Is the tide changing toward diet culture? Perhaps, when one of America’s most prominent icons admits to fanning the flames of body shaming and the lack of willpower in millions of Americans trying to lose weight. By ‘Diet Culture,’ we refer to a societal obsession with dieting and weight loss, often characterized by the promotion of restrictive eating habits, unrealistic body standards, and the stigmatization of those who do not conform.
Recently, Oprah Winfrey acknowledged her role in abetting America’s toxic ‘Diet Culture during a three-hour WW special. For decades, she promoted guilt and shame as well as the redemption of weight loss on her various media platforms, including a cable TV network, magazine, and talk show.
“I’ve been a major contributor to it. I cannot tell you how many weight-loss shows and makeovers I have done, and they have been a staple since I’ve been working in television,” she admitted.
Sadly, Oprah isn’t the only one. Famous women’s magazines, Morning and Daytime Talk Shows, cartoons, and stand-up routines are rife with weight loss stories, jokes, and new diet programs promising quick results.
How harmful is our obsession with losing weight by any means possible?
Numerous studies indicate that yo-yo dieting is bad for your heart. Yo-yo dieting, also known as weight cycling, can stress your heart and increase your risk of heart disease. In the short term, regaining weight can cause problems like angina, heart attack, and stroke. The more significant the swings in weight, the bigger the risk.
My boss, Luther Vandross, gained and lost over a hundred pounds at least eight times while working for him. His developing stroke and untimely death at age 54 are primarily associated with a result of weight cycling.
He, like Oprah, lost a hundred pounds on the infamous liquid diet. But millions of other Americans suffer from this vicious cycle of hating themselves and their bodies for their inability to maintain and sustain weight loss.
Oddly, Oprah’s confession was part of WW’s slick rebrand as a weight-health company that offers drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. I’m still trying to understand why she confessed in this forum. But I cannot deny she seems to have seen the light since Oprah Winfrey backpedaled from her statements about weight loss medications being an “easy way out” to admitting they’re redemption.
Oprah Winfrey backpedaled from her statements about weight loss medications being an “easy way out” to admitting they’re redemption.
She added, “I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people, particularly myself.”
Have you ever thought about the language we use when talking and writing about overweight and obesity and people living with obesity?
If the rash of criticism directed at superstar Lizzo is any indication, we have a long way to go before society embraces and supports people of different proportions and sizes.
We’re tackling this topic and more on Divabetic’s upcoming podcast scheduled for Tuesday, March 15, 2022, with guests Susan Weiner MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES, and Poet Lorraine Brooks. We will be featuring music from Prince and the New Power Generation’s Love Symbol album courtesy of SONY Music. Please join us!
We love Lizzo‘s attitude about herself and her music. She has no patience for fat-shaming and neither do we! Her body-positive, self-love anthems are part of our workout playlist.
I feel like [being] fat is the worst thing people can say about me at this point,” Lizzo shared on Apple Music’s The Zane Lowe Show. “This is the biggest insecurity. It’s like, ‘How dare a pop star be fat?’ I had to own that.” She added, “I feel like other people who were put on that pedestal, or who become pop stars, probably have other insecurities or have other flaws, but they can hide it behind a veneer of being sexy and being marketable.”
Unfortunately, it’s all too common to see and hear obesity talked about negatively, which risks reinforcing stereotypes, simplifying the causes of obesity, and contributing to weight stigma. Currently, obesity is commonly described in the media and society with negative images of people living with obesity and weight stigmas.
“There’s still so many people who suffer from being marginalized systemically,” she says. “Meanwhile, there’s a plus-size Black girl at the Grammys. But plus-size Black women are still not getting the treatment they deserve in hospitals and from doctors and at work.”
The words we say to ourselves are the most harmful.
Negative talk we repeatedly say to ourselves goes deep to our core. Unintentionally these repeated hurtful phrases playing inside our minds stop us from achieving our health goals. Moreover, every insult we say to ourselves chips away bit by bit at our self-confidence until it’s gone.
My big takeaway from Valerie Bertinelli’s recent confessional video about body shaming is that the voice inside Valerie’s head is probably much more toxic than comments posted by strangers. Valerie, like the rest of us, is capable of being her own worst enemy at times. Our internal conversation and negative thoughts can be extremely limiting.
