tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post3945064577309990790..comments2024-02-19T03:40:56.127-08:00Comments on .: The Tricky, Troubling, Anxiety-Fraught Relationship Between Food, Exercise, & Body ImageAngela Knottshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01596658700954456205noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post-13310649940151147922016-09-13T03:05:07.561-07:002016-09-13T03:05:07.561-07:00I think that losing weight to become faster and be...I think that losing weight to become faster and better at your sport (as long as you are within healthy boundaries) fits in with Angela's good reasons for losing weight. It seems that your friend is losing weight to enhance her enjoyment of a sport. <br />Cyclists sometimes lose weight to make themselves lighter uphill. They still seem to be a fairly normal weight, but have just streamlined themselves by losing unnecessary fat.Devon Fernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16206160671006327508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post-90064697383631642702013-07-24T09:42:34.416-07:002013-07-24T09:42:34.416-07:00The things you wrote about in this post are so imp...The things you wrote about in this post are so important to discuss. <br /><br />As someone who struggled with an eating disorder for many years (both anorexia and bulimia) I simply cannot think of running/exercise in a calories in/calories out perspective without being highly triggered. It took me a VERY long time and many therapy sessions before I could finally see exercise as something independent of eating/weight but now that I do, I am a much happier person. I run and weight lift now because I feel strong and happy when I do them. They are two things that, during the darkest days in my life, I couldn't have done because I didn't have the energy or endurance for it. <br /><br />I know my perspective is at the extreme end since many women use calories in/calories out without having eating disorders; however, I still think it's important for women to try and see exercise and eating as independent. It allows us all to view exercise in a much more positive light because it takes the "punishment" aspect out of the equation. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06179559611541634740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post-19512860317576006392013-07-15T08:39:57.111-07:002013-07-15T08:39:57.111-07:00Same as Jen - I wanted to have time to think about...Same as Jen - I wanted to have time to think about this, and I was too tired over the weekend to think. I guess I wanted to say that I agree. <br /><br />I hate those tshirts about running for cupcakes or doughnuts. Yes, sometimes I do reward myself with cake treats, and sometimes I do run to burn off too much indulgence of the aforementioned. But does anyone SERIOUSLY run to eat cupcakes? And how demeaning is it that we have t-shirts that shout it out? As you said, we should run because it makes us happy, healthy, strong, free. Those are the reasons I run and the reasons for which I would encourage another person to start running. Not to eat flipping cupcakes! <br /><br />Tell you what I hate more though....'hunky firemen' in tuxedos at the end of a race. NOTHING makes me angrier. (Apart from genocide/child abuse/hurting animals etc - you know what I mean). Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post-10584588149306191792013-07-14T13:01:57.647-07:002013-07-14T13:01:57.647-07:00I saw this post on Friday but wanted to save it fo...I saw this post on Friday but wanted to save it for a time when I could read it without distraction and properly respond. First of all: great post, Angela. I found it very thoughtful and original in the sense that this IS something we all see and think about, but I don't think I've ever read anything about it. Second, I feel like the food-exercise antagonism in our country is just another aspect of the puritanical (and eff'ed up) foundation of our country -- the other aspects being our society's views on alcohol/drugs and sex. It seems like we can never enjoy something just for the sake of enjoying it... if we like it, it has to be bad for us (cupcakes) and has to followed by punishment (exercise). Third (and related) is the public's perception of running. Most people view running as horrible and couldn't imagine that people run for fun. So, I think these products use that feeling as the basis for a (not that funny) joke. Forth, the issue of weight vs food vs exercise is sooooo complicated. It's tough because weight is only ONE readout of physical health -- it's much easier to fat shame an overweight individual than to point fingers at someone who may seem normal weight, but has an eating disorder. Fifth (and finally), the thing that makes me most angry about all of this is the seemingly female-specific marketing of these products. And as products are only made when there's demand, it appears that women have completely bought into this message... which leads to my final rant: I hate the See Jane Run motto, "I run for champagne and chocolate!" ARGH. Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691910446074747797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post-54875413766487990112013-07-13T21:57:23.657-07:002013-07-13T21:57:23.657-07:00AWESOME!!! Love it. :)AWESOME!!! Love it. :)Angela Knottshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01596658700954456205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post-40563533083216700292013-07-13T21:30:13.071-07:002013-07-13T21:30:13.071-07:00Right fucking on!
