I never had a healthy relationship with my body. I mean, when I was a kid, I didn’t think about it much. My legs were for running, my arms were for climbing and my hips were for dancing. I used to swing on the street to the music of Madonna and Elton John. But sometime between fifth and sixth grade, my thoughts changed. My perception changed and I began to see myself in a new light. I saw my body through a new lens. Unfortunately, that lens was not positive or pink; Oh no. Instead, it was hard and cruel. It was fundamental, completely. And before I knew it, the voices of self-loathing were so loud that I got sick. Very sick. I developed an eating disorder.
Of course, several factors contributed to my illness. I was young and vulnerable. I lived in a dysfunctional home, where depression was common. My life was out of control. I was changing, physically speaking, and I didn’t know how to cope. My newfound curves made me uncomfortable. I felt disproportionate and saw myself as fat and thick. And I felt that way because I grew up in America, a country that glorifies thinness.
I came of age in the “Baby Got Back” era. The models ran out in their underwear. Abs was inside. Imagine my horror and surprise when I saw “it” on social media: a photo before and after weight loss showing a “normal” woman and one who was too thin. His shoulders protruded from his body. She regretted being a size 6. And she described herself and her journey as brave. Withering, she thought, he was brave.
But skipping meals is not a sign of strength. Saying no to snacks is neither brave nor cool.
Perhaps you are thinking that I am just jealous – that I am judging and being “skinny”. But honestly, I am not. I was criticized for my appearance. To put it in context, I was once an adult weighing only 86 pounds. But I am concerned with the message that your images and images like these are sending, because they perpetuate the belief that our weight defines our value. That to be appreciated, valued and loved, you must have a certain size – that is, you must be very thin. These images suggest that, because it is smaller, it is a success. She is “winning” in life – and the rest of us are failing. We “give up” or “give in”. And these images are problematic because they can be triggered for those who have an eating disorder and / or a history of disordered habits.
A 2015 study from Australia found that looking at “inspirational” posts on Instagram led to worsening mood, body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem in the women who saw them. He did not build others; it pushed them down. Adaptation posts, like these, made others feel inadequate and small.
In addition, the photos tell only part of the story. They are a snapshot of a person’s life, a moment suspended in time. And no one really knows what was or is happening before or after. No one knows the truth – how many previous photos show individuals during pregnancy, or shortly thereafter, and many are later altered. We get a little taller, keep our heads a little taller and “suck”. After photos almost always involve sugar in. Furthermore, some after appearances are obtained by unhealthy means.
In the post I saw, the person in question reached his ideal shape through intermittent fasting, or alternating between periods of eating and not eating, and people applauded him. They wanted to know your tips, tricks and secrets. But this is toxic bullshit. It is dangerous, completely. Why intermittent fasting and other restrictive diets are just that: diets. They are repackaged eating disorders.
Make no mistake: some “experts” support diets and weight reduction plans. Intermittent fasting, for example, has several supposed health benefits. It is believed that the act can reduce insulin resistance, stress reactions and even prevent cancer. However, any diet that requires you to restrict what you eat or when you eat is “disordered”. It is only repackaged through “healthy” lenses.
“Whenever you implement strict dietary rules, be it food quantities, types of food, etc., our bodies will see this as a threat and will want to ‘stock’ these foods when they can,” Colleen Christensen, a registered nutritionist, recently told the Scary Mommy. “Binge eating is a common phenomenon that happens. It can also lead to other eating disorders, such as orthorexia or an intense fear of eating food outside the established rules. All of this increases the stress of the body, which is not beneficial for health. [Intermittent fasting] usually leads to the weight cycle (lose, recover, lose, recover, etc.), which has been shown to increase the risk of disease.“
Of course, some would argue that intermittent fasting is not a diet, but a lifestyle. But this is dangerous and precarious, at best. It just isn’t true. Because whenever you follow a system of food and restraint, it is a diet. Time course. End of discussion.
So while you may think you are helping others with your before and after pictures – while you may think you are encouraging others and being optimistic – you may want to think twice before sharing your dietary journey because it can be harmful to your others. It can be painful and it can be triggering. Your “success” story can cause another shame and pain.