I assume her tearful reaction to the comments posted about her weight confirmed her worse fears about herself.
“You have to separate who you are from your weight,” says my friend and colleague, Dr. Beverly S. “Dr. Bev” Adler, Ph.D., CDCES. I’m paraphrasing her words, but she added, “You are not your weight.” Dr. Bev is a licensed Clinical Psychologist, Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist, Author, and Speaker who specializes in treating the emotional issues of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Dr. Bev has been a frequent guest on Divabetic’s popular monthly podcasts. Most notably, she appeared on a series of Diabetes podcasts spotlighting the five stages of accepting a diabetes diagnosis.
Have you ever thought that you weren’t good enough? When we feel we aren’t good enough (young enough, tall enough, skinny enough, smart enough, attractive enough, etc.) we tend to drown in this emotion of self-doubt and pity. But the truth is that we are all good enough and worthy of receiving what we want in life.
Photo by Nik Shuliahin on Unsplash
Instead of saying, “I am not good enough,” tell yourself that you are worthy, just like everyone else
Here’s my story:
I know that from personal experience that we can defeat ourselves before we even try. I let my psoriasis stop me from going to the beach or, more specifically, Asbury Park, NJ because I thought my psoriasis patches were so unsightly. Finally, after several years of avoiding the beach, I agreed to go with friends. At the time, several patches of psoriasis on my torso were visible. I felt uncomfortable taking off my shirt in public and exposing my psoriasis, but it was too hot to keep in on. I barely had my shirt off when my biggest fear became a reality. A woman I didn’t know approached me on the beach, pointed at my patches, and told me that my patches looked ugly. I couldn’t believe she said aloud what I had been telling myself for years. But in a moment, I realized what she said wasn’t nearly as bad as what I said to myself. I described my psoriasis patches as ‘horrible’ and ‘disgusting’. The word she used ‘ugly,’ by comparison, is lightweight to the terms I choose to tell myself. My mood quickly changed. I wasn’t going to let some small-minded person stop me from enjoyment.
Looking back, I’m so grateful for that brief interaction in Asbury Park. It made me realize that the only person who could stop me from doing the things I loved was myself. We need to love ourselves unconditionally. It’s not easy but if you ease up on yourself and sprinkled words of kindness into your daily thoughts you’ll be surprised by the results. Our thoughts directly affect how we feel and, therefore, what we do in life. Don’t limit yourself or your dazzle! See you on the beach!
3 Simple Ways You Can Start Loving Yourself Unconditionally from Vunela
Give yourself permission to follow your heart.
Forgive yourself for past mistakes.
Show love and kindness to others.
“If you can learn to love yourself and all the flaws, you can love other people so much better. And that makes you so happy” — Kristin Chenoweth
The seven-time Grammy Award-winner has sold over 70 million records and is one of the best-selling R&B artists of all time.
We are featuring music from Toni Braxton’s multi-platinum second album, “Secrets”. This year marks the 25th Anniversary of its release. Toni has said about her sophomore album: “The motivation for this album was to include a little bit of everything. Our aim was to come up with material that would have a familiar ‘feel’ to the people who bought the first album without being musically redundant.”
The album’s first single, “You’re Makin’ Me High” became her first #1 hit on the Hot 100 singles chart.
The album’s second single, penned by Diane Warren, “Un-Break My Heart” became Toni Braxton’s biggest hit spending eleven weeks at #1 on the Hot 100 and also topping the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.
Other album singles include “I Don’t Want To”/”I Love Me Some Him” (which peaked at number one on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart) and “How Could an Angel Break My Heart”.
When Toni Braxton was first diagnosed with systemic lupus in 2008, her doctors told her that she would need a heart transplant and might not ever perform again.
“I remember being petrified,” she said. “I was scared. I didn’t know anything about lupus.”
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels. It can also lead to heart disease and kidney disease.
Insulin resistance is increased in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Insulin resistance occurs when excess glucose in the blood reduces the ability of the cells to absorb and use blood sugar for energy. This increases the risk of developing prediabetes, and eventually, type 2 diabetes.
