valleyblogs.com » Janet Murphy - Weighting Game

Size matters

By Janet Murphy
March 6, 2007

In going through this weight-loss process, I’ve become more aware (or is it touchy?) about all things regarding weight or weight-related. News headlines catch my eye. As I flip channels on TV I stop for bits and pieces of news or specials to see if I can glean any new information (what was that about another miracle weight-loss pill?)

I flipped the channel the other day to find Oprah with writer Nora Ephron, actress Geena Davis and singer/actress Dianne Carroll discussing what it’s like to be an older women. Looks were a big part of the discussion. Looks are a big part of any woman’s psyche no matter what age we are — how can we escape it? Try to find that happy medium between looking good and feeling good. At times I feel like I’m on that balance beam that the Olympic gymnast makes look so easy to navigate. But one misstep and you’re on your ass.

And then I saw this article in Tuesday’s Review-Journal by columnist Steven Kalas. In "Asking Human Matters" Kalas answers a question (read it here) from a husband about his overweight wife. Kalas was careful to not bash either the husband or wife as he went for a two-pronged approach — how society places unreasonable expectations on women and men about looks and how we are an overweight nation leading us to a health crisis.

One example Kalas uses is Marilyn Monroe, who, at one time was considered the ideal woman. Even today, I don’t think anyone would say that Marilyn wasn’t beautiful. But in today’s world do you realize she would be considered a plus-size model (she wore size 14)? Yeah, she was a plus - round, curvy and beautiful. Just like a lot of us.

I can’t and won’t be able to starve myself into a size and weight that looks good on the fashion runway. Genetics, age and just common sense won’t let that happen. And I continue to make progress to be healthier. But I know, deep down, it’s hard not to think about how I look.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 6th, 2007 at 5:11 pm and is filed under Janet Murphy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

2 Responses to “Size matters”

Janet â€“

In 2004, I lost 40 lbs. and have been able to keep it off. It continues to be something I think about every day but Iâ€™ve found it easier than being heavy. Kudos to you and keep it up!

Regarding your comment about Marilyn Monroeâ€™s dress size, I must respectfully point out that like any woman, her weight likely fluctuated during her life time. There are numerous sites that address the accuracy of this claim.

I don’t believe it is responsible to propagate the claim regarding Marilynâ€™s dress size out of context. Sized-14 women look at photos of her in her slimmer days and wonder why their figure doesnâ€™t look like that. The answer of course is that she wasnâ€™t a size 14. At one point or another in her life she may have been a size 14. But which images pop into your mind when you think about Marilyn? Not the images of her at a size 14.

Here’s a story from 2003 by NPR on the topic: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1385806

Written by Amy on March 15, 2007 at 12:51 pm

Janet–

I read that column. Yesterday, (April 3) he had a better column on weight gain in a marriage.

I am in the “Las Vegas Losers” and gained weight this month. Ugh! In 2004, I lost 60 lbs and have now put every pound plus a few back on. I gotta say even though the way I look bothers me, it does not bother me as much as the way I feel.

I have numerous health problems that I did not have 60, even 20 pounds ago. The fact that it makes my heart overbeat and I can’t catch my breathe getting in bed is why I am striving to lose weight. Therefore, I am trying to remain focused on the life benefits of weight-loss not the cosmetic.

Written by Debbie on April 4, 2007 at 6:39 am