Today I'm going to be doing a bit of a review and commentary piece on the show Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian. This is step away from my usual light hearted ramblings and more toward my sociological thoughts on body confidence and internal struggles.
I absolutely love the Kardashians and think that everything every single one of them touches turns to gold, a bit like that time Kim posted nude in the desert. In my opinion Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian, however, does not have the (Midas Touch) Kardashian Kiss bestowed upon it.
The show has faced a lot of criticism since it aired because of the lack screen time Khloe Kardashian has actually got per episode with her featuring for a few seconds at the beginning at that's about it. My gripe with the show is not about that though. In fact, I would dare say it was a conscious decision for her to take a lesser role in the show due to how dire this concept has been portrayed in this production.
My main criticism with the show is the entire premise of a 'revenge body' in this context. I get that it's supposed to be bettering yourself because of how other people have treated you and basically making a negative thing into a positive experience but some of the people on this show really haven't tapped into that ethos.
"I'm getting thin because my boyfriend said he was no longer attracted to me. I hope he will be attracted to be after" but you're still with someone who has made you feel shitty and made no effort to help you better yourself before which is what someone who actually loves you would do?
Some of the other people are just expecting the show to change their life without them actually changing. Like that chick who was smoking weed 3 times a day and was caught eating Cheetos. You expect to lose weight and change your life without actually changing anything? You are just Cheetoing yourself (did I actually just make that pun... saaaaaake).
This show isn't really about losing weight, is it? It's supposed to be about a lifestyle change (although you don't really get to see much of that). Not eating things that are bad for you, exercising more and becoming more healthy in the process. Ditching the bad habits that got you stuck in a rut. Doing something for yourself rather than ignoring who you are and what you want to be.
I feel as though the idea is kind of mislabeled as well. I see this kind of vision as more of an 'avenge' body. As in, avenging your old self. The participants are asked to say who they're getting revenge on but a lot of the time the reason just kind of comes down to them being treated badly by society. I'm not going to get into a huge debate about societal judgements of overweight people because there is nothing more I can really add to the conversation but I will say being healthy is key, I don't think that anyone should stop lifesaving medication in order to be thin that is literal insanity. But I feel as though the avenge body is about righting what has been wrong in your life. You got fat, lost confidence and stopped singing, now you're thin, have gained confidence and are performing live again. Great! You ditched your abusive ex and now you've got time to focus on you. That is awesome!
I think what I'm trying to say is don't just get a good body to spite someone else. You need to do it for yourself and largely by yourself.
There was that girl who complained that she didn't feel like she was supported by her personal trainer because they were meeting once every few weeks. You need to understand that all this change doesn't come from them, it comes from you and the effort you put in.
I think generally the majority of people who want to lose weight struggle because they think it's going to be easy and there is just one aspect to change. In reality, people want to lose weight for a variety of reasons and mostly because they think they'll be a better person. You can't be a better person without actually being a better person.
Getting a weave and painting your nails does not make you a better or more confident or successful person. It can help but it doesn't make it true. Sticking on a tight white dress a la Khloe, does not make you a Kardashian. Losing weight does not make you a better person. It can make you more you but it needs to be true to that person inside or you'll still feel empty and longing.
TL;DR - This show is shit for showing you how to be true to yourself. Be you, do you, but that doesn't mean losing weight.