July’s podcast guests include Dr. Sara Reece, PharmD – NGMC, GME, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Keith Anthony Fluitt, and Sonya Hogans. Hosted by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek.
Valerie Bertinelli confessed she made the ‘mistake’ of reading some ‘comments’ online about her weight as she clapped back with a powerful video message. Valerie Bertinelli is done with body shaming.
The 61-year-old took to social media to clap back at a comment made about her weight with an emotional video where she confessed being “vulnerable” was difficult. “When you see somebody who has put some weight on, my first thought is that person is obviously going through some things because if I could lose the weight and keep it off, I would,” she said in the Instagram post shared on Friday, July 9, responding to “someone” who “pointed out” out she “needed” to lose some pounds. “But since I haven’t been successful with that my whole entire life, at 61 I’m still dealing with [it],” she said through tears as she spoke to the camera, makeup-free. “You think I’m not tired of it, lady? Where’s the compassion. You think a stupid little comment like ‘you need to lose weight’ — not f***
Yes! Valerie Bertinelli responds to weight-shaming and we love her for it!!! Judging a person does not define who they are, it defines who you are! No one should sacrifice their mental health to live up to someone else’s expectations.
According to Healthline, body-shaming “involves criticizing and harassing overweight people about their weight or eating habits to make them feel ashamed of themselves,” with the intent to “motivate people to eat less, exercise more, and lose weight.”
Some believe that making others feel ashamed of their weight or eating habits may motivate them to get healthier. However, scientific evidence confirms that nothing could be further from the truth.
If you are going through these same things, remember you are not alone. Actress Emma Stone said, “There’s a sense that we’re all ‘too’ something, and we’re all not enough. This is life. Our bodies change. Our minds change. Our hearts change.”
Body Shaming Yourself
A social media troll body-shamed actress Valerie Bertinelli but most of the time we body shame ourselves. The worst part is that when we talk to ourselves we use much more toxic language than Valerie’s troll did.
Self-shaming is a destructive mindset. When we body shame ourselves we are working against our bodies and putting obstacles from attaining our diabetes health goals, and our overall sense of well-being.
“We know that people who experience body shaming are at a much higher risk for both depression and anxiety disorders,” said A. Janet Tomiyama, an associate professor of health psychology at the University of California at Los Angeles in Washington Post. “It’s easy to see how feeling bad about yourself could lead to more serious emotional troubles.”
One way to break the cycle of negative talk is to write down everything your body does for you. Going forward, every time you experience a negative thought about your body, try to replace it with something from your gratitude list. If you started to spiral into shame, quickly correct yourself.
Looking for a fun way to socialize without putting your diabetes wellness at risk? Do you need a little help staying on track with your diabetes self-care?
Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, virtual diabetes support program on Thursday, April 15, 2021, 7-8 PM. Click here to register
April’s program features two presentations: ‘What To Wear When Nothing Fits’ presented by Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller and ‘What To Eat When Dining Out Mexican’ presented by MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR.
What To Wear When Nothing Fits
We want to help you embrace the body you have now. Don’t put off looking great and feeling like yourself in your clothes until that elusive one day you hit your goal weight. One tip that style experts advise is to try Shift, A-line and Wrap Dresses to create a more hourglass shape.
Catherine Schuller is one of the Plus Size Industry’s pioneers. She is a former Ford model, consumer advocate, promoter, marketer, editor, image consultant (Certified by AICI), author, andentrepreneur.
What To Eat When Dining Out Mexican
Traditional Mexican food is loaded with carbohydrates which cause blood sugars to rise. One solution is to order tacos! As long as you order corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas since they are much smaller in size, and therefore lowercarbohydrates. Additionally, Guacamole is made from avocadoes, which are loaded with healthy fats and very low in carbohydrates.
MaryAnn Nicolay is a Registered Dietetic Technician and has worked with the Diabetes Partnership of Cleveland for over 20 years. Her primary responsibility is to develop and implement diabetes education materials and activities in diverse and/or underserved communities.
“A person has the right, and I think the responsibility, to develop all of their talents” – Jessye Norman.
