I told you there was more where Dispelling Marriage Myths blog came from.
3. After marriage your image of your body can still be distorted by the media .
The truth is, I was highly motivated to loose weight when I thought of all the life-long pictures associated with marriage. So I worked hard and off came the stress weight of three jobs and my MA degree.
But then I went on a honeymoon, moved, and the holidays hit. (If you need an update see Part 3 update: life in 2012 blog).
In addition to this, I’ve been learning to cook for someone who needs about 1,000 calories more than me a day. So of course I’ve gained weight. (I’m enjoying zumba at the Y and getting back on track-but that’s another blog).
Staying healthy is a constant struggle but it’s even harder to believe that you are a beautiful/handsome individual. The media will make you think, that once you have someone in your life who will always tell/show you that you are beautiful/handsome that you will never doubt your physical attractiveness again.
Sorry, not true.
You may have one very important voice in your life reminding you of the wonderful being that you are, but if you watch TV at all you’re going to begin to doubt it.
I don’t know about you, but I do not have a personal trainer, diet coach, makeup artist, or hairstylist.
I also don’t have the lifestyle required to be as the media would consider “beautiful”.
Think about it: their lives are not glamorous-they are torture. Who wants to have their lives micromanaged? Not me. I’d like to know that it’s my choice whether to have pizza, a salad, dessert, another drink or a drink at all! I’d like to know I can run my errands in peace without wondering how they can be twisted into a soap opera for moms to browse at the grocery store checkout stand. I like being able to say what is on my heart and mind without my agent wondering how it’s going to effect movie offers.
Still this lifestyle is what the media-world considers a requirement to be deemed physically attractive. Unless I live without any exposure to TV, smart phones, or a computer with internet, marriage will not change the influence media has on my body image.
No matter how often your spouse compliments you, it will never be enough to prevent the on-slaught of the media-world saying you’ll never be “_________ enough” (fill in the blank: strong, skinny, tall, toned, etc.).
The truth is our physical attractiveness is in our personal physical uniqueness, in the genetic combination of physical attributes that represent our ethnicity and family background. Weight (or any other specific physical “flaw” you obsess over) is not what measures or defines you as beautiful/ handsome.
What you are thinking about when you watch TV or look at magazines?
What are your thoughts about the character’s/actor’s physique /style vs. your own?
Believe it or not, your mind does not shut off when the TV turns on.
And just so you know that I am not pointing fingers, I am sharing this all from personal experience. If this speaks true to you at all: it is because I does for me too.
A.Greene's Adventures 
I love all of these! Keep writing lol ! I am learning a lot. 🙂
I am glad this is helpful! Don’t worry there are more rounds to go I’m sure! Luke’s even been talking about guest writing on the topic of sharing -we’ll see! Also let me know if there is a specific area of marriage you or any other person I know who’s getting married soon would like some honesty on.
So right you are! It is a constant. Christian magazines are just a gulity as the gossip columns at the checkout stand when it comes to focusing on beauty, marriage, or any other “image” we are conscious of. Some of the advertising is EXACTLY the same. Don’t believe me? “Check it out” for yourself, but don’t “buy into it.”
Thanks for the insight. It is true that no matter the “good intentions” of an organization or magazine company the sad truth is if they almost all want to sell-this is sadly the only way they know how to do it.
Anyone else see this to be the sad truth in advertising/magazines even those with specific ethnic or age targeted audiences?
I was at my mother’s listening to a model on TV talking about her latest magazines pics. She said, holding up the magazine, “Even I don’t look that good.” She was referring to all the “tweeking” that was done to her picture even after hours of hair, makeup and just the right clothes preparation. Even if a model thinks they are beautiful they are tempted to buy into the cultural lie of “but you are not perfect, just the way you are.” I believe there is a Christian song about that!