[nabs-l] nabs-l Digest, Vol 53, Issue 31

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Pear-shaped and apple-shaped are not common body types for men and
women.  They are specific body types on a list of many.

Women and men have a lot of different body shapes, and we don't really
have a particular type most fall into.  Between myself, my mom and two
sisters, we all have different body types.

The shapes are just used to describe a body structure.  A pear shape
would be curvy with a smaller top and larger bottom-- like a pear.

I am not sure, Ashley, why your mother is so determined you fit in one
particular dress size.  Like I said before, shape and size do not always
denote being overweight or unhealthy.  And just because you don't lose
pounds does not mean you are not trying.

Also, as I said before, some lose in inches instead of pounds.

Your mom, I say this respectively, needs to relax and buy the dress that
fits you.  Why purchase a dress that may not fit?

I was a fitness instructor, and you have to understand that you may not
be able to "fit" into a particular body type.  None of us are the same,
and our bodies have limitations.  It sounds like you are trying.  If you
can, buy your own dress so your mother has no say.

And added stress will not help you lose weight-- in fact, it may impede
the process or even cause weight gain.  You need to make your own
decisions.

Bridgit

Message: 13
Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:49:54 -0400
From: Mary Fernandez <trillian551 at gmail.com>
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
	<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Weight issues
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	<AANLkTik0OZrEz6o_svv6_FVkkTQh-iJaXQSCukBwE_vk at mail.gmail.com>
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Dear Ashley,
I'm not quite sure what you mean by pear shape and apple shape.
Typically, women are either top heavy, btoom heavy, which is what
typically we mean by pear shape, or hour glass, which is pretty
balanced on top and bottom.
As far as dress size, especially for women, size is the most
unreliable thing to measure anyone by. There is not standardization
and while a brand like INC a size 8 would be a size six in Michael
Kors. I would try to talk to your mom, and say that while you
understand where she is coming from, we are all built differently,
that you wan to be healthier, however, it truly isn't fair or
reasonable to measure you and treat you differently because of your
dress size. You know?
I think it is essential that we all have a good self-image, we can't
measure ourselves by annorexic models, but we should strive to feel
good about ourselves and the way we look. But we should also try to be
as healthy as possible since over weight has been proven over and over
to affect much of our health.
Sincerely,
Mary F