Body Shaming - Helpful or Harmful?

I am so perplexed about the constant struggle women face when it comes to their body.   Lizzo is shamed for having and accepting her larger body, only to come to scrutinization when she chooses to lose weight.   The same about Adele.   Who are we to determine what body size is acceptable for a woman?   WTF?   If a larger body decides to lose weight, they are scrutinized for “selling out”.   If they remain in the larger body they must have no self-control and are lazy.

How is this acceptable?   I know this may sound like a conspiracy theory, but look at the US food system.    A bunch of fast food crap thrown at us, that does not satisfy us physically, nutritionally or emotionally and then wonder why we are overweight.   Our focus on quantity over quality, what a shame.    Imagine, you are walking the streets of Paris eating a Cinnabon.    This is something normal in the US, but people in Paris would think you are crazy.   Why aren’t you enjoying your food with others (and, by the way, why are pretzels so damn big).   You get into your car and are rushed so eat a burger.    Do you even realize you are eating?   Are you mindful?   Of course not!   You are multi-tasking because you only have 24 hours in a day.  

Perhaps we consider the bigger issues here.   Let’s face it, often it is cheaper (and a hell of a lot easier) to pick up Mc Donalds instead of preparing a meal.    This is a systems problem, our food system focuses on quantity over quality.  And, it is a billion dollar industry.   Focus on convenience, focus on taste- but God forbid, don’t listen to our bodies and our nutritional needs.

I was once in these shoes.   I was a fish in the aquarium.   Then,I learned that I could listen to my body, listen to what it needs.   Accept what it needs,    feed what it needs.   I know that this sounds overly simplistic, but imagine what our healthy ancestors did for years.   (Collective) We have overcomplicated the process, and made a sh*& ton of money in the process.

No one deserves to comment your body.  It is your vehicle for the soul.