Does a size 12 define us?

Why have we become so obsessed with numbers and what they mean in the weight loss/body shape world? I don’t believe there is a single woman who has not been upset because a certain size top, pair of jeans/trousers or skirt, did not fit her in a particular shop. And men are not exempt from this. And when these outfits don’t fit, we instantly feel it’s a, bad day or I’m fat and no good, this exercise/diet/healthy eating is just a waste of time, why should I bother, pass me the chocolate and crisps!! What is frightening is when the questions lead you to ask, ‘if I’m not a 12, who am I?’ As if a size is defining who you are.

There are many reasons we have ended up with these thoughts and beliefs, unfortunately they are not easy to stop, we can’t just say stop doing it. But if we can at least be come conscious of what is happening and know when it’s happening we are on the way to helping ourselves feel better. So what are some of the influence?

• Media
• Marketing
• Celebrities
• Peers and friends
• Learnt behaviours

Media, marketing and celebrities are constantly bombarding us with what we should look like, what we should wear and how to wear it. A question we should first ask is who said and will that suit me, someone who is not only bone? But this is not what we think or believe due to a life time of instilled beliefs and values and now it is very difficult to break these learnt patterns and behaviours. Instead we discuss it with friends and work colleges and fuel the situation further. Can anybody see the label in your clothing? Do people really look and think oh she is a size… or do they think she has good figure or do they not really care? I believe it is more about your own perception of yourself that you project onto what others might be thinking.

Manufactures also have a major part to play in the size war. How can we say we are, per say, size 12 when every brand of cloths is a different size, every style is a different size and I am sure you have experienced it before, sometimes even the exact same rack of tops/jeans are slightly different in size. If this is the case how can we ever be just one size? Most of us know what style makes us look good and what brands fit so why don’t we go with what will make us feel good and not set ourselves up to experience pain?

It is a sad a distressing time to think that if we don’t fit into a specific size we are not who we thought we were and are not good enough. Why not look outside the label and ask better questions, such as how do I look as me (not as a size), how do I feel and what is important in my world and if like most you’re not totally happy ask yourself ‘am I working towards that I want to be?’ If you’re not, why not start now to be who you what to be, not what a false media driven world tells you, you should be.