Living Maintenance - How far off the cultural bus?

Glory sometimes talks about checking out of cultural norms for maintanence. Many of us eat veggies, avoid fast food, plan our meals, etc., in ways that others who embrace the Standard American Diet/Lifestyle might find odd or uncomfortable. I have no problems not following along with cultural norms, but 2 recent media events make me wonder if I have lost touch altogether with cultural norms.

Without going into politics, I was confused by the kerfluffle over Sarah Palin's Newsweek cover. The headline was rude I thought, but I had no problem with the picture. I own the Runners World magazine that the picture was originally published in. Again, politics aside, I thought she looked great and healthy and any time a mother in the public eye can pull off a healthy lifestyle, I am pleased by that. It never even occured to me that the picture was sexist and then it was all over the news that it was....am I THAT out of touch with reality? I usually have a pretty good eye on women's issues.

Second, there was a small news piece on the Internet yesterday about Kate Moss embracing a "pro-ana" slogan.....I clicked on it to see what horrible words she could possibly be spouting....ummm "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels." Pro-ana??? That's one of my mottos, and I guarantee I am NOT anorexic. I believe in healthy food---and plenty of it! I use it to mean that being fit and healthy feels far better than falling face first into cheesecake. I don't know if Moss is anorexic or not, but surely that motto is not a pro-ana motto???

I think that the "media" (in general) is becoming more and more absurd and irrelevant to my life, and I wonder is it that the media has changed, or that I have changed?

Have any of you been taken aback by media judegments regarding healthy lifestyle issues or philosophies that you embrace?

I heard that about Kate Moss yesterday as well. That's one of my mantras and just as you I'm not anorexic nor do I believe in that either. I think the media likes to sensationalize anything they can get their hands on.

About the same time I started my weight loss journey, I turned off the Television. It is never on during the day and I like it that way. Of course as soon as the family gets home it is on til bed. I get very frustrated at almost every aspect of the media. It's a pushing, pulling, all out war between the fit and the fat, the left and the right. I hate the mixed messages it gives my kids.

You know, I think Sarah Palin is a very beautiful woman. She looks great and is very fit. In my humble opinion I see much of the problem as jealousy and envy in her case.

Agree with you, midwife. I think (if this wanders, forgive me - I'm still trying to figure this out for myself) that we're sliding into a "de-evolution". I'm noticing that emotional marketing is gradually replacing intellectual thought - that if a piece of news doesn't make us "feel", and the more extreme, the better - it isn't worthy. They want outrage, they want tears of joy, or sadness, but there's no market for impartial, critical thinking. I began to see this in education, when there was a slide toward "How do you FEEL about this?", as opposed to "What do you THINK?" There is a major difference! An old Bloom County cartoon (dating myself again) refers to a rise of "offensensitivity" where PC, self-esteem, and undeserved praise run amuck, and you can basically now sue somebody if they hurt your feelings (emotional distress). Have we forgotten that what separates us from animals is the ability to analyze and to think ... and not just react? To be health-conscious in especially current America - you have to disconnect from the plays on emotion, and really THINK about choices. Media forces seem to be trying very, very hard to unplug us from thinking.

Agree with you, midwife. I think (if this wanders, forgive me - I'm still trying to figure this out for myself) that we're sliding into a "de-evolution". I'm noticing that emotional marketing is gradually replacing intellectual thought -g.


Exactly how I feel!

I also feel the American media has done a FANTASTIC job brainwashing the American population and always has--for at least as long as I have been alive.

As far as the Palin cover, she posed for that picture for a running magazine, in that place it was wonderfully in context and yes, she's a beautiful, fit woman. I thought it was sexist of Newsweek to use it as their cover picture for a story discussing her position in politics. I don't think Newsweek would ever use a posed hottie running picture of Obama or McCain for a cover story on their political merit.

I think Palin has gotten a lot of mileage out of being so beautiful, but I thought Newsweek was tacky. Still, it is a great picture. I hope that Palin looks at the picture, admires her lovely legs, listens to the kerfuffle and says "suck it, Newsweek, damn I look good!"

I now ignore most media because of what you said. They are ridiculous.

I think the media likes to sensationalize anything they can get their hands on.

Not ALL media. I've been in the newspaper business for 11 years already, and a newspaper editor for six. I don't sensationalize anything.

