I had a woman tell me that my hips would've been "ideal in the 1800's." That only happens at historical attractions, so over 90% of wide-hipped women will never hear that... ever. I imagine the woman who comforted me with the 1800's fun fact to picture me looking somewhat like this:
I understand that most of hollywood is thin. Six-pack thin. Pink has those weird muscle bone-things in her torso. There are shows on VH1 obsessed with showing "celebrity slim-downs" or celebs getting back into shape. It is like an electronic yawn. Once you see it you kind of get sucked in. I've found myself feeling bad watching those shows because the celebrities "before" pictures are generally slimmer than my current state. I assume many viewers think they look bad when they watch these shows. I think celebs hear people talk crap and they feel pressured to lose weight. Even Scarlet Johansson is thin now:
I don't think curves expired 200 years ago. They can't. Where would those southern gentlemen be without Paula Dean's cooking? I thought about what that woman said and started making a mental list of post-1800's curves that have been, and will continue to be, appreciated by men.
Exhibit A: Marilyn
Technically there doesn't need to be another example. She's the ultimate trump card.
Exhibit B: Joan
Women voted her the sexiest woman of the year. I can't argue it.
Exhibit C: Nigella Lawson
She is amazing. She cooks. She uses butter.
Exhibit D: Jessica Rabbit
She knew to land a dude with personality. "He makes me laugh" goes a long way.
Exhibit E: Hello Nurse
I'm just saying. Curvy ladies are everywhere.
I've been a victim of the weight loss fads. I've been on weight watchers, I've been vegetarian (that was a lifestyle choice, not a fad). I tried a juice detox and nearly fainted. Then I ate an ice cream sandwich and immediately felt better. True story. I took diet pills in high school. I thought starburst, diet coke, and rold gold pretzels were a good lunch combo in high school based on the fact that they were "low fat."
Where did all those choices get me? The same cycle. I tried to change. I couldn't sustain that change. I felt like I failed. My BMI has fluctuated over the past decade. I've finally been able to keep it at a consistent weight, give or take ten pounds. So I should be happy. I should be stoked! I shouldn't be saying self deprecating things while trying on clothes. Look at those ladies up there! They are smokin!
I have to stop being dissatisfied with who I am based on how I feel others (might) view me. The ladies above are wicked awesome looking. Except Scar-Jo. She looked better thick. I am not saying I'm going to walk around eating fries dipped in milkshakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But I need to stop thinking that every meal I eat or workout I skip will make me less awesome. I look great. So do the ladies above. Drawn by a man or gifted by the gods, these women are curvy and look amazing.
Bottom line? I'd rather look like Marilyn in a bathing suit than Pink.
