So we all have our own ideas about what we find attractive in members of the opposite sex, right? Personally for example, right now give me a kind octogenarian who’s loaded, has no family on whom to lavish his pots of cash and who wants nothing from me other than the odd game of scrabble and oversight of his nightly meds, and I’d be all over that. Ha ha, joking aside…oh wait a minute that’s right, I’m not joking…boom boom!
But lets imagine that I was…I’ve always been attracted to larger than life, broad shouldered blokes. Beyond that, I’ve never really had a ‘type’, unless you class ‘loser’ as a type…it’s been a definite common denominator amongst the majority of my significant others. But in terms of looks, I’ve never been that bothered. Provided they kept a watching brief on the nose and ear hair situation and had a good level of personal hygiene, from a physical perspective that was about the extent of my wish list.
I’d say that on the whole blokes are more visual creatures than females though, and most blokes would be able to articulate in far more detail than you might expect, the kind of woman they are attracted to. And that usually includes a body shape within a certain height/weight ratio.
Whilst I was out for dinner over the weekend with one of my closest friends, he posed an interesting question – being a fan of the curvaceous female form himself, he wanted to know whether, if I was with a partner who found skinny unattractive, would I still be hell bent on reaching skinny town? And it was a really hard question to answer. I’m dieting for me. I’m the one who finds being fat unattractive…skinny is the body shape I like best, on me. I’m a single girl through choice so it’s fairly straightforward, but what if?
What if down the line I did meet someone and fall madly in love, and it transpired that their ‘perfect woman’ body shape was at the end of the spectrum that I’m at now..? It’d be the ultimate bloody irony, but would I immediately head for the pie shop with a wad of cash? I’ve definitely been conscious in the past of maintaining a particular body shape to please someone other than myself.
One bloke in particular who I fell for in a big way was a real fitness hound, and was completely turned off by the idea of fat girls, so in the knowledge that if I didn’t stay skinny he’d disappear in a cloud of dust, I kept the weight off for around a year…my longest ever stint in Skinny Town. As things turned out, it was my feet that generated the dust when I realised he had spawned the daughters from hell. It would be inappropriate for me to go into detail, but I’ll just put the words bunny and cooking pot out there, and leave the rest to your imagination.
Getting back to the point though, in theory, if you love someone, or someone loves you, and it’s true love, body shape shouldn’t really come into it. But I don’t think it’s as simple as that. You do hear of people walking away from their partners for a younger or skinnier alternative, and actually, even more so the other way around…newly skinny confident minnies leaving their long term partners and going for an upgrade. So the whole issue of gaining and losing weight throws up some interesting questions within the boundaries of a relationship.
Not something I need to worry about, but to answer my friend’s question, I’m thinking no…the asshole in my mind would go batshit crazy of course, and bang the pie-eating drum incessantly, but I’m at that stage in my life where I know what I want, and I’m going after it. I want to be skinny, for me…and at the end of the day I’m the only one I have to worry about 🙂
I love this. My husband and I have been together for 35 years,and he has seen me at every size, from 9stone when we first met, up to 17stone at one point,although thankfully nowhere near that anymore. I have been down to 8stone 7, which we both hated, I was way too bony. It was when our first baby was born,and the only time I have ever lost weight without trying. He loves me whatever size I am, is supportive when I am dieting and supportive if I cannot keep going in a diet. I truly don’t know if I would find it easier or harder to lose weight, if He was judgemental about my size.
Hi Jane, welcome to the posse! You’re so lucky to have such a wonderful significant other…wow, 35 years? That’s amazing. Speaking as someone who has struggled to stay married for 35 minutes it’s even more amazing 🙂 That’s true love right there! D x
Just wanted to let you know I’m still here, although I haven’t been commenting lately. Travels and just getting too busy, you know. I have had former lovers leave me because of my being too fat, and we’re talking twenty pounds. It was devastating, but I cannot imagine that happening now, today, when I’m happily supported by my partner.
BTW, you are a prolific writer, and funny to boot. I hope you won’t ever stop writing because you have a real gift. I enjoy reading your posts so much! 🙂
Aw thanks DJan that means a lot – it gives me equally as much pleasure writing and knowing a bunch of you appreciate the words.
You’re lucky to have a supportive partner…me, I’ve tried a few on for size but never found a perfect fit. Story of my life!! D x
Having been with my Sweetie for 30+ years, much of that while traveling up and down the scale like a yoyo, i can say that when i finally did decide to lose the weight and keep it off, it was for me. That’s the way it should be.
That’s long Mimi…good on you. Speaking as someone who gets twitchy after 30 minutes, I can’t imagine being with someone all that time, but I envy you that 🙂
I think I’d want to be the shape I find attractive and he’d just have to love me anyway. If he was encouraging a bit of curvyness then he’d be welcome to his opinion, but if he was pushing me to give up health for his jollies? Pushing me towards diabetes, sleep apnoea, constant knee pain, thighs rubbing? I’d be pushing that prick out the door.
Hahahaha love it…call it as you see it Nat! Dx
Interesting question indeed – I wonder how I would’ve answered at 25? But at 51 – heck no – my body, my rules
Yep!