Vocalist Jessye Norman was indisputably one of the major artists of our time. A triumphant career associated with the highest level of music making has led to many honors and awards, including the Kennedy Center Honors, the National Medal of Arts, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Glenn Gould Prize for Music, and more than 40 honorary doctorates.
Unfortunately Jessye Norman’s size and girth were big points of conversation for listeners and reviewers alike dating back to the 1970’s. She was referred to as “a woman of generous proportions with voice to match,” and “an entire orchestra in person”.
Jessye Norman candidly said, “dress size has nothing to do with opera singing” in an interview. “And certainly there were those instances when singers were told they need to fit into a certain size dress. Of course, women. Men? They just make the costume bigger.”
It has never been reported that Jessye Norman was living with or affected by diabetes during her lifetime. However, we still admire her for standing up to criticism and being a strong, independent woman and trailblazer. She didn’t let people’s meanspirited comments stop her from being who she was! She lived her life to the fullest and continued to challenge herself as an artist.
How do you deal with criticism about your size and/or weight?
Unfortunately insults, criticisms, and hidden messages often make us awful about ourselves. Especially if they are being said by someone close to us.
People who comment on how you look are really just offering insight into how little they would value themselves if they looked different. People who worry a lot about putting on weight might actually be afraid that they won’t be loveable if they don’t conform. They don’t trust that they are good enough regardless of how they look. In this case, their comments can make you appreciate that you don’t have the same insecurities that they do.
Reflecting on how you respond to criticism will make you better at addressing criticism the next time. As the old adage goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
Sometimes, someone’s criticism towards you has nothing to do with you. If a stranger is criticizing you on social media, for example, sometimes it is best not to respond.
Oprah Winfrey learned to not ask herself, “What’s wrong with that person?”but rather, what happened to that person?”
We also like to recommend building a really good self care routine to boost your self esteem and happiness as these will give you resilience to any criticism too.
Tune in to Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 6 – 7:30 PM. EST. We’re talking about weight loss drugs, how to maximize your metabolism, self-love, and heart health makeovers with music from Jessye Norman.
Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE offers her opinions on the top home blood pressure monitors.
Pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialists Mandy ReecePharmD CDCES, BC-ADM, BCACP, FADCES provides insight on the effectiveness and side effects of weight loss drugs including iraglutide, and semaglutide.
“Maximize Your Metabolism: Lifelong Solutions to Lose Weight, Restore Energy, and Prevent Disease” Co-Authors Dr. Noel Maclaren and Sunita Singh Maclaren discuss how brain health is related to insulin resistance.
American Heart Association’s Know Diabetes By HeartAmbassador, Sarah B. shares why her mindset about her health changed after her husband’s death and how she came to adopt the motto: “We have a habit of putting limits on ourselves. We need to push beyond them.”
Can you complete the Mystery Phrase below? Diabetes self-care can be emotionally taxing, but reframing your mind-set can have powerful results.
Divabetic Mystery Phrase
Self-help books often promote the power of positive affirmations. If you’ve never tried them before, the idea can seem incredibly awkward to tell yourself how awesome you are.
Positive affirmations help to re-program your thought patterns and change the way you think and feel about things. They are short positive statements that can help you focus on goals, get rid of negative, self-defeating beliefs and program your subconscious mind.
And yes, there is genuine theory and a fair amount of neuroscience behind this practice.
If you’re struggling to cope with your diabetes diagnosis: try repeating positive affirmations to yourself each morning to steer your mood in the right direction. This way of thinking can be helpful when the mental burden of diabetes management gets tough.
A positive body image is an acceptance of your body and both its good and bad points. This helps you to become confident and comfortable in your own skin. We’d like to stress that having a positive body image does not mean that you think everything about your body is perfect. Positive body image means celebrating your natural shape and size, and how your body performs. We think you’re fabulous!
Divabetic Mystery Phrase #4
Tell us how we’re doing. Take our quick Divabetic Podcast Listener Survey to help us identify the topics that matter to you most.
We’re talking about ‘ROMANCE & DIABETES’ on Diabetes Late Nite with musical inspiration from Camila Cabello.
Having diabetes affects much more than a person’s diet. It can impact every aspect of their life, including their sexual health.
