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Pint-sized sumo | Mikey Mattone | TEDxPineCrestSchool


you’re so confident well I haven’t

you’re so confident well I haven’t always been this way ever since I can

always been this way ever since I can

always been this way ever since I can remember I’ve had a love-hate

remember I’ve had a love-hate

remember I’ve had a love-hate relationship with my body every year

relationship with my body every year

relationship with my body every year starting around age 7 I would dread

starting around age 7 I would dread

starting around age 7 I would dread heading to the pediatrician because I

heading to the pediatrician because I

heading to the pediatrician because I would receive the same talk almost every

would receive the same talk almost every

would receive the same talk almost every time well you’re in a high percentile

time well you’re in a high percentile

time well you’re in a high percentile for weight your kids kids your age

for weight your kids kids your age

for weight your kids kids your age earning a high percentile and this could

earning a high percentile and this could

earning a high percentile and this could cause a problem you need to get this

cause a problem you need to get this

cause a problem you need to get this under control do you do any sports do

under control do you do any sports do

under control do you do any sports do you exercise you eat healthy meanwhile I

you exercise you eat healthy meanwhile I

you exercise you eat healthy meanwhile I hated sports in lower middle school and

hated sports in lower middle school and

hated sports in lower middle school and even when I did do sports I was given

even when I did do sports I was given

even when I did do sports I was given the same exact talk with the addition of

the same exact talk with the addition of

the same exact talk with the addition of well what do you do when your sport

well what do you do when your sport

well what do you do when your sport isn’t in season

isn’t in season

isn’t in season mind you my sport was in season from

mind you my sport was in season from

mind you my sport was in season from September through April the worst visit

September through April the worst visit

September through April the worst visit I ever had was when I was in third grade

I ever had was when I was in third grade

I ever had was when I was in third grade I was about eight years old went to PE

I was about eight years old went to PE

I was about eight years old went to PE everyday so I had about 40 minutes of

everyday so I had about 40 minutes of

everyday so I had about 40 minutes of physical exercise every Monday through

physical exercise every Monday through

physical exercise every Monday through Friday my pediatrician basically told me

Friday my pediatrician basically told me

Friday my pediatrician basically told me I was extremely eating extremely

I was extremely eating extremely

I was extremely eating extremely unhealthy and I needed to get that get

unhealthy and I needed to get that get

unhealthy and I needed to get that get my weight under control or else I’d have

my weight under control or else I’d have

my weight under control or else I’d have terrible consequences but to this day I

terrible consequences but to this day I

terrible consequences but to this day I have never been diagnosed with high

have never been diagnosed with high

have never been diagnosed with high cholesterol or high blood pressure so I

cholesterol or high blood pressure so I

cholesterol or high blood pressure so I was just receiving information that my

was just receiving information that my

was just receiving information that my weight I weighed a lot and this really

weight I weighed a lot and this really

weight I weighed a lot and this really needed to be fixed there’s really harmed

needed to be fixed there’s really harmed

needed to be fixed there’s really harmed my eight-year-old mental state I felt

my eight-year-old mental state I felt

my eight-year-old mental state I felt guilty and additionally it did not help

guilty and additionally it did not help

guilty and additionally it did not help that I’ve been bullied about being

that I’ve been bullied about being

that I’ve been bullied about being overweight my entire life I received

overweight my entire life I received

overweight my entire life I received comments like if I was as morbidly obese

comments like if I was as morbidly obese

comments like if I was as morbidly obese as you I’d shoot myself and one of my

as you I’d shoot myself and one of my

as you I’d shoot myself and one of my friends parents even told me that I

friends parents even told me that I

friends parents even told me that I should go on a blanking diet the word

