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Topic: Overweight in NYC?
| Author | Message |
| crackersncheese | Posted – 6/13/2006 1:45:09 PM | show profile This is sort of an awkward question to ask my coworkers in Chicago, but I'm thinking of moving to NYC in the next year or so. I'm currently working as an editorial assistant at a monthly magazine and freelancing my brains out and, well, my job-focus (and love of food) means that I've gained some weight in the last four years. I don't notice it having an impact on me getting work in Chicago (an internship, now this position, and faceless freelance work) but I've heard that even non-fashion magazines in NYC are super body/fashion conscious and that in such a competitive market I'll easily get passed over for being plus-sized. Anyone have any exerpience with this? Do I need to strap myself to a treadmill for four months if I really want to have a go at NYC? Thanks in advance! |
| chucho | Posted – 6/13/2006 2:24:10 PM | show profile I have a sneaking suspicion this is a bait post, but it doesn't matter anyway: NYC is the ninth fattest city in America in 2005, a little thinner than ettouffe-snarfing New Orleans but a lot fatter than chicken fried steak-munching Oklahoma City, according to Men's Health magazine. (Seattle is the thinnest, Houston is fattest, and Chicago is fifth.) With that said, the media scene in NYC seems to be heavily body conscious. Jokes and cliches abound about Conde Nast (I like Wintour) :) and its femme aryan mentality about body image. I suspect NYC ranks so high de to all the "fatties" that reside in the borroughs -- what with all those cuchifritas and Jamaican patties. And for what it matters, Oprah's headquarters is much better than NYC, IMO. More artsy types, fewer stockbrokers, nicer people, similar architecture, waterfront, better homegrown music scene (Shrimp Boat! The Pixies!), great summer programs, good food (not as much variety), etc., etc. Just one thing: the long crappy winters... bad. |
| crackersncheese | Posted – 6/13/2006 2:38:14 PM | show profile I hear you on the winters. I'm not sure what a bait post means...fill me in? Honestly, I'm not even that thrilled about moving to NYC. I mean, I think it's something I should do and I think if I stay in Chicago I'll regret never trying it out (and my girlfriend will be there for two years for grad school, so I might as well tag along). But even if I'm planning to move there only for a few years, I don't want to be stuck working temp jobs for two years for the sole reason that I'm overweight. |
| harryfred | Posted – 6/13/2006 2:39:54 PM | show profile No offense, but I wouldn't trust those magazine rankings as Baltimore was recently listed as the most fit city--HA. Is Seattle the thinnest: I have my doubts that it beats San Diego and LA. NYC beats OKie city hands down. |
| harryfred | Posted – 6/13/2006 2:41:51 PM | show profile Change your handle to celery and salt.... |
| stet.this | Posted – 6/13/2006 10:22:50 PM | show profile I'm kind of surprised more people haven't responded. I've worked at five national consumer magazines in NYC, including fashion/beauty/women's service/design pubs, and each of them had editors on staff (including a very visible EIC, in one case) who didn't fit the definition of model-thin. I, myself, was plus-size for a few years, and it didn't stop me from getting hired and promoted. (I'm no longer overweight, though, thanks to Weight Watchers and a better work schedule.) That's just one person's experience, of course. Go for it and don't worry about it -- if you're good, your talent will get you noticed. |
| chucho | Posted – 6/14/2006 9:53:09 AM | show profile harry, you obviously don't spend a lot of time in the bronx or bensonherst. meatball sandwiches, fried pigskins and ghetto supermarkets with wilted lettuce. if you don't think nyc has a weight and diet problem you might want to explore the city a little. LES hipster coke whores and body-building stock brokers aren't the norm. |
| westsidestory | Posted – 6/14/2006 9:53:38 AM | show profile An interesting topic at any rate here's my two cents, honed from a few decades in the media biz here. A few extra pounds won't make or break you. It's all in the attitude. I have known overweight women who cringed around offices, and I have seen "plus-size" women literally use that to their advantage to create personas that were larger than life and immensely effective. What is important, in this market, is to be impeccably groomed at all times. This is true for men and it is triply true for women, no matter what size skirt they wear. Your hair must be cut and kept tidy. Your nails must be manicured (not too long). Your shoes and handbag can't be shabby or worn-looking. Most critical for you is that your clothes must fit well. Most dry cleaners in town do tailoring as well and savvy women use them. Fit is more important than label (ny ladies do you agree?) |
