Let’s talk diet culture. 

I grew up reading Seventeen Magazine, which was, you guessed it, aimed at 17 year olds. Between this and Cosmo Girl (it was big Cosmo, but without the sex) I knew exactly what my body size and type was, and what colors and styles I should avoid wearing so I didn’t look frumpy.

Majority of these magazines emphasized  fashion, beauty, and dieting. I mean how else would I get a man? Don’t be too funny, and don’t talk TOO much. Focus on making your eyes look bigger, and your waist smaller. Have you tried a push up bra? We recommend these three (insert Victoria’s Secret ad).

I was a thick little girl that didn’t have a body shape to identify with in the magazine, but as I grew older, I leaned toward the athletic type. This body type was fine,  as long as I wasn’t TOO sporty, and was still willing to put on some lipstick and heels, I could still get a man. Because obviously men would be willing to look past my athleticism as long as I had some girly features. 

But I was already six feet tall, and lipstick looked weird on me. I preferred chapstick and lip gloss. According to Cosmo Girl, there was no place in the dating world for a girl like me. 

I just needed to maintain my figure, but also get more curves. How could I do that? Good thing I had these magazines to lay out my perfect diet and exercise plan! I’m pretty sure I recall seeing that I needed to eat half a cup of cereal, toast, salmon, and broccoli. And on days I felt bloated, eat a banana. 

Obviously grown up me knows this is all dumb. That wasn’t nearly enough food to sustain me for how active I was. Plus I hate(d) salmon. And it wasn’t fair that I needed to maintain my figure, but my boyfriend was ALLOWED to eat whatever he wanted. He didn’t have every form of publication in his face telling him not to gain weight.

The worst part of all of this? I still eat bananas when I feel bloated, and I have no idea if that is even real. 

The even worst part? In between articles were advertisements for diet pills, which I started taking excessively around 17 – go figure. They offered insane amounts of energy, and kept me from being hungry. Two birds, one stone. I remember thinking everything in life should be that easy! 

I would like to say this was short lived, but I took them for over a year, and only stopped because I found out I was pregnant. 

Even now, years later, I still see whole articles aimed at how women / girls *should* look. It’s disgusting and I hate it all. But I am only one person with two daughters, and I’m trying to raise them to see their own beauty, and to know their worth isn’t measured with a scale or by how small they can make themselves.

Diet culture is toxic my friends, and I want everyone to love themselves. Until next time!