should go on a blanking diet the word

should go on a blanking diet the word wasn’t blanking and it’s not a pg-13

wasn’t blanking and it’s not a pg-13

wasn’t blanking and it’s not a pg-13 word either I was even told that it

word either I was even told that it

word either I was even told that it didn’t have the body for the shirt I’m

didn’t have the body for the shirt I’m

didn’t have the body for the shirt I’m currently wearing I constantly wondered

currently wearing I constantly wondered

currently wearing I constantly wondered what was so wrong about my body it got

what was so wrong about my body it got

what was so wrong about my body it got me up in the morning got me through my

me up in the morning got me through my

me up in the morning got me through my good and bad days and did what I needed

good and bad days and did what I needed

good and bad days and did what I needed it to do I wasn’t training to be an

it to do I wasn’t training to be an

it to do I wasn’t training to be an elite athlete so the extra cushion

elite athlete so the extra cushion

elite athlete so the extra cushion didn’t really harm me I had my form and

didn’t really harm me I had my form and

didn’t really harm me I had my form and it fit my function while your upbringing

it fit my function while your upbringing

it fit my function while your upbringing can hurt or help your growth the media

can hurt or help your growth the media

can hurt or help your growth the media also puts constant pressure on kids in a

also puts constant pressure on kids in a

also puts constant pressure on kids in a de les

de les

de les to look a certain way you see headlining

to look a certain way you see headlining

to look a certain way you see headlining headlines concerning Chris Brown’s

headlines concerning Chris Brown’s

headlines concerning Chris Brown’s post-prison tummy but not the fact that

post-prison tummy but not the fact that

post-prison tummy but not the fact that he beat up Rihanna firstly I think I can

he beat up Rihanna firstly I think I can

he beat up Rihanna firstly I think I can safely say that no one here looks

safely say that no one here looks

safely say that no one here looks exactly like those perpetrated by the

exactly like those perpetrated by the

exactly like those perpetrated by the media being older now it’s easier to

media being older now it’s easier to

media being older now it’s easier to realize oh yeah these people look don’t

realize oh yeah these people look don’t

realize oh yeah these people look don’t look anything like me we have different

look anything like me we have different

look anything like me we have different body shapes metabolism genetics DNA etc

body shapes metabolism genetics DNA etc

body shapes metabolism genetics DNA etc not to mention when you’re this rich and

not to mention when you’re this rich and

not to mention when you’re this rich and famous it’s super easy just to hire

famous it’s super easy just to hire

famous it’s super easy just to hire personal chefs and trainers to make sure

personal chefs and trainers to make sure

personal chefs and trainers to make sure you’re kept on track additionally I’m

you’re kept on track additionally I’m

you’re kept on track additionally I’m not blaming celebs for looking this way

not blaming celebs for looking this way

not blaming celebs for looking this way maintaining their image is a huge part

maintaining their image is a huge part

maintaining their image is a huge part of their job especially for the mob

of their job especially for the mob

of their job especially for the mob models excuse me however these body

models excuse me however these body

models excuse me however these body types are often the only ones seen

types are often the only ones seen

types are often the only ones seen regularly by the American public

regularly by the American public

regularly by the American public especially adolescents who are fed this

especially adolescents who are fed this

especially adolescents who are fed this imagery resulting in many young adults

imagery resulting in many young adults

imagery resulting in many young adults feeling like you and me feeling as if

feeling like you and me feeling as if

feeling like you and me feeling as if they do not fit in with how they should

they do not fit in with how they should

they do not fit in with how they should look the constant barrage of pictures

look the constant barrage of pictures

look the constant barrage of pictures harms children and adolescents 81% of

harms children and adolescents 81% of

harms children and adolescents 81% of ten-year-olds are afraid of being fat

ten-year-olds are afraid of being fat

ten-year-olds are afraid of being fat 90% of junior and senior high school

