http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKykPTqhjkw#t=22
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I don't think a lot of us are aiming to be anorexic :s
Gonna have nightmares tonight :/
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I bet the problem was that she bought into this silly thinking that she was fat at first. Probably didnt like her cute chubby cheeks or something. She was perfect at first!
We're all way to hard on ourselves and we're never happy with what we have. We always want more or in this case less :lol:, until we arrive at a point where we are destroying ourselves. Skinny is not necessarily better. I think we should all be the best version of who we are and not try to change into someone else.
Not at all. It's a very serious illness. One of my oldest, dearest friends is a therapist for women with eating disorders, and a really good one- she's a survivor herself. I've seen her down to 85 pounds and I've seen her at her healthy 110 (for her height and such it is healthy for her) for years now. I've seen her go from so ill to very healthy in body and mind, and I appreciate how much she knows the difference between the unhealthy approaches of the disease working in someone or just not seeing things in a healthy manner, and those who are actually working their body toward healthier goals. I think it's hard for some people to see the difference when they've been in such dire straits themselves. People who have gone down some tough paths in their own fights sometimes see it in everyone else, be it there or not.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaGlass Siren
And so often, it's not the media causing the problem... we can all ignore the media. I was raised to not give a damn about what the media says about beauty and health, and I don't raise my daughter to put stock in it, either. We are all ultimately responsible for how we feel about ourselves, but the words of others can and do hurt sometimes, and women can be far worse to each other than any media I've ever seen. It comes from insecurity, and it's a part of the problem and not the solution.
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As for me, every work out is a victory. Because I've made the effort, I can run up a stair case, and still breathe! Woohoo! lol I haven't been in an ER for asthma in three years, and that feels miraculous.
I've been telling my friends who love mermaids but don't have the body they somehow think is associated with it to come here and see all the women with various body types embracing their inner mer. There is not one body type that belongs in a tail! Anyone who wants it belongs in a tail. :)
People don't initially aim to be anorexic, it just kind of sneaks up on them when they least expect it and they get sucked in little by little until BAM!... Full blown medical condition from cumulative programming.
from what i remember i dont think its programming.. it's rather like "i shalt not eat".. and i think bulimia is eating but then forcefully throwing it back up. and i dont plan on giving up my food. i love my food o-o food is the essence of life. besides water and sunlight.
i was quite fit before. fit, toned and a healthy 110lbs, but i let myself go. i mean REALLY let myself go. 125 lbs and it fluctuates, plus most of my muscle is just fat now. and that's not good. :[ wonder what happened.
Like most diseases, it's a lot more complicated than just programming. One of the most common reasons people get started down that terrible path, men and women alike, is a deep, intense need for control (and even that puts it too simply) where they haven't felt they had any elsewhere, and that gets skewed- there's a common thread among many survivors that they had no control anything but what they could eat or not, and it actually has nothing to do with what they think they need to look like. There was also a common thread among a group of survivors (on a documentary about a very successful eating disorder rehab center in the UK) wherein none of them felt they had the right to 'take up space' and quite literally were getting smaller for that reason, which is also skewed and makes no sense outside the disorder. Again, it had nothing to do with perceptions of health or beauty. Even though many ana people do. It's just more complicated than one answer.
But really, this thread has rarely seen anyone exhibiting a problem with an unhealthy attitude toward fitness or weight goals. This is the better body thread, not the 'body I hate and want to make different no matter what it does to my health' thread. :) So far, for the most part, so good.
If anyone is here to sacrifice their health for a body goal, the rest of us aren't going to support that.
Getting back on topic, I have to admit I did not work out yesterday or today. My plan is usually every other day. But yesterday we were told the water in the bldg would be out, so that would have meant no shower. So I thought I'd make it up today, but I needed to get some early errands done while the bank and post office were still open.
I really only like working out first thing in the morning. Tomorrow it is, then.
I swam!!!
Also the hubby says my legs are noticeably thinner
Ah, I'm envious! I miss swimming. My beach downstairs is surfing only, and the nearest public pool is too far to walk. But it is the best form of exercise, it gets every muscle going, so I really wish I could integrate it into my workouts!
i went over to a friend's place cuz her pool just got cleaned and no one feels like swimming in the winter :P it was empty... VERY EMPTY.
An empty pool sounds perfect to me. :)
Ok so I started controlling portions of my meal (actually eating meat the size of a deck of cards, picking brown rice instead if white rice, eating more veggies, eating fruit to satisfy sweettooth ..)
Guys I swear my skin is clearing up too!!!!
This is a great idea for a thread! I don't hate my body, but I am looking to lose around 60 lbs total. I'm 10 down so far, and very excited to lose more :)
I'm using a website & app called MyFitnessPal to help me. You can track your calories and nutrition, your exercises, and there's a whole social aspect to it (you can have friends, post statuses, there are groups and forums....) I highly recommend it if any of you lovelies are interested! :) If you do sign up and you'd like to be friends on there, PM me and I'll share my username :)
SeaGlass (Andrea?), that's awesome! Healthy choices have amazing effects - stuff you usually didn't even realize you were missing! Great job so far!
