Ideal Beauty? The Body Beautiful: Section 3

The Body Beautiful: Section 3

Playboy, Sport Illustrated, Victoria's Secret, Vogue -- What used to be the "ideal" body of yesterday is about 23 lbs heavier than today's "ideal." No wonder thousands of teenagers are faced with criticism and eating disorders every day. From centerfolds to runway models the "ideal" body shape is becoming less ideal every day.

Personally I say whatever you're happy with -- go for it. Because there are far too many people walking around with eating disorders now to stress what is "perfect." Because "perfection" is a myth -- plain and simple. However there are such things as body ratios. Oh boy.

That's right, the old apples and pears measurement system, the Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR). It also has to do with BHR (Breast to Hip Ratio), as well. Because if you have a small waist and normal hips -- no boobs -- makes you look like a pear.

The WHR is calculated by computing a ratio of the circumference of the waist to the circumference of the hips. The WHR for healthy, pre-menopausal women is generally between 0.67 and 0.80, but for men it is usually between 0.85 and 0.95 (National Academy of Sciences, 1991). WHR has been shown to be a reliable morphological indicator of the levels of sex hormones, and also the risk of major diseases, reproductive potential, and premature mortality. (Sex Roles: A Journal of Research - August, 1998; The role of body weight, waist-to-hip ratio, and breast size in judgments of female attractiveness, Adrian Furnham)

Generally a WHR of 7.0 is considered very attractive while anything more than an 8.0 WHR is considered as possibly unhealthy if it is indeed fat and not muscle. I find this a crock of you know what because this would make it that a person who has slender hips and is athletic and has a muscular waist -- will have a higher WHR.

This person is healthier than I am but because they have smaller hips than I do does not make a pear an apple! Forget the oranges here! These are two different ballgames. So don't put too much faith into WHR conversion engines such as these if you are fit as the proverbial fiddle. If you are not in shape and do not have a muscular waist but have a high fat area around your middle and barely any around your hips -- this may not be good. This is where heart disease and diabetes can come into play. Of course this doesn't mean that EVERYONE with the apple shape is in for it.

As far as the (breast to hip ratio, BHR) - it usually is about the same ratio as the hips to waist. Although we know a lot of people don't abide by this and for some -- bigger is better. It is a matter of preference really but generally an hour glass shape is sought after. And there are no known harmful diseases or disorders symptomatic of having large breasts other than some back aches and headaches.

In MY opinion, she has the ultimate body.
Millions of Pamela fans can't be wrong.

Okay So What About Body Weight?
Most of the runway models today are actually nowhere close to having an ideal weight. But their careers are very strict in weight and measurement and the clothing is what they are selling not their bodies. The clothing industries KNOW we strive to look our best and when we try on that DKNY wrap and it looks like doo doo on our bodies -- we get depressed. Now everyone cannot be expected to look like Gisele Bundchen or Pamela Anderson, but we can try and look our best. So does that mean no more cookies or 5 more laps? No more French fries?? Well what is my ideal weight, then?

Personally I think that what the doctors say is my ideal is fat on me. They say 130-145 lbs. is my ideal - Whatever! I like to be around 118, and no more than 125 lb.

In Conclusion...
I'd like to say that if that we can't all be the Michelle Pfeiffers, Pamela Andersons or Gisele Bundchens of the world. It doesn't mean we're not beautiful because we are all beautiful in our own way -- some more than others, it's true. But if you have a poor attitude and treat people horribly, your beauty fades every time you open your mouth. Beauty fades if you keep your mouth shut or not, but people hardly ever change. Don't let your youth go to your head because it really doesn't last. I always heard the saying, "Youth is wasted on the young." I remember not being able to understand what it meant when I was young and dumb -- now I know. Learn to appreciate beauty (yours and others') and don't ever try to manipulate or deceive with it. Karma is a you-know-what, so watch it!

Would You Like to Lose a Few Pounds?
Please check out our weightloss & fitness support forum for diet tips, diet support, nutrition and exercise discussions!

My advice to you:

Take care of your skin & wear sunblock!
Eat right.
Don't let yourself gain a lot of weight because it is definitely more difficult to lose it once it's there -- especially when you get older
Although if you DO gain a lot of weight it is very possible to lose it -- so don't give up!
Live life to the fullest and don't be ashamed of who you are!
Don't worry about having to please everyone else all of the time -- be considerate of others but make yourself happy.
If some one else is mean to you because of what you look like -- it is because of THEIR insecurities, not yours. Turn the other cheek and be thankful you are nice AND beautiful.
Remember that beauty is only skin deep, well, with a little help from underlying bone structure. If you aren't born that way, you can become that way.
But you can't buy happiness or a great personality
Surgery will NOT change who you are or how people treat you. Although it is proven that society favors those who are attractive -- you can't go by just that.
Take care of your teeth, cosmetic dental isn't cheap.
Don't wear horizontal stripes, unless you want to look wider.
Don't wear white shoes other than between Easter and Labor Day. Okay I HAD to throw that one in!
And I will sneak these two by you as well:
- don't wear sequins before dusk, it's a no-no!
- wearing white or very light colored slacks will make you look like you have a larger bottom. Only the very skinny can get away with this. And I am NOT one of them.
Quit smoking now. I did it so I am not one of those rude, opinionated anti-smoking advocates. I felt and looked better very soon after I quit.
DRINK LOTS OF WATER!
Don't hold grudges -- it is horrible for your body, mind and soul.
Get fresh air and live a little! What's the point of working so hard to get ahead while in the meantime you fall behind in life?

section 1 | section 2 | section 3

References
Almirantis, Y. 1995. Left-right asymmetry in vertebrates. BioEssays
Cancar, D. 1995. Sex and the symmetrical body. New Scientist
Enquist, M., A. Arak. 1994. Symmetry, beauty and evolution. Nature
Etcoff, N. 1999. The Beauty of Science, Survival of the Prettiest
Eugene, A. 1998. I Want To Be Beautiful, interview
Gould, S. J. 1998. The allure of equal halves. The Sciences
Grammer, K., R. Thornhill. 1994. Human (Homo sapiens) facial attractiveness and sexual selection: the role of symmetry and averageness. Journal of Comparative Psychology
Mealey, L., R. Bridgstock, G. C. Townsend. 1999. Symmetry and perceived facial attractiveness: a monozygotic co-twin comparison. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Samuels, C. A., G. Butterworth, T. Roberts, L. Graupner, G. Hole. 1994. Facial aesthetics: babies prefer attractiveness to symmetry. Perception
Scutt, D., J. T. Manning. 1996. Symmetry and ovulation in women. Human Reproduction
Swaddle, J. P., I. C. Cuthill. 1995. Asymmetry and human facial attractiveness: symmetry may not always be beautiful. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B: Biological Sciences
UTMB, Galveston, TX - Dept of Otolaryngology - Facial Analysis; October 1, 1997

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