Blog Fabulous

17 opinions for Virtual Tracee

• Maxine
  Feb 19, 2008 at 12:36 pm

  I actually prefer the 106 tracee… and I feel that she looks more like a woman! The 167 tracee is far more manley, in my opinion. 167 still has no boobs and therefor supports my theory that you look like a man! So go to the gym and work on the 106 instead.

• anonymous
  Feb 19, 2008 at 2:36 pm

  So are you saying that skinny “boyish” girls need to gain weight to fit in better with the ever increasing size of our population? How would you address someone who is naturally thin, because it’s apparent that you think they are not healthy looking. I think that larger women are trying to make themselves feel better about their weight problems by putting down slimmer people. Congratulations on your efforts to look and feel better about yourself but keep in mind that just as larger women do not like being called names neither do slender women.

• Tracee
  Feb 19, 2008 at 3:48 pm

  hum, I’ve seen the pro-ana chatting on the Internet glamorizing ultra-thinness. It’s extremely unhealthy, deadly even.

  I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. If you’re naturally thin, well great. If you’re working at being that thin - well, that’s two different issues isn’t it?

• Ashley
  Feb 19, 2008 at 3:58 pm

  Which ever Tracee YOU are more comfortable with ought to be just fine for the rest of us..

• Tracee
  Feb 19, 2008 at 4:09 pm

  Thanks Ashley

• anonymous
  Feb 19, 2008 at 5:29 pm

  You should be comfortable with who you are I agree but you shouldn’t judge others for being thin. People seem to think that because you are thin it is easier to do things, for example buying jeans, but we have the same problems healthy people have just in a different size. I would love to have a more womanly figure but it just wasn’t in my jeans so you grow to love the body you were dealt.

• Tracee
  Feb 20, 2008 at 7:09 am

  I don’t judge others for being naturally thin.

  I do have an issue with women starving themselves to meet a cultural ideal of beauty.

  If you are naturally thin I would think you’d be dancing in the streets celebrating that so many people are willing to starve, diet or purge to look just like you.

  And jeans - no one has an easy time buying jeans because jeans makers seem to think every female - young, old, thin or fat - want to show off their butt crack when they move or bend over.

  Perhaps you’re unaware of the pro-ana or thinspriation phenomenon sweeping the Internet and preying on young girls. Where girls go to learn how to avoid eating without tipping their parents off to their disease. Where girls are feeling unworthy of existing above a size 0.

  That is what I have a serious problem with. Do a google search on pro-ana and check out what kind of crazy is going on to be thin.

• Ashley
  Feb 20, 2008 at 7:54 am

  Anonymous: I understand where you are coming from somewhat - I am 6 ft tall and have been since I was 13 years old. As a teenager I was either being made fun of for my pants being too short, or because of how gangly I was, or being growled at by girls or women who were struggling with weight issues who apparently thought this was either something I had done on purpose, or that I didn’t appreciate what I had. NOW, that being said, anonymous you must learn what I did a long, long time ago. No matter how validated you think you are - don’t complain about your weight issues, or clothing issues in a public forum - you will be chewed up and spit out. Average sized women believe that all clothes are made for us. And we believe that all clothes are made for them. (I secretly suspect that the clothing industry is conspiring against us) but that’s for another day. And to the average sized girls who were curvy in high school and had all the boyfriends and who have big boobs to fit into a bikini top - I’m still envious and jealous beyond belief. Although after 2 children I am somewhat curvier around the middle -to my horror my chest got smaller w/ each child.. Everybody just love what you have and don’t be so defensive. I’m w/ you though Tracee on the Dove campaign. It’s awesome. And our epidemic of young girls with eating disorders is absolutely horrifying.. I think shows like Dr.90210, any show or ad geared for teens and our obsession w/ spoiled hollywood actresses are really doing a number on our young girls.

• Ready Maid
  Feb 20, 2008 at 9:40 am

  OOOO-EEEEE, this is a touchy subject! For what it’s worth, I had a ball with the virtual model project, and now have it posted in my sidebar to help with the visualization of my goal weight - which does, by the way, have a number; but I’m mostly interested in good health which can be measured by BMI, heart rate, blood pressure AND weight.

  You’re a good inspiration as well as a talented writer. Keep up the good work.

