why. Fashion can have a large influence on ones perspective, and I'm not just referring to what you wear. In a industry where men and women with 'acceptable' bodies are constantly portrayed in the media, other's will use them as a form of motivation when striving towards that 'perfect' weight, which is then highlighted in the industry as they often land modelling contracts, attend fashion shows and promote high end, tailor made clothes; designed for that particular shape. 

Psychologically speaking, a lot of people will suffer emotional and physical pain with their bodies alone from an early age, scaring them for life. This could later on result in them wanting to take control by altering themselves to feel confident. Others however, may in fact choose to embrace this. Those who are born and develop slim frames, may get slated in the media for promoting 'skinniness' but cant help it; its who they  are. Whereas those with a larger frame try to promote themselves by saying 'you don't have to be skinny to look good'.

All in all, as a size 12, 5"8ft girl skinniness isn't on the agenda for me this year. I wont lie to you, I do go to the gym (when I've decided to peel myself off the couch) but this is purely down to wanting to 'tone up' rather then turn into a stick. Anyone out there who feels the need to loose weight for personal I reasons, I wont condemn, there's nothing wrong with wanting to look after yourself. 

Just remember, its not about how you look but how you feel.