Also it’s a classic way of blaming the victim – people who are “fat” can often be that way because of how oppressive our societies are. Your comment shows a complete lack of understanding about that.

The point of the body positivity movement is to move society away from the needlessly cruel, destructive culture of shaming people for gaining weight.

I’d also like to say that you have absolutely no right whatsoever to dictate to others how they should look, or how they should live their lives. If you spend your time writing comments such as this regarding an anime aimed at girls, then I really have to question what your motives actually are and maybe you ought to consider whether this is actually a valuable way for you to spend your time.

Also, what gives you the right to tell women or anyone for that matter how they should look? Focus on your own life!

Thank you all a lot for your kind, inspiring words.

Adam, I still think this post is great and engaging, and I agree with your follow-ups. Anorexia nervosa is a serious, no-joke beast.

I regret not emphasizing, in my big comment, that exercising, working out, going to the gym, etc., is really not easy. Of course, that’s easier said than done to people across the world.

Saintfighteraqua: Ah, the McDonald’s body–the McBod. I totally get you, yeah. Nature all the way! I definitely agree with you about the trend. I think a film or show’s art style can get caught in the crosshairs of public opnion.

Aurélia: I’m really sorry about your chronic pain! That’s unfortunate. While SailorMoonNews is the only outlet I know you, I figure you’re a kind, cool person, despite your chronic, difficult pain. I’ve known people who would use any excuse to act like a jackass, but despite having something unfortunate in your life (I don’t have constant pain, but I do have bipolar 2, lol), you do not use it as a reason to be mean-spirited or cruel. And that, to me, is how the *true* strength of a person is measured.

I may be sloppy with these hasty final words, but this has been an excellent conversation. Thanks!

I didn’t know CrossFit but, after some research, I found a paper saying, just like you, that it’s creator was selling it as a miraculous method, able to heal absolutely everything. This being said, it’s not only CrossFit that carries this “pharisian” idea of perfection, but all sorts of parallel practices that has flourished during the last decades, trying to fill the normal flaws of scientific medicine.
There are a lot of ordinary persons that become praticionners of alternative medicines, and, whatever field they have chosen, they are firmly convinced that following the field(s) they chose will cure their customers from any ailment… which cannot be true (well, I guess that some of them are simply dishonest people and, while not believing any single word of what they preach to their customers, do it because their only goal is to not become salary men again… Who, indeed, has ever dreamed of being their own employer?). Those alternative medicines can be a good complement to scientific medicine; but they will not make us completely healthy, neither immortal. Sometimes, they make me think of a secularized sectarianism. But they are good as long as we engage into them with measure and critical thinking.

I wanted to say thank you very much for your prayers . Prayers are also very important to me. Just like nice thoughts and wishes. I do believe in them; they are powerful yet, if they do not always prevent bad things from happening, at least, they accompany us as a substantial support through the hardship. The prayers add beauty in this world and are here to say that we are never alone, even if we can believe we are when we have to come across the “dark night of the soul”.

I also wanted to add that both your testimonial, you and Joseph, were really inspiring and motivating. Congratulations to both of you for what you have achieved until now! I really admire people who engage in a self-discipline of their own, regardless of what the others might think of them, though they know they will have to sacrifice their comfort and hobbies. They don’t do that because they are influenced to by outside people, but because it is coming from their inner-self. Personally, I know that this is the kind of testimony I like to read or hear when I’m feeling bad, because people like you are examples I want to follow .

So thank you so much, again, dear friend! I am glad and grateful to know you, great people of Sailor Moon News !

Yes, you bring up good points. The gym is not a solution for all problems, it can help in many ways, but it can also be dangerous, especially when attempted in a haphazard way or with an obsession.
For me, it has helped a lot, but I have also been injured there from being overzealous or careless.
The machines can do more harm than good, as I found out when I injured my shoulder.

I really hope you can walk without pain again soon, walking is such a wonderful release for me and I can imagine how sad that must be to not be able to do it without fear.

And as for your English, it is always wonderful and if you had never told me it was a second language, I would have never guessed.

I always enjoy your posts.

It finally got to the point where I had to do something and I did it for me as well.
I was…nervous and skittish of the gym, I am an INFP type so I don’t care for crowds and prefer to do my own thing.
Thank goodness for headphones! I can daydream and workout all at the same time.
Now I love the gym, but I still keep to my own corner and keep those headphones in. I go several times a week (results vary) but I will tell you this, if given the choice between a nature hike or a gym trip, I always choose nature (weather allowing) so I know just where you’re coming from.

I am really proud of you and inspired by your story that you lost that much weight. I admit, there are days when all I want to do is play video games and read or draw, and that’s okay.
We all need our downtime and we all set our own pace.

I am thankful to you for sharing your story and I admit I am also a Disney Princess fan. (I am a 36-year-old man if I’ve never stated that before).
Cinderella is my personal favorite, but I agree that Aurora’s design is just splendid. wasp waist and all.
And the current trend of hating on the princesses or Senshi for their body types is wrong. They are purposefully stylized and like 0.000001 percent of women can actually achieve that. I’d never expect a woman to reach for such unrealistic standards, but I can see the appeal, especially for cosplayers.
But there is also a trend in shaming girls who do come close to these standards, which is also sad.

I am also happy to hear that you didn’t let the bullies win and you did your own thing.
I hear you, loud and clear.

Generally most physicians are probably right to recommend exercise, but it’s important not to oversell it. Some people just can’t be as active as others, and while getting fit may lead them to a place where they can keep getting fit, it needs to be recommended in a reasonable way. For many simply suggesting a daily walk may be best. It is important for people to do something realistic and maintainable. It’s easy for someone to throw themselves into a hard core workout routine when things go well but abandon it when things aren’t.

That said I see a cult like obsession with this idea. I did CrossFit for years and over the past year or two I’ve noticed a troubling trend where some who practice it, including the creator of the sport, really talk about it like it’s a cult which can cure any ailment. All things being equal a person who exercises and has a healthy diet is probably better off than one who doesn’t, but you aren’t going to cure every disease with a workout routine. That’s not how the world works. The low hanging fruit are diabetes and heart disease. Mental health is probably next with some benefit. All said no one ever cured cancer or mended a broken limb with a trip to the gym.

Were Sailor Moon to be a new show today perhaps it would be nice to have a bit more variety in the size of the Sailor Guardians, but it would be awkward to shoehorn that into this existing property.