90% of junior and senior high school

90% of junior and senior high school girls diet regularly 12% of boys admit

girls diet regularly 12% of boys admit

girls diet regularly 12% of boys admit that is admit to using unproven muscle

that is admit to using unproven muscle

that is admit to using unproven muscle supplements or steroids 80% of us women

supplements or steroids 80% of us women

supplements or steroids 80% of us women don’t like don’t like how they look and

don’t like don’t like how they look and

don’t like don’t like how they look and 1/3 of men are dissatisfied with their

1/3 of men are dissatisfied with their

1/3 of men are dissatisfied with their bodies this final statistic really gets

bodies this final statistic really gets

bodies this final statistic really gets to me though teen girls are more afraid

to me though teen girls are more afraid

to me though teen girls are more afraid of gaining weight than they are of

of gaining weight than they are of

of gaining weight than they are of nuclear war cancer or looing losing a

nuclear war cancer or looing losing a

nuclear war cancer or looing losing a parent my belief about the statistic is

parent my belief about the statistic is

parent my belief about the statistic is that being skinny or fat is seen as

that being skinny or fat is seen as

that being skinny or fat is seen as being under your control

being under your control

being under your control therefore it is your fault to look a

therefore it is your fault to look a

therefore it is your fault to look a certain way after all you really can’t

certain way after all you really can’t

certain way after all you really can’t control nuclear war cancer or losing a

control nuclear war cancer or losing a

control nuclear war cancer or losing a parent but the real tragedy here is our

parent but the real tragedy here is our

parent but the real tragedy here is our misunderstanding of body image and the

misunderstanding of body image and the

misunderstanding of body image and the concept of the ideal body type and ever

concept of the ideal body type and ever

concept of the ideal body type and ever changing zeitgeist if you will

changing zeitgeist if you will

changing zeitgeist if you will throughout history

throughout history

throughout history ideal body types have oh it shifted for

ideal body types have oh it shifted for

ideal body types have oh it shifted for women this is a quick jiff of what the

women this is a quick jiff of what the

women this is a quick jiff of what the perfect female body type has looked

perfect female body type has looked

perfect female body type has looked since the nineteen times

starting in the 1950s pop culture and

starting in the 1950s pop culture and the media started to have a much larger

the media started to have a much larger

the media started to have a much larger effect on women’s views and their about

effect on women’s views and their about

effect on women’s views and their about their bodies the 1950s was the rage of

their bodies the 1950s was the rage of

their bodies the 1950s was the rage of the hourglass shape think of Marilyn

the hourglass shape think of Marilyn

the hourglass shape think of Marilyn Monroe here the 1960s hippie era was

Monroe here the 1960s hippie era was

Monroe here the 1960s hippie era was dominated by narrow hips and thinness in

dominated by narrow hips and thinness in

dominated by narrow hips and thinness in the 1970s saw the disco diva become the

the 1970s saw the disco diva become the

the 1970s saw the disco diva become the most desirable body the long lean

most desirable body the long lean

most desirable body the long lean dancing queen was the rage and women

dancing queen was the rage and women

dancing queen was the rage and women were still pressured to maintain a slim

were still pressured to maintain a slim

were still pressured to maintain a slim hip fat’s

hip fat’s

hip fat’s flat stomach body the 1980s saw the dawn

flat stomach body the 1980s saw the dawn

flat stomach body the 1980s saw the dawn of the supermodel tall leggy women come

of the supermodel tall leggy women come

of the supermodel tall leggy women come to represent the feminine ideal and Elle

to represent the feminine ideal and Elle

to represent the feminine ideal and Elle Macpherson Naomi Campbell and Linda

Macpherson Naomi Campbell and Linda

Macpherson Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista lead the Stampede with ideal

Evangelista lead the Stampede with ideal

Evangelista lead the Stampede with ideal bodies the 1990s was the wave era people

bodies the 1990s was the wave era people

bodies the 1990s was the wave era people even dubbed this heroin chic how healthy

