Weight Loss is Sexy and Other Body Myths Which Hurt
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you pinch at the muffin-top peeking out from the waistband of your jeans? Do you wish for bigger boobs, longer legs or fairer skin? Do you think your life would be perfect once you look like a model?
While it is perhaps natural to want to look your best, there is also a limit to how far you should go to achieve it. Here are some body myths which can hurt you:
- Weight loss is sexy
- Big boobs are more attractive
- Taller is better
Many of us have tried this before -- gone on a crash diet five days before attending a wedding in order to fit into a slinky dress. Or living on fruit juice alone after excessive feasting over the festive season.
Such short-term solutions may bring on the compliments, but the results are usually short-lived. In the bid to lose a few pounds in such a short time without a sensible exercise routine and good nutrition, it is also possible to cause long-term damage to your body.
For one, excessive dieting can lead to hair loss. As your body does not receive essential vitamins and minerals through a healthy diet, your hair can become brittle and fall out. Dieting can also affect your nails and your complexion. What's the point of looking thin if you appear weak, malnourished and have a feathery crop of hair?
Vanity aside, when you crash diet, your body goes into starvation mode. It burns your muscle and stores fat, which is the opposite of what you want. Your muscle burns calories, so when you lack muscle, it is harder to lose weight. Also, the more fat you store, the more likely you will develop cellulite, which is basically fat stored under the skin. Excessive dieting can also lead to serious eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, which stem from an intense fear of being and looking fat. By attempting to lose an excessive amount of weight, through starvation, poor diets, or by forcibly expelling the food we eat, these disorders can damage the body and be life-threatening in the long-term.
Even if the dieting has not gone into extremes, starving your body means you lack energy in general. This means you will be listless at work and find it hard to function. Exercising, which is an important part of any weight-loss regimen, will also become more difficult and tiring.
To maintain a healthy weight, aim for a well-balanced diet of about 2,000 calories daily (or 1,500 calories if you need to lose weight) and 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily. And make sure you consult a doctor before you diet or embark on a new exercise routine.
Those images of Baywatch babes running down the beach in their little bikinis may have made a less bosomy woman a little envious. Some women may even take things further by considering a boob job to boost their attractiveness. Before you go ahead with a boob job, consider this operation -- which is carried out under general anaesthesia -- and its risks and costs carefully.
From the surgery, there are possible complications from the use of general anaesthesia and risk of abnormal bleeding and clotting. There is also the chance of skin necrosis, in which skin tissue die due to insufficient blood flow to the skin.
The implants themselves can also cause problems, such as the hardening of the breast due to scar tissue. Rock-hard boobs are not exactly sexy, and what's worse, you may also experience a loss of sensation in the nipple and breast, and the effect may be permanent.
Implants may also leak or rupture, usually requiring immediate removal and additional surgery. In some cases, they may also shift from the original position, giving your chest an unintended lopsided look.
Further down the road, women with breast implants may not be able to breastfeed. They may also develop problems in the lower back, as their bodies were not designed to bear the extra weight from the implants.
All these problems – and dangers – may be avoided if you could build your self-confidence without relying on your physical assets. If you feel that bigger breasts mean you will be able to carry off more styles of clothing, the problem can be solved with push-up and padded bras, which can create the illusion of bigger breasts without the need for surgery. Besides, some cuts of clothes are designed for women who aren’t as full – think about it, most models are not busty, and look great!
High heels enable you to stand tall. They also lengthen your legs, giving you the illusion of shapelier calves. Plus, the right pair can make or break an outfit.
But if you have seen those funny videos of models tripping down the runway in their sky-high stilettos, you might guess that once the hilarious wobbling stops, the pain starts. Killer heels can really live up to their names, especially when you take a spill.
You may fracture an ankle, which would require surgery involving metal plates, pins and screws. Not only is the joint permanently damaged, you may be relegated to a life in flats.
Even if accidents don’t happen, there are still negative effects in the long run. High heels can affect your natural posture and your spine, leading to back aches. It is no surprise that many back problems in women can often be traced to the constant wearing of high heels.
Bunions or hammer toes are also painful and unsightly afflictions, as toes are at risk of becoming deformed. Toenails, too, can be affected, as the incidence of in-growing toenails and nail infections is higher in heel wearers than those who don't wear them as often.
On a more serious note, wearing high heels in the long-term can put a strain on the lower back and lead to stubborn aches and pains as you age – problems that you can do little to solve except with risky surgery.
So get sensible and get off your high-heeled horse. Doctors recommend heels of not higher than 1.5 inches (4cm) and not on a daily basis. Alternate with flats and low heels. And check out the foot protection aids that are sold at the pharmacy, such as rubber pads for your sole, which offer a better grip and cushion your feet as you walk. Better still, keep the killer heels for special occasions only, and do step out carefully.