Thanks Harley! (any name you want :p Andrea is my real same, seaglass is my magical name)
I just learned an extremely rare intestinal illness causes this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Golden Pearl
There are only 3 cases known world-wide, Valeria seems to be one of them
(the other 2 victims look like her body- and skin-wise).
Also she mentioned anorexia was NOT the way she came to this.
So the video's title is wrong and misleading.
As a multiracial black woman I have a strange body shape, even though I'm losing weight from the way my spine is curved inward, I look fat or pregnant, not to meantion I'm a very tall woman, with four different skin colors.
I'm not the prettiest thing out here, I suffer from a disease known as pcos that affects the hormones and endocrine system, which makes me have male patterned hair (male patterned hair meaning hair growing everywhere on my body very thickly), a very unsightly skin disease that looks like dirt which is called ancanthosis nigericans, and other things, so yes not a very pretty mermaid at all sadly.
That's ok :) its character that counts.
That doesn't matter as long as you're a mermaid! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Black Akira
Have you thought of incorporating your unique looks in your mermaid persona? There are so many kinds of sea creatures out there!
Hello Black Akira. I also am a woman of color. 1/2 Black and 1/2 Italian. I also noticed what you are referring to even among attractive women of color. I recently saw that during Merfest a merman Typhoon posted a video of a very attractive Black mermaid (not Caribbean Pearl). It was ignored and received no complements. Similarly a photo of a black mermaid who purchased a tail was posted on Sirenalia's fb and some guy responded..."I have to say this but is she sitting on the boat bc she can't swim?" Meanwhile, Sirenalia posted photos of herself sitting in a tail also and no one saw reason to create a lame joke about her.Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Akira
I honestly don't know what to tell you. To deny that severe preferences exist in mermaiding based on certain intangible factors is like denying that the sky is blue. Either that or you are unaware of the realities involved and prefer to remain in lala land.
Luckily there are some things which can be done. You can purchase a lace wig for your ovarian syndrome that affects your hair. I included a photo of a merhair in one of my threads and another mermaid started a snarky thread about why anyone would wear a wig for mermaiding when all you have to do is grow your hair. Well I am doing just that and my hair is currently approaching waist length. But everyone can not so lace wigs are an option for you.
With regard to the skin issue, there are some great cover up makeups for folk with vitiligo and those who wish to cover tattoos which may be helpful for your skin condition. If you would like to talk feel free to write me.
Blessings sister
Thank you.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaGlass Siren
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Golden Pearl
I'm not in la la land, I'm very unaware of these things.
Male patterned hair I should have said that my hair on my head is unaffected as it's always grown so well, however I'm a very hairy woman shaving doesn't help.
I was wondering was there any negativity towards mers of color.
It's been a long time since I swum, however I was able to breathe underwater for some time, also holding my breath for an impressive 8 minutes.
My problem is mainly weight, hair, and skin.
I'm terribly shy as tall as I am.
So far people I've told about wanting to be a mermaid are very supportive as everyone tells me I'm very attractive.
Oh, hey! This thread!
I kinda forgot about it for a while...
I left it because I got pregnant, and you can't really work on body goals when that happens, but I got furiously sick, and spent two months pretty much just throwing up and sleeping, drinking what fluids I could. I ended up so sick that I miscarried, unfortunately. It was very sad.
Now that I have remembered that this is here, though, maybe I'll get back to it. :)
not on this forum i dont think. we're quite open. lots of mers with many races, mixed ethnic backgrounds, and sexual orientation. outside the forum.. well.. that's a different story .__.Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Akira
Hmm I see, I really don't care what others do as long as they leave me alone.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaGlass Siren
Eating cleaner is the best skin treatment there is. Skin being the largest organ, and it releasing so many toxins. For me, it's eating clean and drinking lots of water that keeps my skin nice most of the time. Not right now unfortunately. My hormones are going nuts. :doh:Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaGlass Siren
I'm going to look into that again- I don't recall why, but it didn't seem that MyFitnessPal would work for me, but I'm really lacking the motivation lately.Quote:
Originally Posted by Harley
THANK YOU. So appreciated.Quote:
Originally Posted by caltuna
Sorry to hear of the PCOS- that's a really tough thing to live with. Did your doctor/s recommend the low glycemic index diet? That isn't me trying to give advice, I'm asking because a friend of mine finally got a diagnosis of PCOS, and when she sticks to a low GI diet, it improves greatly. But the minute she comes off it, things go wonky again. I don't know how across the board it works.Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Akira
What she said! ^Quote:
Originally Posted by PearlieMae
1. Not here on the forum- I've never actually seen it and I've been here for long enough to have noticed if there was. There have been a few threads on the subject of being a mer of color, and people on the threads have discussed dealing with issues out in the world, however. Because there will always be asshats. But here on the forum... I see the most open minded, accepting group of people, generally speaking, that I've ever had the pleasure of knowing online.Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Akira
2. 8 minutes! I'm envious! That's amazing.
