I do not wish to be the type of person who slowly, sadly shakes his head, pining for a simpler past, longingly opening conversations with When I was a kid ... . Moreover, when I become aware of an unfortunate societal trend, I try to prevent cranking up my inner curmudgeon, cynically inquiring of my peers, What has gone wrong with our society?
Having said that, something has gone wrong with our society because -- when I was a kid -- brides-to-be didn't shove tubes up their noses to lose weight before their weddings.
While skimming TV channels, images of young women commuting to work with feeding tubes hanging from their noses flitted across the screen. They didn't seem ill; quite the contrary, they looked to be in the pink (yet another reference from when I was a kid). The reporter explained that some women with upcoming nuptials are resorting to a severe calorie-restricted crash diet to drop 10 to 20 pounds in the two weeks prior to their big day. That unto itself is not newsworthy; long before I was a kid, I imagine women (and even some men) resorted to last-minute diets in order to present their best in front of friends, family and God.
What was exceptional was that, in these cases, the method of choice consisted of consuming only 800 calories a day, delivered in the form of shakes served through a medically implanted feeding tube threaded through the woman's nose, down the esophagus
As long as there has been belly fat, there have been odd and controversial get-thin-quick schemes. Yet, this is beyond the pale.
First of all, restrict your daily intake to 800 calories and it makes no difference whether you consume carrots, cottage cheese or cognac. You'll have no choice but to drop several pounds a week. That doesn't mean it's healthy, and it belies the bigger question: What is it with this unattainable, unrealistic goal of achieving perfection? It's a fantasy state that remains forever out of reach; its pursuit generates self-loathing, frustration and, in cases like these, possible medical complications.
I'm not saying they should show up to the wedding in ratty PJ pants and bunny slippers, but if they're doing it for their husbands, be assured that any groom not overjoyed with the appearance of his bride as she comes down the aisle better not be standing next to her in front of the preacher. That marriage is doomed from the get-go, whether she's a size three or a size 16.
Beyond that, it's sad that the pressure to be perfect is so pronounced that otherwise healthy women feel such self-deficiency that they choose to live with a feeding tube shoved up their nostrils and a sack of protein-rich formula attached to their person. They are hunting for happiness that will not be found.
Ironically, if they redirected that money to themselves -- or even their honeymoons -- they would remember the results more fondly, and far longer, than whether they were a size seven or a five when they said, I do.
------
Read more:
STRIVING FOR 'IMPREFECTION': You're going to wear THAT for your wedding?
