Weighing in about women’s weight

Women are absolutely inundated daily with unrealistic body images from every media source.

We diet and exercise sporadically (or regularly), to meet or exceed our weight goals. We ladies struggle soooo much with trying to remain on track with a healthier lifestyle and fit in the last dress size we bought for a wedding.

The media pressure we face becomes internalized into pressure to conform ... like good little, skinny robots.

The older I get, the less likely it is that I will ever fit into those tiny jeans I saved from, oh ... 20 years ago. I think I had to lie flat to zip them up then.

We can support our fellow lady friends by encouragement and by NOT talking negatively about them behind their backs.

Pass on the weight jokes, and don’t partake in the negative gossip. This drives me nuts, because it perpetuates the criticism and the negative consensus that women who aren’t firm and toned size 4 are somehow “broken.” Women can be every shape and size and be beautiful. It’s true. We need to feel good about our varied sizes and shapes and be equally accepting of the same of other women.

We can find a healthier lifestyle that actually works. Do this to elongate your lifespan, not just to replicate a waif celebrity.

Don’t buy the entertainment mags that only cover the ultraskinny as sexy entertainers - even though curiosity about your favorite celeb is driving you crazy. Pass on the chips, take a short walk.

Baby steps, my friends.

Love yourself, accept yourself and accept others. Oh, and give away those old tiny jeans to charity.

Dianne McDonald, Marshfield