Body Image and what IS plus size?

Every once in a while we see the media go crazy over someone suddenly publishing a "real woman" in a magazine or commercial (remember the Dove spots). Now I realize that I am not "fat" (I mention that because I'm sure someone will say I'm biased or something) and that some people might not agree with me but the latest photo in Glamour is slightly irritating and misleading IMO.

First off I do agree that it is a great image and the model looks great and I applaud her for posing with little to no clothing (do you even see the string of undies on the side? I didn't.). But to call her plus is where I get irritated. Yes she is a size 12/14 but she is 5'11 and 180 pounds. That to me seems normal period, not fat. Nor is she emaciated. She looks great and honestly I'm sure she would still look great at 160 (still considered a normal BMI for her age and height) yet probably still be considered "plus sized." You know why, because she's tall. Her frame requires more weight and muscle period otherwise she would look sickly. I'm all about being thin but seeing every bone and muscle and organ is just gross.

Yes it appears that she has a "belly" but look closely, its her skin. I don't care how thin you are skin stretches and therefore there is some extra that will fold when compressed. Just look at your elbow. Bend it and the skin is taught, straighten your arm and you have skin folding.

Shit my belly has more volume than that when I sit down and I'm 135lb, 5'5 and a size 6 (size 4 on a good day and a M or L top always) . Her BMI is average based on this BMI calculator that I found via google as is mine even though mine is like 3 points lower than hers.

Maybe I'm wrong here but to me plus size means you have to wear plus size clothes, as in you can't shop in the Juniors or Misses section and in some instances you can't even shop at the same stores that I can. You have to go to the Women's and Plus section/stores. It means big, overweight, obese and yes I'll say it, just plain fat.

I realize that there is a HUGE controversy over BMIs and I do agree with some of them but I included that info to keep things simple. The reality is that yes the woman is normal but because she is proportionate not because she is a size 12/14. If I was 180 or even a size 12/14 not only would I be huge but I would be morbidly obese, you know why, cuz I'm only 5'5. Now those of you who read my blog know that I follow the Weight Watchers plan and based on that they provide you with a guide that shows where your healthy weight is based on your height. For me I can weigh between 120-150 and still be considered healthy. Personally I prefer to be at the lower to mid range simply because I look and feel best there (in MY opinion). I don't feel good at the higher end and I don't think I look good either.

For anyone who watches ANTM I remember watching a rerun last year with a "plus size model." This model was taller than I am by like 2 inches maybe but had my exact measurements and possibly same weight and they said she was plus size. Now I'm sorry but if I am considered plus then that would make this Lizzi lady gargantuan right? And yet she looks totally normal and great really.

What is my point you may be wondering? Well for one I'm venting because its frustrating. Two its my blog and I felt like it and 3 come on people when did we get such distorted views. As women we have so much going for us yet so much stacked against us. Image issues being one of them. I'm all for accepting who you are and what size you are but at the same time I also think some people need a reality check. To some big is beautiful and that is fine but really the beauty should come from within not your size. Yes aesthetically some of us prefer to be thin and thin in general and others prefer to be a bit "fluffier," but what I think it should really come down to is what is healthy?

Too thin is NOT healthy or is too fat. Where is the happy medium. Is it a size 4 or a size 14? As a society we are getting bigger and bigger you can't deny it just look around. Studies have been done and there are articles everywhere on the obesity problem specifically in children and its sad. More and more children and adults are being diagnosed with health issues that are specifically tied to weight yet we are constantly being bombarded with the Extra Value Meals that are seriously causing extra health issues in addition to the extra weight. Big people are starting to get upset because of "fatism" yet it seems that we can rip on skelator looking models all the time and I've never heard anyone cry about "thinism." No one ever complained that their plane seat was too roomy yet larger people who are asked to purchase 2 seats based on their size are getting upset. If you can't fit into one seat then you need two, squeezing into one makes everyone uncomfortable. Facts are facts you can't deny the obvious but we can educate ourselves and not fall into the media trap of believing everything they tell us. Yes this woman is a size 12/14 and might be considered "big" but why hasn't anyone mentioned her height. She is a tall woman. So by calling her "normal" does that mean that the rest of us who are shorter not "normal." No, it means that she is tall and her weight is normal and healthy for her height. At least that's how I look at it.

Last I checked my height was considered "average" which I believe could also be considered "normal" but if a size 12 is "average/normal" then that would make me "abnormal" and in turn fat if I gained enough weight to get me to a "normal" size. Do you see where I'm going here? Just because something is considered "normal/average" does not mean that you have to accept it or do it. When I was growing up and in school a 'C' was considered an "average" and acceptable grade, to some, yet I was NOT allowed to get them. Maybe that's just it, my standards were set high at a young age and while I can't totally do anything about my "average" height (I do wear heels daily to give the illusion of more height because to me its more attractive) I CAN do something about my weight. Do I strive for "average" not if it means big and unhealthy for me so why should you? Why not find what IS the right size for you and stick with that. If its a size 2 great! If its a size 12 great! But make it be what works for YOU not what some magazine or runway or TV show says you should be. And when you figure it out embrace it and be confident. Some of us will never be a size 2 (I have hips that don't shrink) or have 6 pack abs (I am convinced that I only have 1 big ab muscle that is slightly squishy) or even wear a bikini but that's okay.

And for those of you who like to pull the Marilyn card saying she was a size 12 or 16, let's look at that.

According to her official site

Height: 5 feet 5 1/2 inches

Weight: Varied, 115 - 120 lbs.

Measurements: 37-23-36 (Studio's Claim); 35-22-35 (Dressmaker's Claim)

And one more that included a dress and pant size. Her dress size was probably a 12 because of her chest. I for one wear a size 10 dress but 6 pants simply because of the ladies so it makes perfect sense that Marilyn was a 12 and 8 although with that waist I'd say a 0 regardless of the decade.

And in case you still don't believe me here is the info from snopes

I realize that sizes have changed over the decades all you have to do is go to a bridal shop but in comparing her measurements to 3 size charts (Old Navy, White House Black Market and Victoria's Secret) She is not a size 12 or 16 as some have said. A 12 in the 50's is NOT a 12 in the '00s. And even if she was a 12 in the 50's measurements haven't changed so you can compare hers above to the charts below.

Her top/bust almost always falls into the M/L/10/12 (occasional S) category but her waist puts her an an XS/0 and her hips put her at a XS/S/2/4. So at the most a part of her was a size 10 and that was the chest area.

My point? Possibly none other than let's just be real people. There are "model sizes" which for all intents and purposes aren't necessarily healthy nor are they always attractive (I like to see my collar bones but seeing a sternum is just gross). "Regular sizes" which IMO means not too thin and not too fat, proportionate to height and hopefully healthy and "Plus sizes" which means you are big and possibly do need to lose some weight regardless of height. Either way accept what you are and do what you need/want to do about it but lets stop obsessing over the tall girl who is NOT plus size. She's normal. Oh and lastly curves are just that, curves not to be mistaken with lumps. Your natural shape and bone structure make you curvy, extra weight can make you lumpy. You can be thin and curvy.

I don't expect you to agree with me, remember this is all just MY opinion on the matter. I would like to hear your thoughts though as long as they are expressed appropriately and not being rude simply because you don't agree or like my take on the matter.

That is all.