Comments for Dr. Robyn Silverman - Child Development Specialist, Body Image Expert, Success Coach & the Creator of the Powerful Words Character Development System

Comment on Dr. Robyn’s Thursday Rant: Am I Promoting Obesity? Are YOU??? by Jen Gallagher

Jen Gallagher — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:16:49 +0000

Thanks for the article Robyn. For me, it was never about the weight, it was about the thoughts and feelings that go with it. I was an obese child, extreme dieted to a thin teenager, then became a fat adult. It wasn’t until I made peace with food AND my feelings – I became happy with who I was – that I lost weight naturally. I am an average size now – some may say that I am still overweight – but I eat with peace and I live with peace. We have got it all wrong by focussing on “fat.” I love that saying Robyn “What is really eating us?” – eating because we are not physically hungry and are bored, tired, sad, happy! or something else, then we beat ourselves up and it creates the obsession. This is what matters – not the size, but finding peace with our food, feelings and life.

Comment on Dr. Robyn’s Thursday Rant: Am I Promoting Obesity? Are YOU??? by Julie Parker

Julie Parker — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:30:13 +0000

I really love this post Robyn – and so appreciate you sharing your thoughts which I agree with wholeheartedly. “Everyone deserves to be happy with who they are” – Amen to that.

Comment on Dr. Robyn’s Thursday Rant: Am I Promoting Obesity? Are YOU??? by DrRobyn

DrRobyn — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:17:04 +0000

Oh, Cooper. You read my mind. We DO need to take initiative and turn away from what is eating at us. Thank you for the reminder. Yes, I feel that we always need to pick one way– come on, people.

I often think about how people’s assets have been overshadowed and dimmed because they believe weight takes precedence over their gifts. What a loss on our part.

We have to realize that happiness and self worth don’t start AFTER we lose weight or AFTER we are at a certain weight that is OK’d by society. We can be happy with who we are no matter what the scale says. WE are not our weight.

If someone is eating a great deal of unhealthy food, not exercising, and not sleeping, it doesn’t matter what weight they are– they are not allowing their body to be its most powerful, strong, and healthy. I think its ridiculous that we relocate that conversation only to those who deviate from the thin ideal. I’m sure we all know thin people that eat in unhealthy ways. We must teach all our young people how to eat and exercise for maximum power, strength and health.

Being healthy is not about weight just as being being happy shouldn’t be about weight. Why does self worth and weight need to be smooshed up into one little ball never to be pried apart?

Comment on Dr. Robyn’s Thursday Rant: Am I Promoting Obesity? Are YOU??? by cooper

cooper — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:09:06 +0000

“If you’re not for us, you’re against us!”
The media does not permit shades of gray; you’re fat or thin, black or white, red or blue, conservative or liberal, right or wrong….
Well, life – real life not MEDIA life – ain’t like that. But is the media really at fault? Maybe…
But we are not without responsibility. I always chuckled at the frantic emails and stories awhile back about cell phone numbers being published because no one wanted the sales calls….but we readily turn on the TV without a thought, allowing those same folks to sell us whatever they want…whether it’s products, dogma, paranoia or politicians. When the sources of the negative messages are so easily controlable, why do we continue to flock to them?
Turn the TV off. Stop buying all the “womens” (and mens) magazines that send mixed messages about eating anything (in the ads) surrounded by condescending articles about flat tummies, thin everything and losing weight.
It’s easy to blame the media..but the choice is ours.

Comment on Dr. Robyn’s Thursday Rant: Am I Promoting Obesity? Are YOU??? by Rebecca Tishman

Rebecca Tishman — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:34:59 +0000

Great post and really hits home right about now because a friend of mine is starting to get back in step with her eating disorder and I’m so reminded of the all or nothing thinking so many of us with ED’s share. Why should you have to be pro-thinness or pro-obesity? there is plenty of middleground to be in and there’s no reason to have polarized thinking. Embrace the size you are and flaunt it. Nobody is ever going to be as fabulous in your body as you!

Comment on Dr. Robyn’s Thursday Rant: Am I Promoting Obesity? Are YOU??? by Manny Cabrera

Manny Cabrera — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:02:26 +0000

Great article Dr. Robyn.

I have been pondering this thought for a while as well. I think the important thing is that you shouldn’t hate yourself because you’re fat. You should love who you are. At the same time I think it should be clear that being obese is NOT a good thing, because it will result in long term health issues and potentially a pre-mature death.

There’s definitely a difference between healthy-image and healthy body weight. You shouldn’t hate yourself because you’re overweight, but you shouldn’t remain overweight either.

Comment on Dr. Robyn’s Thursday Rant: Am I Promoting Obesity? Are YOU??? by Kendra (Voice in Recovery)

Kendra (Voice in Recovery) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:01:48 +0000

I absolutely agree with you. I feel fortunate to be in this movement because I am connected to more people who support our views than those who say “you are promoting obesity.” However, I do get dismayed when I read comments on stories, whether on Huffington Post or other media, from every day people who say – fat is bad, why would you want to accept being fat is healthy. I feel so many people are uninformed of the studies on weight & health, and I think they have been sucked into the advertising and huge $$$ that supports this “anti-obesity” campaign. I too wish, as you have stated before, that we could focus on PRO love, acceptance, health, body image. Focus on empowering people, educating on health, help teens critically view the media, and watch how we model around our children. My hope is in the future that we can shift from shame, blame, individual guilting, to that of pro- movements. Let us be the ones who change the messages we deliver to children and teens; let us be the ones to try and bring awareness of health, which includes BOTH mental health and physical health; let us be the ones who teach people they do not have to accept the messages delivered to us by ad campaigns. Be the change we want to see in this world – and NEVER let those who say different stop us.

Comment on The Rub with Greasy Grub: Is Fast Food the New F Word? by Rebecca Tishman

Rebecca Tishman — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:41:44 +0000

Oh boy don’t even get me started on supermarkets. I don’t understand how the world thinks kids are going to have “normal” eating habits when the grocery stores make the junk food look the best but then every other product says 50% less fat and 0 grams trans fat. It all is so confusing and in your face advertisement. As a child I wouldn’t know where to look or what to chose. As a young adult I don’t know where to look or what to chose because of all the competitive marketing schemes out there. It all gets so confusing

Comment on The Rub with Greasy Grub: Is Fast Food the New F Word? by cooper

cooper — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:05:19 +0000

She’s right…it’s all about balance.
Especially with the mixed messages, which also flows into the grocery store. Which aisles have the largest choices of a single product? Cereal and snack foods. What are the primary ingredients in both (besides sugar and salt)? Wheat and corn. What two crops continue to be subsidized by government funds (re: YOUR taxes). Wheat and corn. But the government wants you to eat healthy as well. Why not subsidize a few organic vegetable farms???

oh yeah…their DC lobby isn’t big enough….

Comment on The Rub with Greasy Grub: Is Fast Food the New F Word? by Mary Maxfield

Mary Maxfield — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:58:46 +0000

Aw, back atcha! I think just realizing the link between strict vegetarianism and an ED puts you far ahead of many other people in recovery. So many hold steadfast to the notion that the two cannot be related. My friends always joke(d) that I am/was the one veg in the world who didn’t “push” vegetarianism, so I’m glad to know that’s not actually true! I wouldn’t push anyone out of it, though, either. I think there’s something empowering about coming to the realization yourself that this is something you want to stand up to and then taking the steps to stand up to it. It’s like the fast food point, or any other ED-inspired avoidance/ ritual/ etc. Eventually, you do what seems impossible and you learn you’re stronger than you think. Best. feeling. ever.