3. Sometimes others see us as we never would. I have all sorts of hangups about a particular aspect of myself- nothing I can work on because I can't afford to have orthodontic work- but I'm still told I'm beautiful or hot or whatever often enough to make it seem like, hey maybe people aren't noticing... lol and not just by my boyfriend. haha So I figure, eh, I'll take it, and accept that others aren't noticing the flaw the way I seem to be. I in no way expect to be perfect, I just wish my teeth weren't so messed up.
My body work is really about my health- being stronger is the best, breathing well, being able to blow up a balloon for my daughter, being able to run and play with her. And I do like the way my body looks better when I'm stronger and healthier.
ooooo deepbluuuuue i was wondering whoooo!
:D I finally got a name change. It matches me in other places, but it's not a mersona. That I think will come with (if I ever make) my tail. It's in the plan stage. :D
i have too many personas i want to do, but alas i cannot swim underwater properly. just dogpaddle swimming xD
Read Raina's book! She started off about right there, too!
Moved. Keep exercising. :)
I hope MFP works for you now, SurlySeaNymph! It really is a fantastic way to keep accountable. Speaking of being accountable, I'm now 12+ lbs down, yay :) Hope you all are doing well too!
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Originally Posted by SurlySeaNymph
Yes I've been on a diet and it's working a little too well, now I'm melting out of my clothes.
^ is a wee but jealous of you. Just a wee bit. Isn't it bad to drop a large amount of weight in a short period?
I was under a great deal of stress, I was layed off my job and bills need to be paid.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaGlass Siren
Also I didn't have much of an appetite and at one time didn't eat anything for 4 full days under so much stress then 2 extra days after that, and having to work for an evil supervisor who happens to be my aunt by marriage I had to get out of there.
Sigh also how I feel around this handsome tall hunk of a man, 6 foot 8 to be exact.
I do hope my rent will be paid though.
Sorry for getting a little off topic there.
But it really helped me when I didn't eat alot of sugar, ate plenty of meat and drank TONS of water.
oh gosh i'm sorry akira :( :hugs:
Yeah, I've been on those life-imposed 'diets' and they suck. I actually gained weight because I wasn't eating enough calories to work out, but because of the sudden halt in physical activity, metabolism went wonky and I gained.
My usual lifestyle is pretty healthy. But I've been having horrid migraines almost constantly. I can only guess as to why. But it's just bad. So I will get to working out when I can. And away from pixels for now.
I've been stalking this thread for awhile and I suppose I should add in my work out, but first a bit of history.
So fun fact some of you may or may not know, I was born without a thyroid. I know a lot of people have too much or too little thyroid well I have none, zip, zero. I've been on medication since I was three days old.If I'm off it for a few days I get very weak and sick. If I go weeks or months well I just cease to exist. Growing up it was VERY hard to get weight to stay on me. Enter child hood bullying for being too skinny. Not many people ever hear about the other side of the spectrum. But I'm here to say it sucks. People are people and they will act as such. In my case I was called twig or kids would literally blow on me to see if I would fall over -.- I could go on but you get the point. At the age of 14,weighing 60 pounds, I was entered into the hospital to have calories pumped into me because although I was eating literally pounds of food every day, it wasn't enough to keep up with my metabolism. By high school I was able to get my medication level and finally hit 100 pounds by my senior year. In college I actually started to hit puberty and so my body decided to put on weight, I even got up to 130 pounds. For me that was something I was not used too, not saying I thought I was fat it was just very different. I had a very major tragedy hit my family in my sophomore year so I dropped weight and was back down to about 90 pounds. Its been a very tough 23 years for me. I can never seem to get my weight to where I want it and also get the nutrients and exercise I need. On top of all of that I also have a ridiculous amount of allergies such as shellfish, dairy, variety of fruits and veggies, and now gluten. Any time I eat it literally causes me the worst pain ever. I sit in a ball for a few hours and let it pass. I'm faced with this decision every time I need to eat. I've learned to cook for myself and that has helped a lot but when we go out with friends or events its either eat and be in pain or don't and be grouchy then every one thinks I'm anorexic. Its sucked I'm not going to lie. Now fast forward to present day.
I've changed my diet to the Paleo diet (people have their different opinions this one works for me, also I get most of my meat from my parents farm so I know where it has come from) It has really really really improved my whole being. Its been two weeks and I can see the biggest change in my body and in my attitude. I'm able to eat healthy, work out, and maintain my weight. This is something I thought I could never achieve but slowly its coming around. I may never have the curves or the rear end but I'm happy with my body. Sure its hard at times and especially when it comes to my allergies but its so worth it! Just thought I would share my experience and encourage others that it can be done :)
looking forward to having before an after pictures. i think i'm getting thinner :)