Maybe it's just me, but I absolutely DESPISE seeing women talk about their diet and exercise programs on social media, especially when it's done in excess and to almost disturbing detail. It just feels off. A totally random, unscientific survey of my friends tells me I'm not alone in this. I've heard various justifications for it, but that is all white noise to me. Sure, sure, you "just wanna be healthier," but then why all the before and after pictures? Why the photos of how you looked "back then" with talks of how you want to get "back to" that? Why all the wishes to look like whatever celebrity or character? Why all the details? Why the need for other people to see and respond? If it is about YOU and your HEALTH, then why not just DO it and not worry about telling the rest of the world?You don't go around talking about any other aspect of your health. You don't post to everyone about how your latest pap smear went or how you're really keeping up with your goals to take your cold medicine every day or how clean your last urine sample was. You don't tell us about your heart rate or your blood pressure or cholesterol or your vitamin levels or whatever metric you're trying to improve...because your diet/exercise posts are NOT about health. You're not fooling anyone. We all know what it's REALLY about...women pandering to men's bullshit and pretending it's about their health. Just admit it. Lying to your friends is rude. Lying to yourself is ruder.Honestly, if it's NOT that, again, why do you feel the need to tell everyone, "ERMEHGERD I went a whole week without any white carbs! Think I can go another week?!" "Day 12 of no sugar or chocolate!" "Wow, I can't believe the elliptical said I burned 327 calories!" "Can you believe I'm down 10 lbs already?!" "Can't wait to buy new clothes!" "Darn, why does the McRib have to come back just as I'm starting my new diet?!" "WHY can I not find a paleo replacement recipe for deep fried, Starburst covered, chocolate ice cream, cake, brownie, Twizzler, rice crispy treats?!"Do you think literally anyone in the universe cares about these details? Because, let me clarify: WE DON'T. Yes, I speak for EVERYONE. Literally everyone. People who act like they care are lying and are probably just applauding you for trying get hot. Alternatively, they may be watching because they have suffered to get hot and feel cheated when other people don't suffer to get hot...so now that you are suffering to get hot, they want to applaud you. Don't worry, they'll be right there to point and laugh when you fail. These types of people are like termites on the giant wooden asshole of social media. Get RID of them!Also, do you really think we don't notice the way you talk about yourself in other posts (or in person, assuming we know you in person)? You know, those posts that are like, "I wish I could wear something like this!" "-posts a pic of some hypersexualized TV/Movie character- OMG I will NEVER look like that!" "Went clothes shopping today....so disappointed." "How come I'm doing all this work and still have granny arms?" "-posts another pic of some other hypersexualized TV/Movie character- COSPLAY GOALS! Think I can get there in three months?!"Maybe it's just my general disdain for social media lately, but seeing these posts is like being punched in the face multiple times a day with, "REMEMBER LADIES, YOUR LOOKS DETERMINE YOUR WORTH!" My discomfort with it is not simply about me and what I find annoying either. I find LOTS of stuff super annoying. It's that I find it unhealthy for women as a whole. It's unhealthy to do and it's unhealthy to watch.I'm sure plenty of you will chime in with, "butbutbut helps with goals! people really care! keeps me motivated! makes me proud! not about looks! swear!"Well, I'm sorry, but I don't believe you. I believe there might be a teeny tiny handful of people for whom it is true. You are probably not in that handful. That leads me to believe you are desperately seeking validation so those push ups and rice cakes you have to endure seem less absurd and painful.Oh, who am I kidding? Rice cakes are WHITE CARBS and we all know you're never eating those again except on your birthday!I'm not saying all this to make you feel bad or derail your goals or knock you off the wagon or tell you that life is pointless so you might as well eat Big Macs and fried chicken and cake all day. I'm saying it because I've been you. It took me a long time to realize just how psychologically warped it was to feel the need to constantly tell people these things. I realized how unhealthy it was to seek outside validation to keep myself "motivated," especially because that motivation is always veiled in the threat of ostracism should you fail. I also read between the lines of all the supposed "encouragement" I was getting and realized just how shallow and passive aggressive it was. Why do you need to do this? Really ask yourself that. Tell yourself the TRUTH. Don't be ashamed, just be honest.Remember: YOUR DAUGHTERS ARE WATCHING!P.S. For those that say, "But what about men who do it?" Well, I don't care about men. :D via /r/GenderCritical https://ift.tt/2qvqlJD
No comments:
Post a Comment