When a person has diabetes, their body cannot use insulin properly, and this can lead to high blood sugar levels. Over time, these can lead to complications such as nerve damage and cardiovascular problems. Both have implications for sexual health in men and women.
Guests include ‘Intimacy & Diabetes’ Author Janis Roszler LMFT, RD, LD/N, CDE, FAND, American Heart & American Diabetes Association’s Know Diabetes by Heart Ambassador Hyvelle Ferguson Davis, ‘My Sweet Blessing: Adventures In Diabetes’ Author Trisha Porretti RN, BSN, CDE, Poet Lorraine Brooks, and Kathy Malleck. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Camila Cabello’s Romance album courtesy of SONY Music.
Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a lot.
Billie Eilish is hitting back at body-shamers in a new short film.
The 18-year-old Grammy winner shared her message in a new spoken word short film called “Not My Responsibility” on YouTube.
The video first depicts the pop star in her usual baggy threads, wading through what looks like a pool of tar as she strips her garments. Over a moody, ambient soundtrack, Eilish almost entirely removes her jet black tank top near the end — but obscures her body in the inky liquid instead.
Last year, she explained in a Calvin Klein ad that the reason she wears baggy clothes is to avoid body shaming. “I never want the world to know everything about me,” she said as reported in Buzzfeed. “I mean, that’s why I wear big baggy clothes: Nobody can have an opinion, because they haven’t seen what’s underneath, you know?”
She also discussed struggling with body image issues in an interview with Vogue. “I just hated my body. I would have done anything to be in a different one,” she explained. “I really wanted to be a model, really bad, and I was chubby and short.”
Billie Eilish – NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY – a short film
Diabetes Late Nite Podcast on Body Image & Diabetes
We’re talking about BODY IMAGE & DIABETES with musical inspiration from superstar Meghan Trainor on Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.
Think about it. Have you considered if your body image impacts your diabetes?
For people with diabetes, these attitudes may be very healthy which actually helps them manage their diabetes or they may be unhealthy which may lead to blood glucose values that are damaging.
People with a healthy body image see themselves as they really are and are happy with the way they feel and look.
For people that do not have a healthy body image, the term body dysmorphic disorder is sometimes used.
One of the biggest hits of last year, Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” isn’t your typical pop song.
“My producer and I wanted to do a fun song, so we thought why not do a song about loving yourself and loving your body, because I don’t think girls love themselves as much as they should,” Trainor says.
Guests include Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic’, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE) Poet Lorraine Brooks and Mama Rose Marie.
Throughout the podcast we will be playing selected songs from Meghan Trainor’s “Thank You” album courtesy of SONY Music.
This debate about Jillian Michaels (the self-proclaimed “health expert”) and her negative remarks during an interview about Lizzo (rap singer) and her positive self-acceptance is not a new criticism. Jillian Michael’s question, “Why are we celebrating her body?” is not so surprising as she makes her living helping people to lose weight and get fit. Lizzo, on the other hand, flaunts her curvaceous body size in her costumes when she performs on stage. Her song lyrics reinforce the idea that you can “feel good as hell” about yourself and celebrates how women should feel empowered.
The term body shaming describes the practice of making critical, potentially humiliating comments about a person’s body size or weight. This controversy about “fatness versus fitness” is not so black and white. Not every plus-sized person is unhealthy or has diabetes. Likewise, not every thin person has achieved their weight in a healthy manner, such as those with eating disorders.
How can you respond to body shaming? Try body positivity. It is the belief that all human beings should have a positive body image, while challenging the ways in which society represents and views the physical body. Body positivity advocates the acceptance of all bodies no matter the form, size, or appearance.
It’s human nature to experience hurt feelings when someone says something negative about you. But the good news is there are a few things you can do to build up your confidence, feel better about yourself, and learn to move on:
1. DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY. Spend time with people who love you for who you are.
2. DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL BEAUTIFUL. Get a haircut, treat yourself to a manicure, or wear your favorite outfit.
3. DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL ACCOMPLISHED. Love to run, sew, play chess, tell jokes, bake, juggle? We all have special talents, so find what you do well and do it often.4. DO SOMETHING NICE FOR OTHERS. Pay it forward in the drive-through. Shovel a neighbor’s walk. Mail someone a handwritten note. Small kindnesses can make you feel happy, beautiful, and accomplished at the same time!
Dr. Beverly S. Adler, aka “Dr. Bev”, is a clinical psychologist and Certified Diabetes Educator with a private practice in Baldwin, NY. She was honored in 2016 with the “Certified Diabetes Educator Entrepreneur of the Year Award.”
She is the author/editor of two diabetes self-help books which include insightful lessons of empowerment written by successful men and women with diabetes. She has published articles in print and online about diabetes management – always with the focus on emotional adjustment. Dr. Bev has been quoted in numerous magazines and contributed to a monthly diabetes advice column online. She is a frequent contributor to the Divabetic Diabetes Daily Wire, where she blogs about diabetes topics from the psychological perspective.
Dr. Bev has lived successfully with type 1 diabetes for 42 years. You can connect with her on her website www.AskDrBev.com and on Twitter @AskDrBev.
We’re talking about how to minimize DRAMA in our DIABETES LIVES with music from the ultimate diva, Maria Callas on January’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.
If there’s drama in multiple areas of your diabetes life, be honest with yourself—you’re the constant. Are you creating it? We don’t do anything repeatedly unless there’s something in it for us, so, what’s the payoff?
Every time you find ourselves immersed in something that seems overwhelming, you have an opportunity to learn how to deal with challenges better.
Guests include Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport PhD, Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, Lorraine Brooks, American Heart and American Diabetes Association’s Know Diabetes By Heart Ambassador Rob Taub, Yoga for Diabetes Author and Director Rachel Zinman and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN,CDE.
It seems as though every January, no matter what else is happening in the world of greater significance (hello Australia, hello impeachment, hello Iran…???) if a celebrity loses weight or gains weight or is a fat, happy person, there is no peace for the plump. The internet is abuzz…. Did Adele lose too much weight too quickly, did Lizzo get fatter and Jillian Michaels get snarkier about Lizzo’s weight “problem?”
As one of the first plus size models in the early 80’s, I’m known for having carved a curve out in the industry and become plus royalty. I can’t lie, I wish I was born with the thin gene, but I’ve long given up beating myself into an unnecessary place of body bashing and self-bullying. I’ve made peace with my abilities and learned to dress for the size (and shape) that I am. And I’ve become a role model in the meantime. I don’t claim, “Come on girls get as big as you want, we have clothes for ya…” I try to be a better eater, not a perfect eater and move and groove with the rhythm of my life’s purpose. And being a member of Divabetic has helped me fulfill my desire to tamper my message in a world of finger wagging and blame/shame games. I have a balance in my meal program… and I don’t binge and purge, or starve and sate myself. I live in the means and watch my numbers. It’s called mindfulness….
All these accusations and admonishments, where do they come from? Why do we need examples of who is getting it right, and what does that even mean? It all stems from the fact that we live in a completely image and size obsessed world and have been since the photograph and camera was invented. (Well, maybe Eve said to Adam, “Does this leaf make me look fat?”) It all comes down to that little aperture, the shutter that should make you shutter, that moment in time captured and frozen for all to gaze upon like some reverse narcissistic trip. The invention of the camera started it all, then airbrushing and lighting and photo retouching came about (long before photoshop there still was retouching). But the one invention, the fitness expert, the guru, the admonishing diet industry has worked its way into our self-doubt and self-loathing, finding a way to lower our self-esteem and compare ourselves to others even more. And like gawkers at a car crash site, we are curiosity seekers wanting to see the transformation or the cat fight that ensues from the comments, criticism and backlash that spirals out of control. Going viral is almost a rite of passage, like it hasn’t mastered the art of breaking through and causing a riot if it hasn’t been posted, pounced on or passed on. It’s a giant train wreck on social media these days. Sometimes what’s trending is so vapid and yawn-inducing that you wonder when people are going to get real lives and start living off their smart phones. I think the fact that we can make comments and they are uncensored to the point of being downright demonic, mean spirited, snarky and border on bullying, really tests one’s capacity of finding inner peace and tuning out the noise. No matter if we are not particularly obsessed with the person losing weight, it’s as if everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon and express their opinion. There is a vast assortment of gurus and trainers who want us to “give ‘em twenty” – and have you PAY them for it and fan the flames that capitalize on the debate that ensues!!!