But a LOT of news networks will do so. They'll get a hot-button issue, like weight/models and Palin now, and blow things out of proportion. It's all about viewers and ad sales. Right now the media is TOTALLY suffering because of lower ad revenue, and they're looking to pull in viewers/readers, and therefore more advertisers, to stay afloat (or at least NOT close). They KNOW they're blowing it out of proportion too in a lot of instances, and they do it so people buy it.

May be time for me to bow out here...media bashing gets to me for obvious reasons...

Agreed on the Sarah Palin/Newsweek cover. Completely aside from politics, that is a great photo of her and she is a beautiful woman who also seems to have a healthy lifestyle.

I've been told by a few people that I look like her... most recently was a guy who didn't want to tell me because he didn't know my political orientation and was worried about how I'd take it - but regardless, being compared to her in terms of looks is a great compliment for me!

I'm so far off the bus I didn't even hear about the Newsweek cover, so I had to go look. I agree that for Newsweek to use that photo on their cover is an attempt to demean Palin because she is an attractive woman. I am an old 1970s feminist, and the photo is a clear display of gender bias. Even Palin didn't like it. It's hard enough for a woman to be taken seriously without media bashing on the basis of gender. (And btw I am not a Sarah Palin fan.)

As for the slogan, I'm sorry to say it's true. It is associated with the Pro-Ana movement. I prefer to change it to "Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels."

But actually, I'm out of that level altogether. I suppose if I had a slogan, it would be "No food or food choice should be the driving force in your life."

Jay

Not ALL media. I've been in the newspaper business for 11 years already, and a newspaper editor for six. I don't sensationalize anything.

But a LOT of news networks will do so. They'll get a hot-button issue, like weight/models and Palin now, and blow things out of proportion. It's all about viewers and ad sales. Right now the media is TOTALLY suffering because of lower ad revenue, and they're looking to pull in viewers/readers, and therefore more advertisers, to stay afloat (or at least NOT close). They KNOW they're blowing it out of proportion too in a lot of instances, and they do it so people buy it.

May be time for me to bow out here...media bashing gets to me for obvious reasons...

Mindi, if I remember correctly, you are in a small town, and I have to say that small town newspapers are WAY different than say the NY Times, and the Wall Street Journal. One thing I find with our local small town newspapers is they HAVE to report the truth...lol ;) The towns people know what is going on way before the field reporters, writers and editiors. Our citizens are very aware of what is going on and if the paper started sensationalizing the happenings, EVERYONE would boycott them and they would have to close shop. :D

Case in point; a local Doctor lost his medical licence because of a narcotics addiction. He was fired from the hospital, EVERYONE knew he was fired and why he was fired, but the newspaper printed a letter written by the Hospital Administrator stating he retired. BS. The paper received hundreds of phone calls and nasty letters, their sales dropped immediately for several months and they almost went under. They can't stretch the truth in small town Nebraska...lol

I'm with Jay . . . That slogan, "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels," has always been an uncomfortable one for me partially because I know it is associated with the pro-ana movement (and has been for years). It actually really bothers me. People use it to justify not eating in order to attain unhealthily low weights.

As for the Palin picture, I do agree it was inappropriate for the reason stated above -- because they would never use a picture of, say, Joe Biden in running shorts in an article about his political strengths/weaknesses. I do think that even people who hate Sarah Palin (I admit, I am one of them, but let's not get into that) will agree that she is an attractive woman with a healthy body and a healthy lifestyle.

I totally agree. TV news is so ridiculous these days. People have totally lost sense of the idea that news should be about stating facts and not opinions. I'm pretty sure I know what TV station was responsible for the initial allegations too! but i wont go there. :angel:

As for the slogan, I'm sorry to say it's true. It is associated with the Pro-Ana movement. I prefer to change it to "Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels."

I have heard that it is associated with the pro-ana movement and I can certainly see how it could be interpreted and applied for that purpose.

I think it's like a lot of inspirational quotations or aphorisms though, people use them because they find something in them that works for them and JayEll I love your modification of it because it probably more accurately reflects what many 3FC users mean when they use the motto.

I always saw it as kind of a variation on "a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips": a motto designed to remind us that what we put into our bodies impacts them and would keep us from reaching for that second doughnut.

But I can also see that it could be used as a mantra by someone who is trying to eat as little as possible. It's unfortunate that words that can be so useful for someone who is trying to get healthy can also be useful to those who are doing great damage to themselves. I guess it's all about that elusive balance.

