Wait Wait...What about Weight?

Okay - I'm asian right? More importantly - I'm chinese. So - that kind of means - I should be skinny. Skinny like a prepubescent boy... with no real curves (which kind of explains Mulan).

But - I'm not. And the Ah-Yees (Aunties) don't let me forget it. You see, if there's one thing you need to know about Chinese people its that Chinese people hold nothing back.

Not.
One.
Thing.
Back.

I was once working out in my living room, in Brooklyn, when I was a kid, when one of my Mom's friends from wayyyy back in the day was watching me as I was doing Yoga. After my workout was done (about an hour), my Yee Yee said to me, "Wow Diana! You work out so much and yet you are still so BIG!" I'm not kidding.

There are a plethora of questions that Chinese people ask that American's would NEVER think to ask. I think that the Internet and Westernization in China is having a bit of an effect on these questions being asked, but only from strangers. Those close to the family, blood or not, will continue to ask these questions. Like, why are you not working out to lose weight? How much money are you making? When are you getting married (knowing full well that you are single with no prospects in sight)? When are you going to have a baby? Why don't you have a job? How much of an increase in salary did you get with that promotion? The list goes on and on.

There is no privacy when it comes to Chinese people. None. Of course, they can ask the question, and there is a bunch of chinese-esque ways to answer the question (to always put yourself down and making them seem so much better, i.e., the weight thing: Why bother? I'll never look as spectacular as you! or deflection, i.e., the salary thing: No matter how much I make - its nothing compared to that successful daughter of yours - how is she? etc...)


I have a sister who is that stereotypical asian girl. We'll call her Ms. 150. She's uber-active, and a bit of an activist - always trying to get me to get involved with saving the environment (I recycle - does that count?!?). Growing up, I was always compared to her, which meant that I was always either stealing her food or eating wayy too much and not leaving any food for her. Unbeknownst to those people, Ms. 150 can pretty much eat me under the table, which is pretty much about 150 lbs of white rice and (hunk of meat for me) lots of veggies (since she's a vegeterian (sp!?!) now)...

And this all adds up to - I'm a little messed up about my weight.

So - I wanted to do a bit of examining about weight with women (sorry boys). I've boiled it down to: Women usually have huge issues with their weight.

Some women don't see themselves as they really are. Many women think they are bigger than they are... Then there are those women who think they are wayyy smaller than they are (hence girls in outfits where you're like.. hm... things aren't supposed to fit on like THAT!) Some women see themselves as they really are and are unhappy about it. They might like their legs, but their donut waist is not nice... Or - they like their arms, but hate their back fat.... Or their bum is just too jiggly... Then there are those women who are in constant denial, because really thinking about it - or looking at it - will eventually force a person to confront it -and why do that - when it means that you can't eat that Klondike bar that you did something you absolutely regret to get. Some women feel great about themselves in loose sweats, but feel all nasty in a suit. Some women feel better in black. Other women invest 100% of their effort to implement "What Not to Wear" rules to elongate and accent acceptable parts of their body. Then there are the few who are quite realistic with their weight and they like what they see. Usually this means that the girl is relatively thin, to which - most of the women they know probably hate them... So where is the happiness there?

So - what's the point?

The point is-no matter which of these women you are, at one point, someone somewhere has said something that affected the way you look at yourself and your weight. This blog implores that you be that person that says something amazing and wonderful to a young girl to start them on the road towards a healthy outlook of their own body. Don't comment on their food intake. If you want to influence them, help them make the right choices... Go for a run with someone you have influence over that you think needs help. Make a healthy savory lunch - to show that all healthy food doesn't have to taste terrible, but that no matter the weight the girl is- she is able to control it - and she is not defined by it. Let's empower our young girls..

And - for the young girls in us - no matter what happens, just keep in mind, the hotness that is you won't last - so even though you might not have had that great girl power moment, enjoy yourself and your weight... And put that tight little hottie outfit on - no matter how you THINK you look...

'Cause you look fabulous. (Well - I know I do, but not because I say that about myself.. I never would - but anyone who knows me or has met me says I am...)