Another blast from the past...

[ktmeadows]

Well duh I should have realized that coast guard divers wouldn't have on Speedos. I'm blonde, what can I say?

Actually, they might wear Speedos under their wetsuits/drysuits, though my guess is they wear those sexy short shorts instead.

We used to do a lot of scuba diving and it was pretty common to see men in Speedos putting on/taking off their wetsuits.

 

[TooFarTampa]

Great post, Tootsie. It's such an interesting topic, one I could talk at length about. But I'll TRY to keep it short so I don't bore y'all. Media is so much to blame. They not only propagate unrealistic body ideals to both men and women (because sex sells), but they also create the desire for the processed foods/biggie-sizing that's the cause of our obesity. It's not exactly their fault, they're just trying to make money and give us what we consumers are demanding, but it's a vicious cycle. The only way this will stop is if consumers stop responding, which is pretty unlikely. We Media Generations are already brainwashed for life.

It's funny/sad how "women's media" --rather than empowering us-- create such a sense of insecurity in us women concerning our bodies. Talk about unrealistic ideals. But they do this to keep their advertisers in business, who thrive on our insecurity, selling us the cosmetics and procedures we feel we need to have in that elusive chase of "beauty."

And they want their advertisers in business so they in turn can stay in business. No question. Even the editorial content of these magazines almost exclusively features $500 blouses and $1,000 bags. I mean seriously. Perspective, people! It's a big pet peeve of mine.

Excellent points KB. We are so beholden in the country to consumerism that if we all stopped doing it, our economy would completely fall apart. But with this merry-go-round comes lots of baggage. And it ain't pretty ... even if it's pretty.

 

[dbuck]

I guess cotton boxers would be a bit cumbersome under those wet suits.

 

[katie blue]

It's a no-win cycle, TTF. I feel, as a female, if I buy into it (facelifts, boob jobs, expensive co$metics, shoving your feet into 4" spikes & pointy toes that give you back problems, starvation fashion, etc.), the Media will have succeeded in selling me their vision. I'll have successfully been duped into insecurity. But if you don't buy into it, that is, if you don't look as "good" as the next woman, you're putting yourself at a strategic disadvantage. Bigger boobs usually gets the job! Certainly gets the man. So what do you do? I sure don't know, and the answer is probably different for everybody depending on their goals. I'm not anybody's feminist, but this standard sure irks me. I enjoy looking as good as I can, but have made the personal decision as a woman to not to beat myself up trying to be something I'm not.

 

[ktmeadows]

It's a no-win cycle, TTF. I feel, as a female, if I buy into it (facelifts, boob jobs, expensive co$metics, shoving your feet into 4" spikes & pointy toes that give you back problems, starvation fashion, etc.), the Media will have succeeded in selling me their vision. I'll have successfully been duped into insecurity. But if you don't buy into it, that is, if you don't look as "good" as the next woman, you're putting yourself at a strategic disadvantage. Bigger boobs usually gets the job! Certainly gets the man. So what do you do? I sure don't know, and the answer is probably different for everybody depending on their goals. I'm not anybody's feminist, but this standard sure irks me. I enjoy looking as good as I can, but have made the personal decision as a woman to not to beat myself up trying to be something I'm not.

I don't agree that bigger boobs necessarily gets the job (unless you're applying for a job at Hooters ); it sometimes has the opposite effect. My job puts me in direct contact with a lot of people: company employees, management, contractors, other agencies, members of the public, etc., and I need their respect in order to be successful. Blame it on the media or whoever, but big boobs unfortunately often sends the message to others that you can't possibly be intelligent enough to know what you're talking about. I'm in a field that puts me in contact mainly with males the majority of the time, and early on I learned to downplay my breasts, get rid of the blonde hair and tone down my looks. Although I had much more fun as a blonde, it was interesting to discover that suddenly I was taken much more seriously as a brunette. And I'm always careful not to show cleavage in the workplace or wear short skirts or anything that even hints at sexiness.

Unfortunately there's definitely a double standard out there, and women are forced to play the game in a man's world if they want to succeed. That's been my experience anyway, though I'm sure there are those that probably disagree. Age, experience and a good track record helps too. But first impressions are usually lasting, and it's important to make that first impression a good one.

 

[Teresa]

My history class blames the prudishness on the Puritanical heritage, a trickle down leftover. And regarding obesity, again, it's all about the processed foods and high-fructose corn syrup that is in almost all our popular snacks. Europeans eat plenty of fat, but their food choices are much fresher overall. Plus, they get out and walk.

Oh I could talk about this forever, it's such a facinating topic to me. Sorry to bore y'all with another "thread killer". ;-)

no thread kill here Katie! it's all interesting how mass media and cultural trends define what we eat as well as what we should look like. And also religion's influence over how we feel about the human body in general, going back thousands of years.

meanwhile, the girl in the dunes (back to the original topic of this thread) seems to have a pretty good body image - at least it seems so. Good for her!!!

 

[Teresa]

I don't agree that bigger boobs necessarily gets the job (unless you're applying for a job at Hooters ); it sometimes has the opposite effect. My job puts me in direct contact with a lot of people: company employees, management, contractors, other agencies, members of the public, etc., and I need their respect in order to be successful. Blame it on the media or whoever, but big boobs unfortunately often sends the message to others that you can't possibly be intelligent enough to know what you're talking about. I'm in a field that puts me in contact mainly with males the majority of the time, and early on I learned to downplay my breasts, get rid of the blonde hair and tone down my looks. Although I had much more fun as a blonde, it was interesting to discover that suddenly I was taken much more seriously as a brunette. And I'm always careful not to show cleavage in the workplace or wear short skirts or anything that even hints at sexiness.

this is unfortunate. seems like you are conforming to the standards of someone else if you must change your looks to such an extent to be taken seriously. why do women have to re-invent themselves (skinny, big boobs, hair color, skimpy clothes, conservative clothes, etc) for any reason? though I feel its fine if its something they choose for their own personal preferences.

 

[lindatat]

Tootsie and Katieblue, I you!!!!!

 

[Teresa]

Tootsie and Katieblue, I you!!!!!

LBH - you are an inspiration to me! I once never had to worry about being overweight - until I hit 35, and then after having a baby - and then the Italian genes kick right in. and also having a severely broken ankle that is now nothing but arthritic (must have another surgery - trying to put it off for a while). I don't want to exercise - just try to do normal daily activities on this ankle - and therefore I do not exercise. I also have terrible dietary habits that have developed over time. But, after hearing (and seeing) about your own body transformation, it makes me want to give it a try... and I shall! Cork on the Ocean went to yoga with me the other day and we're planning a work out routine together. Gotta get the nutritional diet under control as well.

I don't care about what others think about my appearance at this point. I'm not on a man hunt. But, I do care for me. I need to be healthy and regain my energy, as well as my self-esteem (which suffers as a result of all of the above). So, it is important to me to lose the pounds and get in shape - as you have done. It's not a matter of looking good for the beach. It's a matter of feeling good for me! So, send me your good wishes and any motivational advice you care to share...

(talk about a tangent)

 

[ktmeadows]

this is unfortunate. seems like you are conforming to the standards of someone else if you must change your looks to such an extent to be taken seriously. why do women have to re-invent themselves (skinny, big boobs, hair color, skimpy clothes, conservative clothes, etc) for any reason? though I feel its fine if its something they choose for their own personal preferences.

In my case, it was because it's difficult to try to get a point across to a man who is only talking to your breasts