As for the Sarah Palin picture, I haven't seen it (clearly I'm way out of it) but I would say that a picture taken out of context is like a quotation taken out of context, it's no longer accurate.

I agree with most of the rest here. The large news networks and newspapers are all in it to make a buck right now - and some to support particular views. When I was growing up, I can remember my mom and dad not really caring which news show they watched because it was pretty much the same news on every station. Now, I watch different news shows to figure out whether this one is being biased or if that one is trying to put a political slant on something. It's no longer just watching the news to be informed - it's trying to sift through the garbage to find out the truth.

I also agree about small town newspapers, though.. they are far from biased, since they WILL get called out by the citizens. :yes: I live in a small town, too.

(BTW.. I gotta say to Lori Bell.. WOW.. your new avatar is fantastic! You look great, girl!)

PS: Jay - I like your version of that slogan much better!! :yes:

As for the slogan, I'm sorry to say it's true. It is associated with the Pro-Ana movement. I prefer to change it to "Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels."
But actually, I'm out of that level altogether. I suppose if I had a slogan, it would be "No food or food choice should be the driving force in your life."

Jay

Seriously? Wow, so is/was Weight Watchers Pro-ana? I lost a significant amount of weight back in 1990 on the old WW exchange program, and that slogan was used almost weekly. Matter of fact I wrote it down on my weekly weigh in chart...which I still have. Gosh you learn something new everyday.

Well, I think that slogan goes along with a LOT of calorie counting behaviors that can end up healthy/unhealthy depending how they are used. Exercise to burn calories - good! Exercise to burn every single one of the calories you ate that day, plus 500 extra - unhealthy. Counting calories eaten to stay within a reasonable, healthy limit - IMO good! Counting calories so you can stay under 500...bad. Using that mantra would fall into that category, for me - using it to avoid a craving for a food that doesn't fit into your plan would be a healthy use, but it is used unhealthfully as well, as a reason to avoid eating altogether in those struggling with anorexia. There is a well known association of the slogan with the anorexia community, which is probably why the news agency reported it, but that's not the only way it is used.

I can't comment on the Palin kerfluffle, because I'm not following it, but it would seem like the gym-wear photo would be a bit out of context on the cover of a news magazine. It undermines any sense that she's a valid political player, IMO.

You know, I think Sarah Palin is a very beautiful woman. She looks great and is very fit.

THis is a lovely photo of Sarah, who really does look that good in real life (though she needs a new hairdo IMHO :lol: ) but as kerfuffles go in her life, this is certainly a minor one! I'm of the same era as Jay, and I agree that it is sexist of the media to feature her this way, but I usually consider the source (mainstream America media) and let it go. Like Lori and Mindi, I live in a very small town, and our newspaper usually doesn't sensationalize things - though since it's in Sarah's hometown, we do get a lot of Sarah coverage..... :)

Lori Bell, I said it is associated with the Pro-Ana movement, not that they started it, not that anyone or any organization that is using it is therefore Pro-Ana. Obviously, WW is not Pro-Ana.

Jay

I can see how the cover is sexist now, but my initial impression was "Oh ,the Runners World pic. How does she make time to run?" rather than "Oh, my what a sexist picture." I'm just amused with my initial interpretation of it.

I learned a few new things today. :)

We have become a society that can't wait to jump all over anyone for anything they say...anyway they look...anything they stand behind...we watch closely... photographing every freakin' thing they do...waiting for them to screw up so we can say...SEE I TOLD YOU!!

We go around strutting our chests out saying we ALL have a right to our opinion...go free speech...UNTIL something is said against what we believe or think...then we jump all over them...

We have talk shows up the ying-yang for all sides...political and entertainment wise...

for pete's sake people..is it really important to know what Spencer and Heidi had for lunch...

I am so glad my life isn't on display to the entire world!....my mistakes and ideas...thoughts...cares...concerns...

oh by the way.....she looks great!

I'm so far off the bus I didn't even hear about the Newsweek cover, so I had to go look.

Me, too! And what I learned is that Newsweek did not have the permission of Runner's World to use the photo and has stated so publicly.

I agree that our society can't wait to jump all over anyone or anything. It's a sad comment about us all as I'm sure no one is completely innocent.

WHEW....I thought I was going to be a Threadkiller here...thank you ALLISON for saving me!