| stet.this | Posted – 6/14/2006 11:41:49 AM | show profile Well said, westsidestory. I've found all of those points to be true. |
| clairezulkey | Posted – 6/14/2006 4:14:47 PM | show profile | email poster Crackers, apologies for answering questions with questions but : 1-Are you male or female? (that's just curiosity on my behalf.) 2-Are you content with your current shape or only wish to look into losing weight for the job? these are real question, not snarky/rhetorical ones. ------ Editor of MBToolBox |
| pop | Posted – 6/14/2006 4:33:38 PM | show profile Why don't you just try to lose the weight? The prospect of landing a job is a lousy reason to stay fat. Get off you bum and get back in shape. |
| Bleak Spouse | Posted – 6/14/2006 4:44:35 PM | show profile New York City being a city that cares so much about outward appearances is a good reason not live in a city so full of fake, arrogant, liberals who have lost touch with reality. |
| crackersncheese | Posted – 6/14/2006 6:06:37 PM | show profile Claire, I'm female. Hmmm...it's easier to answer the first question than the second. Of course I'd like to lose weight for myself (and areas other than my career have the potential to be impacted by my weight gain) but I've heard such horror stories about New York being impossible even if you are a size 2 that I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask if I might as well stay in Chicago if my weight is going to get me automatically dismissed. And there are a ton of reasons that I've been plump all my life (um...I love food) but the reason I've GAINED weight in the last year or so is I've been pulling 65 hour weeks trying to hold down a full-time job and freelance my little heart out to get this whole "career" thing going. By the way, I was at the Chicago freelance panel and thought it was a real treat. Thanks for that. |
| crackersncheese | Posted – 6/14/2006 6:07:40 PM | show profile Oh, I forgot to really answer the second question. No, I'm not content with my current shape. Sigh. |
| westsidestory | Posted – 6/14/2006 7:48:14 PM | show profile Ignore pop then (back in the cupboard you old troll). You don't have to be a size 2 to make it here. But you have to look like you fit in. Thus good grooming essential. Something you can never have too much of. Check out the New York section of the forums and you'll find at least four threads deeply concerned with the issue of eyebrow tweezing! As for working out, bring your sneaks and walk everywhere. This winter, I decided I need to drop a few and so, instead of taking transit over to a publisher across town, twice a week for paperwork drops, I walked across the park (approx 2 miles each way). I dropped 13 lbs by the time the project was finished. Who needs a gym? |
| roxannekkb | Posted – 6/14/2006 8:11:02 PM | show profile Men's Health must have sent a blind person to Seattle to judge the weight and fitness of the people here. I have never seen such obesity in my life. I mean, aside from a very large number of people being overweight, many are morbidity obese. Having lived in California among other places, and since I do travel a lot, I can't fathom what Men's health was thinking. San diego, LA and San Francisco are much thinner all around. I just came home from South Florida, and a lot of the people, at least around where my parents live, were quite thin. I know this doesn't answer your question about NY, but I think that weight discrimination does exist to a degree in many industries and in many locations. It really depends how much extra weight you're carrying around. If you are obese then employers may see you as someone who's going to be expensive to provide health insurance for. |
| steady1 | Posted – 6/14/2006 9:16:30 PM | show profile The importance of PR Many magazines select editors, at least in part, by looks. The reason is that editors are expected to be talking heads on TV. Watch just about any VH1 show and you'll see what I mean. I also see magazine editors on local news broadcasts and even occasionally on big-ticket shows like Today. Unfortunately, this hurts those of us who aren't quite camera ready. So being young, attractive and articulate is a good thing. And yes, I know not all magazine editors are expected to be publicity whores, but it is a fact of life in the business that high visibility is better than low. |
| janbrady1 | Posted – 6/15/2006 2:39:32 AM | show profile I agree with the comment about good grooming being paramount. I'm not plus-size, but I have been overweight in NYC (lost weight thanks to Weight Watchers, and am now at a healthy weight, though not as skinny as so many NYC editors). I've known plus-size and overweight editors who dressed so well it was never an issue--they always looked professional and stylish and did well in the workplace. The only problem I've had is internal--it's hard sometimes, even if you're a "normal" weight, to be around so many outrageously skinny women. There are more of them here in the media industry than there are elsewhere, and sometimes it really does screw with your head. But it shouldn't get in the way of your career. (Oh, and I do TV as part of my job, and I am neither thin nor particularly attractive. Hair and makeup can do wonders! I do speak articulately. That helps. But you get media training for that.) |