• anonymous
  Feb 20, 2008 at 11:04 am

  I posted comments to try and understand, not to be validated, I am a little aware of the thinspiration epic. I just find it eye opening that a couple of years ago people were complaining (and they still are) about our obese society, now the tables have turned and they are complaining about pro-ana (which they have good reason). I think that our society is going to the extreme with both sides and we need to find a happy medium. growing up I was told that you don’t need to weigh yourself as long as you are happy with what you see, and of course in good health. We don’t own a scale, I don’t believe in them, all they bring is misery.

• Tracee
  Feb 20, 2008 at 11:41 am

  I appreciate everyone’s comments.

  I think 140 IS a happy medium for a 30-something mother of two. It’s a healthy BMI and an acheivable goal with exercise and moderate healthy eating.

  I don’t own a scale either, but I do weigh at the gym occassionally to see that I am on target for my healthy weight. I was teetering into the obese range before I took up exercise. If I slack off on the exercise I regain weight quickly now that I’m in my 30s.

  I agree it is such a touchy subject. But, I still think we need to be allowed to discuss it. The consequences of not discussing it are devastating to women and young girls.

  Have you noticed the collective body hatred in our feminine culture? Doesn’t that worry you? When you watch shows like How to Look Good Naked doesn’t it make you want to cry?

  The thing about naturally thin women I’ve noticed - I have two size zero sisters-in-law - is that they are not happy with thier bodies either. Every time I see them they can’t stop complaining about non-existent cellulite, too small of breasts, fat thighs and unflat stomachs and on and on. It’s mystifying!

  My question is this - why do we, women collectively, hate ourselves so much? Why don’t we stop being defensive about who we are and just love our own bodies?

• Ashley
  Feb 20, 2008 at 1:13 pm

  That was exactly the point I was trying to make. Even ‘thin’ women don’t like parts of their body. They too feel self conscious around (or beside) another woman with a different build. It seems like all we can see are our flaws and their assets..(no joke intended)

• Ashley
  Feb 20, 2008 at 1:31 pm

  Okay, here’s my ‘loving my body’ story:

  As I’ve said I was naturally super-thin (think olive oil) all through high school…So when I got pregnant w/ my son it was really strange to watch my body grow and change and stretch and so on. My stomach, like everyone’s, (sorry pregnant first time mommys) stretched out beyond what I thought was possible and then the week after giving birth was really crazy looking - something like a deflated balloon. So anyway, it was very heartbreaking at first to me because I was only 22 and I just felt like I would never even resemble hot again, you know. Then one morning I leaned back in the recliner and positioned my sweet, tiny, son on that squishy, stretchy belly and he just snuggled up and slept for a long time. I remember it vividly. I thought to myself “huh, so that’s what that’s for.” It was like a revelation. For the first time I could appreciate my body on a level that had nothing to do with attracting a member of the opposite sex. I realized the purpose of my body..its usefulness, I guess and everytime I start to feel really down on myself or my looks I try to think of that moment.

• Violet
  Feb 20, 2008 at 3:43 pm

  I don’t think people should judge my health and my character by my body size, and I try really hard not to judge others, even thin women, the same way. I have one friend who is naturally very small and people say really hurtful and rude things to her about being anorexic, skin and bones etc.

  That being said, Tracee was talking about herself and what she thought about herself at the pro-ana ideal (and I agree, I knew you when you weighed about 115, and you had absolutely no boobs, although you still looked great. For the record, I think you have been a beautiful woman at all the sizes I have known you.)

  I agree that both extremes are harmful. Women seem to be too fat or too thin, depending on who you ask. How about just deciding that the definition of beauty can be broadened to include all of us? I’m totally over the “ideal.”

• Tracee
  Feb 20, 2008 at 4:30 pm

  As I remember it, I had PERFECT breasts. They were so perky I didn’t need a bra (though my mother disagreed.)

• Tracee
  Feb 20, 2008 at 4:47 pm

  Ashley that was fantastic, very touching and I wish all women would have that ah ha kind of moment about their bodies.

  What did Oprah say the other day, all legs are good legs if they’re carrying you around.

• Leatherman Geek
  Feb 23, 2008 at 11:17 pm

  I had one of those when I was hardcore into my diet. I need to go do it again in hopes that it would motivate me to get back on the wagon.

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