I got to thinking that I may have offended some of you by what I posted...NOT my intentions and definitely did not want to ruin my good friend, BABY CATCHER'S Thread :hug:

As Allison said...we all are guilty...which I hope I was able to get that across in my post, that was my intent...I am as guilty or more than the next person.

I believe we should have views...and I am well aware we can be confrontational at times...we should be!

You all know that I WILL BE! ;)

I was just upset all week about what was done to Sarah Palin by the media (YES! I understand she brought a lot on herself by things she says and by her position in all this)...

I just really feel she was treated unfairly....that's all.

Here's what I thought when I saw the Palin Newsweek cover: Hey, that's a very slimming top, the gray color-block under the arm up against the red front create a nice narrowing effect at the waist.

lol... I remember the Palin Newsweek cover. I too thought it was a fantastic photo. And I thought the title was rude, but that's what I expect nowadays from mainstream media.

When RW did the article on her - I thought it was a great article and I am amazed and how much she incorporates fitness into her life. But I also figured RW put a controversial figure in their "I'm A Runner" feature because it drives comments and reactions and readers. And more comments, reactions and readers = higher advertising revenue. I, too, used to work in the media until I got sick of it and made the switch to marketing and eventually technical writing. Make no mistake that the media is a business interested in making money, just like every other typical business out there. Some outlets go to extremes to do so.

On the Palin thing, I think it is sexist just because women are so frequently reduced to their appearances the way that men usually aren't. Barack Obama has shown up in the media in his swim trunks, too, but it's different when that treatment is applied to a group (women) that has traditionally experienced discrimination versus privilege (men). Palin was put in a political context and reduced to her body, her appearance, rather than her mind. That said, she knew when she took those Runner's World photos that they'd be in the public domain and used in this way. The picture wasn't taken of her actually running, (though there may have been that too, in Runner's World) it was taken of her standing in a traditionally pageanty cheesecakey pose. She is just using the currency of patriarchy to her advantage, which arguably hurts women as a group even though she gets ahead. It's a tough line to walk--does it mean you can't assert your femininity if you are aspiring to public office? I don't know. But it just seems to me like her femininity is about the only thing she asserts, besides her folksiness. Maybe that's the problem, for me. Yes, as women we are feminine and there is nothing inferior about being feminine--but let's expand the definition of femininity beyond a pencil skirt and heels please, perhaps to include authority and brains to name a few.

As for the thin mantra, pretty much anything can be appropriated and taken to extremes, like on the other end of things Fat Acceptance can be used as an excuse not to take responsibility for your actions, but by and large people use and accept the term FA to encompass a range of positive behaviors. I think it depends on the history and context of "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels" and to what extent it has acquired too many negative connotations based on the pro-Ana movement. The only example I can think of right now is the extreme one of the Swastika-- started out as a good (Hindu?) symbol and some people still use it that way, but now it's overpowering connotation is with the Holocaust and you just can't use it in polite society in this country any more. I don't think the WW motto has been hijacked by pro-Ana to that extent, but I don't think you can entirely divorce the phrase from it's pro-Ana connotations.

"Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels." Pro-ana??? That's one of my mottos, and I guarantee I am NOT anorexic.

I used to consider this as a pro ana slogan, but since I`ve trimmed down myself I realise that it`s not! It`s ever so true! Beign slim is compensating ten-fold for all the (food) things I`ve cut out!

Stella

"Nothing tastes as good as thin feels," has always been an uncomfortable one for me...Chiming in here with my own take.
I think it's just another one of the catchy slogans
that the majority of people accept as truth, without analysis,
simply because they hear it frequently.

Personally, I've always found the slogan so false as to be ridiculous.

Partly it is a matter of values:
Taste is one of my 5 senses: taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound,
yet all of my 5 senses are closely intertwined with food consumption.
While only sight and possibly touch, are the senses involved with "how thin feels".

I, personally, find all of 5 my senses to be the most compelling when they are involved with food intake.

Partly it is a matter of semantics:
Comparing apples to oranges.
While the slogan uses the word "feels",
it is actually comparing the physical to the mental.
as it compares one of the body's SENSES, taste,
to the mind's convoluted THOUGHTS about body size,

Also, I don't like the words "thin" or "skinny" any better than "fat".
To me, they are the same as "boney", defining a look I find unattractive.
I love being normal weight, but I don't really consider that "thin.
To me "thin" doesn't mean 5'0" at between around 105 to 115, (normal weght).
It means 5'0" at below 95 lbs..(beginning underweight definition re Charts).