even dubbed this heroin chic how healthy

even dubbed this heroin chic how healthy the 2000 saw the buff Beauty reel abs

the 2000 saw the buff Beauty reel abs

the 2000 saw the buff Beauty reel abs and even spray-on abs were the rage for

and even spray-on abs were the rage for

and even spray-on abs were the rage for women and finally we are currently in

women and finally we are currently in

women and finally we are currently in the era of the booty babe bootylicious

the era of the booty babe bootylicious

the era of the booty babe bootylicious bodies have gone mainstream Nicki

bodies have gone mainstream Nicki

bodies have gone mainstream Nicki Minaj’s anaconda don’t want none unless

Minaj’s anaconda don’t want none unless

Minaj’s anaconda don’t want none unless you got buns hon JLo is all about that

you got buns hon JLo is all about that

you got buns hon JLo is all about that big big booty because she got a big

big big booty because she got a big

big big booty because she got a big booty and Meghan Trainor is all about

booty and Meghan Trainor is all about

booty and Meghan Trainor is all about that bass well the ideal female body

that bass well the ideal female body

that bass well the ideal female body type typically changes every decade the

type typically changes every decade the

type typically changes every decade the male body type doesn’t change as much or

male body type doesn’t change as much or

male body type doesn’t change as much or as quickly but there have been changes

as quickly but there have been changes

as quickly but there have been changes in the 1870’s wide hips in a large

in the 1870’s wide hips in a large

in the 1870’s wide hips in a large stomach where ideal a tubby frame was

stomach where ideal a tubby frame was

stomach where ideal a tubby frame was linked with higher economic status in

linked with higher economic status in

linked with higher economic status in the 1930s a slim ideal arrived due to

the 1930s a slim ideal arrived due to

the 1930s a slim ideal arrived due to food becoming more easier to access for

food becoming more easier to access for

food becoming more easier to access for most American Hollywood now required

most American Hollywood now required

most American Hollywood now required actors to have relatively lean physique

actors to have relatively lean physique

actors to have relatively lean physique the 1960s saw the rise of slim

the 1960s saw the rise of slim

the 1960s saw the rise of slim counterculture figure where men appeared

counterculture figure where men appeared

counterculture figure where men appeared to care little about fitness the 1980s

to care little about fitness the 1980s

to care little about fitness the 1980s saw the rise of the bulk body

saw the rise of the bulk body

saw the rise of the bulk body bodybuilding went mainstream and huge

bodybuilding went mainstream and huge

bodybuilding went mainstream and huge bulging muscles were the rage finally

bulging muscles were the rage finally

bulging muscles were the rage finally from the 1990s to present that everyman

from the 1990s to present that everyman

from the 1990s to present that everyman became the norm lean and muscular body

became the norm lean and muscular body

became the norm lean and muscular body became the most perfect shape basically

became the most perfect shape basically

became the most perfect shape basically muscular but not too muscular but also

muscular but not too muscular but also

muscular but not too muscular but also looking effortless what I’m trying to

looking effortless what I’m trying to

looking effortless what I’m trying to get at here is that today one body type

get at here is that today one body type

get at here is that today one body type may be considered desirable for the next

may be considered desirable for the next

may be considered desirable for the next generation it might not be sometimes

generation it might not be sometimes

generation it might not be sometimes it’s just super easy to look up people

it’s just super easy to look up people

it’s just super easy to look up people on TV

on TV

on TV and be like I’m never going to look like

and be like I’m never going to look like

and be like I’m never going to look like that they have a crazy body but other

that they have a crazy body but other

that they have a crazy body but other times it’s well why don’t I look like

times it’s well why don’t I look like

times it’s well why don’t I look like that there must be something wrong with

that there must be something wrong with

that there must be something wrong with me it’s super easy to just say oh yeah

me it’s super easy to just say oh yeah

me it’s super easy to just say oh yeah just ignore what you see in the media

just ignore what you see in the media

just ignore what you see in the media what you’re looking at on social media

what you’re looking at on social media

what you’re looking at on social media and television but putting that into

and television but putting that into

and television but putting that into practice is another ordeal altogether

practice is another ordeal altogether

practice is another ordeal altogether personally I remember seeing a couple of

personally I remember seeing a couple of

personally I remember seeing a couple of years ago that curves were both the rage

years ago that curves were both the rage

years ago that curves were both the rage for women and men before and through the

for women and men before and through the

for women and men before and through the 1870s I honestly thought to myself why

1870s I honestly thought to myself why

1870s I honestly thought to myself why do I look the way I do why was I born in

do I look the way I do why was I born in

do I look the way I do why was I born in the wrong era my wide hips and stomach

the wrong era my wide hips and stomach

the wrong era my wide hips and stomach that slightly hangs over my waistband

that slightly hangs over my waistband

that slightly hangs over my waistband doesn’t fit in with today’s society so

doesn’t fit in with today’s society so

doesn’t fit in with today’s society so while I struggled through

while I struggled through

while I struggled through self-acceptance and constantly analyze

self-acceptance and constantly analyze

self-acceptance and constantly analyze and criticize myself I came across the

and criticize myself I came across the

and criticize myself I came across the puzzling case of sumo wrestlers sumo

puzzling case of sumo wrestlers sumo

puzzling case of sumo wrestlers sumo wrestlers are considered lightweights

wrestlers are considered lightweights

wrestlers are considered lightweights at 400 pounds and I think it’s safe to

at 400 pounds and I think it’s safe to

at 400 pounds and I think it’s safe to say that these men are just incredibly

say that these men are just incredibly

say that these men are just incredibly massive however they’re overweight but

massive however they’re overweight but

massive however they’re overweight but not unhealthy they even have low

not unhealthy they even have low

not unhealthy they even have low cholesterol levels while eating 5,000 to

cholesterol levels while eating 5,000 to

cholesterol levels while eating 5,000 to 7,000 calories a day with a diet high in