I eat because I love food. I ex...Right fucking on!<br /><br />I eat because I love food. I exercise because I love to: I feel good, I feel healthy, I don't feel run down in the afternoon at work.<br /><br />As a side note, our local running club asked Humboldt Roller Derby to come down to their women's run to kick things off...it was awesome! The runners loved it. We did, too. Women in sports supporting each other because we love sport!Boneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07002385549246608134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post-6840892348222183672013-07-12T17:18:25.891-07:002013-07-12T17:18:25.891-07:00Me too!!Me too!!Angela Knottshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01596658700954456205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post-20773150446133025462013-07-12T17:17:58.684-07:002013-07-12T17:17:58.684-07:00Yeah...I never know how to respond to stuff like t...Yeah...I never know how to respond to stuff like that, especially with people I don't know very well.Angela Knottshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01596658700954456205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post-41343796574112981072013-07-12T15:06:59.989-07:002013-07-12T15:06:59.989-07:00Awesome post. Thanks for writing this. I've ...Awesome post. Thanks for writing this. I've been thinking similar thoughts in response to all the run-to-eat paraphenalia as well. As a side note, it reminded me of this interchange I had with a neighbor a few years ago.<br /><br />http://bitingtongue.blogspot.com/2005/04/ton-is-2000-pounds-yesterday-my.htmlBiting Tonguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15770918200146334167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post-25589179209095534182013-07-12T12:54:58.874-07:002013-07-12T12:54:58.874-07:00I will say that I run because I really enjoy the f...I will say that I run because I really enjoy the feeling of it. I also like the trickle down effects that running provides - ie not having to really worry as much about what you eat or how much you eat. Having been off and on injured for 2 years now, I miss being able to run consistently and the health benefits that it provides. Nellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11613262056157769496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post-6235667575871800682013-07-12T11:58:05.989-07:002013-07-12T11:58:05.989-07:00I have no problem with people exercising to lose w...I have no problem with people exercising to lose weight, maintain weight, or improve health. In fact, I think that's a great idea. Diet alone won't change everything! But I am annoyed by<br />1. The run-to-eat mentality, rather than a healthy relationship with both food and exercise. Eating is not an evil activity that requires a punishment. Which leads me to the second thing that annoys me:<br />2. Running is not punishment. I, personally, run because I enjoy it. If I used it as an activity that payed back calories I ate (and should have enjoyed), then running would no longer be fun. It would be work. And that would kill it for me! Graciehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05641028266038110278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post-5938472992725388052013-07-12T07:14:03.307-07:002013-07-12T07:14:03.307-07:00this is an excellent post. thank you.this is an excellent post. thank you.allie.scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12510064937394714143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post-90956989362673541622013-07-12T06:21:10.184-07:002013-07-12T06:21:10.184-07:00Those shirts drive me nuts too. I was reading a bl...Those shirts drive me nuts too. I was reading a blog the other day from someone who is getting ready to run a marathon in a couple of weeks. She made the comment that she needed to lose a bunch of weight before the race so that her time would be faster. It really kind of rubbed me the wrong way because I thought that it was ridiculous she would say that. There was a million things I wanted to say, but instead I kept my mouth shut. Tasha Malcolmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16235287569641564538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8576247921509925121.post-86948221323406544412013-07-12T04:07:20.682-07:002013-07-12T04:07:20.682-07:00Wow, that was a great post and you hit on an area ...Wow, that was a great post and you hit on an area that bothers me to the core as well-both as a female athlete (actually the athlete part is irrelevant) and as a sports professional working with female runners. It is shocking the body types that think they're not 'doing' enough to justify not having a cupcake, but just a meal. While the individual is ultimately responsible for what they focus on and where they get their info. The environmental cues like shirts and just the typical topics of convo you speak of make it very difficult and confusing. <br /><br />Thanks for pointing out something that is so obvious but we're all too afraid to talk about. Adrienne Langelier, MAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13557342659549394877noreply@blogger.com