An American Embarrassed

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, monetsf comes along and posts this on the Getting Fit in Your 30s board: “As some of you may or may not know, I am an American living in England… I feel an enormous pressure to present the good American, and that includes getting fit. I am embarrassed that I am 24 lbs over weight (that is if my calculations are even right!)…After being told that I was considered the fat girl two years ago, granted it’s not the case now, I am a bit crazed when it comes to eating and how others see me.”

Um, Brit who called monetsf “the fat girl”? Real nice. Way to go.

cl-vi_islandgirl writes: “That's dreadful-- and small minded of that (those) ladies!! How awful for you! Technically I'm not in the States either (in the Virgin Islands)-- but I think that mainland is trying to become healthier in general. Not to say all are following that lead, but it does seem to be more prevalent (articles in daily newspapers, news programs, etc...) these days.”

It’s like they are these far-flung anthropologists, trying to study us “mainlanders” from our documents and other evidence. Well ladies, I’ll tell you this much – even here in the States location makes a difference. Some cities are certainly more fit than others, don’t you think? And I think it’s different in urban areas vs rural places, too.

Anyway. cl-iv_miranda_d writes: “I do think that we live in a society where obesity is at epidemic proportions, but don't tell me that there aren't chunky Brits, hefty Germans, or stout Asians.”

Then monetsf admits, “I can't honestly say that I am getting healthier for them or me - rather they are very motivating. I want to be thinner, so in a way their insults and arrogance are being turned into my positive. People have to pay a boot camp like instructor to yell at them and tell them how fat they are, I can just read the papers. Granted it's not me personally, but I am an American too. I may be able to insult them, but anyone else does and I get defensive, kinda like family.” I like that last sentiment. Like, who are you calling fat? My country! How dare you!

Um, yeah. Representing to the world whether or not Americans really are obese? That seems like an awful lot of responsibility for one gal. In fact, to me, this sounds like yet another woman beating herself up for not being 100% perfect every second of every day. A very, well, American idea, really.