| Bleak Spouse | Posted – 6/15/2006 9:56:44 AM | show profile you guys are nuts. why even consider working for a place that would hold your looks against you? |
| beachbum | Posted – 6/15/2006 11:16:27 AM | show profile nyc What worries me about crackersncheese is that she says she's not thrilled about moving to NYC but feels it's something she must do. Why? NYC is great but it's a tough city. You have to love being there or you will be totally miserable. And I don't think people must live there in order to advance their careers. I would rather be living comfortably in a "lesser" city than be in a cockroach-infested apt. in NYC. You will not live well on an average salary in New York. But if you don't care about that and just want the city experience, then go for it. I personally am too old for that adventure (35). I want the house with a yard, the sun and a family. And a little extra cash to have some fun. |
| flipflap | Posted – 6/15/2006 11:38:25 AM | show profile overwork leads to overeating? or maybe just grabbing what's available & yummy? I sympathize because I've put on an extra 10 lbs over the last year and a half. It happened oh so gradually. I blame it on my increasingly hectic schedule as a freelancer. I previously lost 10 lbs on South Beach. I'm dong to start a dieting thread in O/T right now! "but the reason I've GAINED weight in the last year or so is I've been pulling 65 hour weeks trying to hold down a full-time job and freelance my little heart out to get this whole "career" thing going. " |
| westsidestory | Posted – 6/15/2006 11:51:49 AM | show profile Old at 35 how sad...(but that's another topic, I guess) I have a great antidote to those days when I feel I'm surrounded by NY skinnies. A short hop on the 7 train! DI -versity. That's why I love it here. |
| chucho | Posted – 6/15/2006 12:08:00 PM | show profile >>> in a city so full of fake, arrogant, liberals who have lost touch with reality <<< Yeah, man, I know what you mean. They're not like all those enlightened Kansans. You'd have to be stupid to think there's any such thing as an arrogant, self-righteous conservative. They never put on airs or pretend to have a moral high ground. They're so down to earth and realistic and grounded in reality, as we can obviously see through the people they pick for their leaders. If you don't think a lot of conservatives can have their heads up ther butts with pretensions and arrogance, then I suggest you take a tour of the south and hang out in more beer bars. Their arrogance and pretensions are less sophisticated but they're very strong. (They pretentiously buy shiny new Ford F-250s and bass boats and othe rshit they don't need in order to keep up with the Joneses.) Also I would argue that anyone that believes literally in Biblical rapture is by definition weilding a profound arrogance against anyone who thinks differently. Arrogance? The so-called red staters have a monopoly on arrogance. |
| westsidestory | Posted – 6/15/2006 12:18:26 PM | show profile chucho, we're talking about whether being overweight affects your ability to have a success media career. Care to weigh in on that? |
| Bleak Spouse | Posted – 6/15/2006 12:50:14 PM | show profile Churcho: I can't stand any of the people you described. Just because those people exist doesn't take away from the fact that there are arrogant liberals detached from reality. For instance, I bet the majority of these skinny girls working in publishing are liberals, as are most people attracted to those kind of jobs, and yet these people are playing a game where they know that their physical appearance plays a part in them getting a job. What the fuck happened to merit? Talent? Just because you look like a person your boss would like to screw, or fantisize screwing, you're in the door? But the bigger question is: Why would someone who is overweight or not attractive, why would they even consider applying to a place that holds that against you? And what's the difference between discriminating against someone who's unattractive and someone who is black, or handicapped? All of it has to do with the way someone is born -- something they can't control. Yes, being overweight is something that a person can control, but it's not easy for a lot of people and certainly not something that should be held against a job applicant. The fact is, the work place is no different than high school. The same idiots and cliques and discrimination. Same morons, like the ones who have posted in this thread, who see nothing wrong with the discimination, they just go along with it because they're too weak, too conformist to do something about it. Instead they offer advice about how to lose weight so you can fit in and play in all the other reindeer games. |
