Successful Slimmers Have Had Enough
Pressure to be Perfect
Everybody’s worried. We are constantly reminded that being beautiful is more important than anything else in the world. We are told that in order to be happy, successful respected and to have good relationships, we have to look good. And, sadly, the desire to be beautiful undermines our self-esteem because it values us by standards we can’t control. Age catches up with everybody in the end – although if you’re wealthy you can hold it at bay for a bit longer than everybody else.
Here are some alarming facts;
- • Over a twenty year period, the Playboy centrefold lost 25 pounds until she weighed 18 per cent less that the medical ideal for her age and height. The weight of fashion models plummeted even further to 23 per cent below that of ordinary women. In the Miss World contest a few years ago, the average contestant was below the US standard weight for anorexia according to height.
- • Recent BMA research found that many currently popular models and actresses only have 10-15 per cent of their body composition as fat compared with 22-26 per cent for a normal, healthy women.
- • It’s estimated that 85 per cent of Americans have dieted. Hundreds of thousands of other women are undergoing cosmetic surgery, stomach stapling and liposuction.
- • In the 1994 Glamour survey of 33,000 women, three-quarters of the respondents regardless of age, income and education, reported feeling overweight, although only one quarter could be classified as truly overweight.
- • In a study done in a hall of distorting mirrors it was found that women were much more likely to believe the mirror that made them look fatter than the mirror that accurately reflected their size or made them thinner.
And the tragic part of it is ideal women get smaller, real women get bigger, so the dissatisfaction gap is widening all the time.
Winners and Losers
The reason why some people succeed and some people don’t is less to do with luck or talent than how they think. Obviously, in sport, some people have more potential than others, but at the top, the physical gap between the champions and the also-rans is very small. It’s the mindset that makes the difference. Small changes in the way we think can trigger big behaviour changes.
So what’s the difference that makes the difference between success and failure? Well, there isn’t one, there are quite a few.
Successful Slimmers know when they’ve had Enough
A lot of successful slimmers finally win their battle when they eventually get fed up with feeling fat and guilty. They’ve had enough so they are left with no choice but to change.
Successful slimmers are willing to take responsibility for what they eat and how they live. They don’t need external rules; they eat and exercise accordingly to how they feel. And they can do that because they are back in touch with what their bodies need.
What do you think?
After having been 'skinny' most of my life, I gained over 3 stone as I was fast approaching 40 wondering what on earth was going on? Thankfully, I discovered Pete Cohen’s weight loss programme earlier this year which kickstarted me back to regular exercise, yoga, a healthy nutritional diet (without dieting) and gave me an indepth understanding of all the factors that can cause weight gain. It's been amazing to not give into the 'age' excuse and to be getting back into shape, having lost over a stone already. The benefits I've gained have been second to none. I don't actually want to go back to being 'skinny' as long as I'm fit, toned and have a healthy BMI. Pete's programme is simply fantastic, in that it's not about 'dieting'. What it does offer is a gentle and supportive system to help break habits and retrain our mindsets whilst educating in understanding what creates weight gain in the first place and on how to lose it the ‘healthy’ way. It works!
Every morning in my work I see people who are totally incapacitated and every day I go home feeling blessed that I can see, hear, walk, talk, eat, exercise and be healthy.
As for the skinny models and computer manipulated images on magazines, I don’t let these affect me. We are all unique and what's important is to be as healthy, fit and happy as we can possibly be, to be kind to ourselves and to others, and to appreciate our own individuality, especially our ‘laughter’ lines :)
I felt I would only have this if I was skinny
Pete has helped me find confidence & I actually like being me now for once in my life
These stats are shocking but understandable when you look back just 15yrs
The 'super models' of the 90's looked far better than the emaciated waifes that todays designers tend to use
The likes of Cindy, helena, claudia
They all had life in their eyes. Seemed to enjoy life
The fashion shows now, the models are soo boney, lifeless eyes
I expect exhausted most of the time, you never see them out enjoying themselves
I am sure some of them are naturally thin - kate moss always has been
But many others are killing themselves to keep their jobs
There have been 2 die in the last year
You always think it will never happen to me
I really hope the industry is making the changes it says it is trying to
But there will always be ways around the tests etc
I just wish these girls all the luck for the future & wonder how much damage they will have done to their bodies in 10yrs time for the sake of a job
We only have one body & need to feed it well & it will last a long time
You're right about the gap of size widening. It's scary how big the population is getting. But there are young people obsessed with being the model or porn star image of women because they think that's what men want. Young men thinking that those images are real women because they don't know better from their contact with mass media and the Internet. The world is going crazy.
Having used pete cohen's program I have learned that I am more comfortable in my skin when I don't try to diet and that it's how I view myself that matters. And i now view myself with positive eyes and strive to be healthy, not skinny. I wish more people can find happiness with themselves.