I just was called on yesterday by Cindy Hsu of CBS News and asked to come out and make a comment on Adele’s 50 pound weight loss. It’s like she wanted me to say something like, “Well we lost another one.” But Cindy is great because she and I analyze what does this mean societally and she calls on me for that wisdom. Somehow every celebrity succumbs to the industry’s obsessive pressures to lose weight. It wasn’t Twiggy who glamorized the gaunt look, it was Wallis Simpson who claimed, “you can never be too thin or too rich” Now that seems to be something at least we all would somewhat agree on. Except if one has become rich by being too fat.
Enter Lizzo…she would never be Lizzo unless she was a beautiful, talented, songstress who is sort of the more zaftig, musical equivalent of the sassy, quick witted, and lighthearted Tiffany Haddish. They are the epitome of the African American woman who is allowed to be voluptuous and almost garish in her garb. Fishnets, short shorts, body con dresses, hips and butt twerking for the masses. And that flute. Lordy, lordy….she is a in your face, this is me, take it or leave it (we’ll take it) and her song is infectious and anthematic. Just like Gwen Stefani with her “ain’t no holler back girl song,” this Lizzo music is annoyingly memorable and sing songy, too. And Lizzo’s lyrics are empowering and rap clever. (“I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that bitch”)….
Enter today’s latest news cycle war….Lizzo vs. Jillian….Jillian Michaels who is a taut and toned, somewhat judgmental, ex -coach of The Biggest Loser, whip cracker, and a fitness expert who makes her living from getting people completely reinvented and molded into shape is criticized for fat shaming. The fat shaming label is being kind to what she used to do to people’s egos on that show. Jillian has somewhat mellowed now that she is not trying for Loser rating gains. I don’t think she was shaming her. She was merely pointing to the facts, and the facts don’t lie. She is large enough that she may be developing a metabolic syndrome. Our bodies are just giant chemical reactors and we eat foods that produce too much glucose, that gets stored as fat and we become pre-diabetic if not diabetic because we are insulin resistant. She never criticized her beauty or talent. Everyone wants her to just focus on how talented she is. But that’s not Jillian’s brand. She is using Lizzo as much as Lizzo is using her. Battle of the brands. I am okay the way I am, get out of my face Lizzo to Jillian who wants to highlight the dangers of obesity. I know that she is citing the facts, and it has nothing to do with the fact that they are directed at Lizzo. Take Lizzo out of the equation and level them on anyone who is overweight for any period of time. Everyone heard judgment from Jillian. I heard facts. Lizzo is young enough that she has a few good years of werking the twerk left before she may have knee problems, or back problems or become pre-diabetic. She shied away from Instagram and she was a vegetarian and a vegan for seven years and she has an Instagram account called @LizzoBeEating. It came her food reviews and morphed into music. I don’t know what her food regimen is, but she has a bold style and no one tells her what to do these days I am guessing. She can’t eat before she performs because she feels sluggish but as she says, after I perform, “It’s going DOWN!” I love both these messages and think the operative word again goes back to BALANCE. It really is that simple. Stay outta the comment section or the viral spiral and live YOUR best life. As the liberated Lizzo says in Truth Hurts, “I put the sing in single” and “Don’t text me tell it straight to my face.”
Catherine Schuller
This Divabetic blog post was written by Divabetic Image & Style Advisor, Catherine Schuller. Catherine Schuller is one of the plus size industry’s pioneers to know. Former Ford model, consumer advocate, promoter, marketer, editor, image consultant (Certified by AICI), author, and entrepreneur (owner of Catherine Schuller Enterprises, (Emerging Visions Enterprises and CurveStyle: Reshaping Fashion) as a Plus Size spokesperson and diabetes advocate she has changed attitudes about living well with diabetes for thousands of people. In partnership with HiTechMODA, Catherine presents the best and most talented emerging designers in an unparalleled runway style during New York Fashion Week!
