If we, as women, are so happy with our "curves"....?

Question

why are diet and exercise programs so popular?

Answer 1

Simple enough. Because most women AREN'T happy with their looks ... through little fault of their own.

Society gives us the perfect woman image. You see her on television, movies, runways and magazines. She's so thin she could just about be transparent, has the perfect waistline, the perfect breasts, the perfect skin and is basically perfection personified.

Then we grow up being compared to her.

The neverending goal for every young girl is to be "pretty". Unfortunately, when pretty is defined as the perfection they see on movie screens and magazines, they'll do just about anything to reach that goal. Unfortunately, this is also why anorexia and bulemia became so common place, and seems to be more so as time progresses.

So, tanning salons make a fortune, diet programs are attempted from every angle, and every other attempt is made to reach that idea of what beautiful is. And it becomes ingrained .... it's much harder to discard an ideal than it is to accept it.

I've raised my daughters to ensure that they don't see that picture of perfection as the 5'9 poker thin model .... to believe that dieting is a poor substitute for a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise, to believe you don't have to be 105 pounds to be beautiful. The only way to have women who are satisfied and happy with themselves is to raise daughters who are happy with themselves.

Answer 2

I would really like to know!!
I honestly am happy with my curves, so don't see a need to participate in the craze.
However, I believe it is because fashion designers create a demand for skinny models, because they think that clothes 'hang off skinny better'. So these girls without curves are portrayed to us in the media as being the prettiest, and women want to be the most gorgeous they can be, and if it is these skinny girls that are attractive, "then I must become skinny too!".
And unfortunately women want it fast, so these quick programs, though usually ineffective in the long run, become popular.

Answer 3

Don't write me off for being a guy, just hear me out:

Are you happy with your curves, or are you being told how to feel about your appearance? Every fashion magazine and tv advertisement tell you that you are too fat, and the feminist movement tries to counter by saying that you should just be happy with who you are.

The point is: what do you need to be happy? We all want to be sexually attractive; no one wants to be undesirable. However, if you let that motivation run your life, you will not be happy. Look at anorexic or bullemic people, they are not happy. On the other hand, there are curvaceous women who are happy with their appearance, but that is because they have confidence and self-esteem.

It is true that men are attracted to women who are in shape, because we are biologically driven to be that way. However, men also get their ideals from the media just like women do. The media tells us which women are "hot" and which aren't. Stereotypes about attractiveness develop from that.

Real life is different. In real life, guys like girls with confidence. Being too skinny is like being unhealthy, which is unattractive. Guys want girls who are fun and open-minded. I wouldn't date a girl who spent all of her time worrying about her diet and nutrition. I want a girl who can see past stereotypes and image. I try and do the same. And if anyone honestly thinks that guys only care about appearances, then they are associating with the wrong guys.

Answer 4

Diet and exercise are popular for those that are not so comfortable with their curves and for those who know that it is wonderful to feel comfortable in one's own skin, but we must also remain healthy! We need to watch our cholesterol levels, bloodpressure. etc... Thru diet and exercise we can maintain a good weight and hopefully keep under control our health concerns. It's not always about "losing weight".

Answer 5

We aren't really happy with our curves. It is almost as if women have a genetic pre-disposition to low self-esteem and we feel like we must please everyone by being perfect creatures. Society has tapped into our insecurity regarding size and the entire diet industry has made billions from convincing women that we are unlovable if we aren't model- thin. The "love of curves" rhetoric is really our female attempt to convince ourselves that we really are fine the way we are. However, few women truly believe it. Those who do are just highly evolved (I wish that I was one of them!)

Answer 6

Cause most women aren't happy with their curves. The ones who are aren't dieting and exercising.

Answer 7

Well, you can be skinny and have curves.
But the media tells us we have to be super skinny but it is very unhealthy to be too skinny.
Have you seen Hilary Duff? She used to be so pretty and didn't buy into the you have to be super skinny poo but now she looks gross and is too skinny she used to be a good role model it is so sad how people think anorexicly skinny is beutiful, you can be beautiful at any size. :(
And we are scared guys will think we are ugly if we aren't super skinny and sadly guys seem to buy into that and think skinnier is better.

Answer 8

I exercise bec I don't want to gain weight but it's a stress reliever. But my hubby told me I look better the weight I am now 125. He said it give me shape!

Answer 9

i suppose its all the celebrities and models out there influencing us. personally i'm not disturbed by it and you shouldn't be either. i am happy the way i am because i was made the way i am and god must have had a reason for making me like he did. not that i am fat or anything but i'm not entirely skinny either. i am happy just keeping myself halthy even if i don't look like a model.

Answer 10

So that we can keep everything curving in the right direction.