7,000 calories a day with a diet high in

7,000 calories a day with a diet high in fried food these men do not develop

fried food these men do not develop

fried food these men do not develop cardiovascular disease and once they

cardiovascular disease and once they

cardiovascular disease and once they leave the sport most return to a healthy

leave the sport most return to a healthy

leave the sport most return to a healthy body weight and lead normal lives

body weight and lead normal lives

body weight and lead normal lives the secret the combination of having a

the secret the combination of having a

the secret the combination of having a diet low in sugar with the intense

diet low in sugar with the intense

diet low in sugar with the intense exercise allows the sumos to store fat

exercise allows the sumos to store fat

exercise allows the sumos to store fat immediately behind the skin unlike most

immediately behind the skin unlike most

immediately behind the skin unlike most people who store stomach fat behind

people who store stomach fat behind

people who store stomach fat behind their abdominal wall their form fits

their abdominal wall their form fits

their abdominal wall their form fits their function the excess weight of

their function the excess weight of

their function the excess weight of these wrestlers allows them to get more

these wrestlers allows them to get more

these wrestlers allows them to get more momentum to push their opponent out of

momentum to push their opponent out of

momentum to push their opponent out of their ring ultimately winning their

their ring ultimately winning their

their ring ultimately winning their match so I thought to myself well how

match so I thought to myself well how

match so I thought to myself well how does my form fit my necessary functions

does my form fit my necessary functions

does my form fit my necessary functions will have large thighs and wide hips

will have large thighs and wide hips

will have large thighs and wide hips which have always allowed me to squat

which have always allowed me to squat

which have always allowed me to squat more than those people but how does that

more than those people but how does that

more than those people but how does that apply practically to my life it allows

apply practically to my life it allows

apply practically to my life it allows me to take pictures like this without my

me to take pictures like this without my

me to take pictures like this without my large legs I wouldn’t be able to squat

large legs I wouldn’t be able to squat

large legs I wouldn’t be able to squat the necessary 154 pounds to make this

the necessary 154 pounds to make this

the necessary 154 pounds to make this picture happen yes that’s how much she

picture happen yes that’s how much she

picture happen yes that’s how much she weighs

weighs

weighs ask yourself this question does my form

ask yourself this question does my form

ask yourself this question does my form fit my function if you wake up wake up

fit my function if you wake up wake up

fit my function if you wake up wake up get through the day can get through your

get through the day can get through your

get through the day can get through your extracurricular whether they are sports

extracurricular whether they are sports

extracurricular whether they are sports based or not then the answer is yes I am

based or not then the answer is yes I am

based or not then the answer is yes I am my own pint sized sumo not having the

my own pint sized sumo not having the

my own pint sized sumo not having the most desirable body according to the

most desirable body according to the

most desirable body according to the media but I love my body just the way it

media but I love my body just the way it

media but I love my body just the way it is it gets me through both my good and

is it gets me through both my good and

is it gets me through both my good and bad this is me I’ve learned to love

bad this is me I’ve learned to love

bad this is me I’ve learned to love myself and all my body has to offer

myself and all my body has to offer

myself and all my body has to offer I’m not going to lie to you guys

I’m not going to lie to you guys

I’m not going to lie to you guys sometimes I have doubts and question why

sometimes I have doubts and question why

sometimes I have doubts and question why I look the way I do

I look the way I do

I look the way I do I yearn to look different to look

I yearn to look different to look

I yearn to look different to look ordinary it would just be easier that

ordinary it would just be easier that

ordinary it would just be easier that way but that’s not the way it is am I

way but that’s not the way it is am I

way but that’s not the way it is am I ever going to be an Olympic sprinter or

ever going to be an Olympic sprinter or

ever going to be an Olympic sprinter or gymnast probably not because I’m not

gymnast probably not because I’m not

gymnast probably not because I’m not built that way but I might angry at that

built that way but I might angry at that

built that way but I might angry at that notion not at all I’m the way I look and

notion not at all I’m the way I look and

notion not at all I’m the way I look and I wouldn’t ask for it any other way

I wouldn’t ask for it any other way

I wouldn’t ask for it any other way be your own pint-sized sumo be happy

be your own pint-sized sumo be happy

be your own pint-sized sumo be happy with who you are and love yourself so

with who you are and love yourself so

with who you are and love yourself so you know what I do have the body for the

you know what I do have the body for the

you know what I do have the body for the shirt I’m a pint-sized sumo call me

shirt I’m a pint-sized sumo call me

shirt I’m a pint-sized sumo call me morbidly obese all you want or tell me

morbidly obese all you want or tell me

morbidly obese all you want or tell me to go on a diet or laugh at the stretch

to go on a diet or laugh at the stretch

to go on a diet or laugh at the stretch marks on my stomach I’ll just use my

marks on my stomach I’ll just use my

marks on my stomach I’ll just use my momentum to push you out of my ring

momentum to push you out of my ring

momentum to push you out of my ring ultimately winning my match thank you

ultimately winning my match thank you

ultimately winning my match thank you [Applause]

”

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