Drew Barrymore talks about weight and quarantine

Drew Barrymore is showing off her infectious smile on the latest cover of InStyle in a photo the actor shot herself while in isolation. At only 45, the Hollywood icon already has a career that has spanned decades and a laundry list of successful ventures outside of movies that have made her an exciting and inspiring artist to watch (writer, makeup designer, activist, etc). But even with Barrymore’s seemingly effortless, carefree and empowered attitude, her new interview for InStyle reveals that like us mere mortals, Barrymore continues to be heavily influenced by the unattainable beauty standards that seep into every corner of our daily lives. It’s relatable and understandable and it sucks.Barrymore’s interview with journalist Laura Brown touches on the actor’s long career in films, including the years she stepped away from Hollywood to seek treatment for her drug addiction that began at a young age. Mostly, the new article focuses on the now, including the overdue social awakening taking place in the US, and how Barrymore and her family are adjusting to the new normal. When the topic of self care comes up, Barrymore admits that her driving force for eating healthy and staying active is weight-based.“I eat really clean and healthy, and I do an hour of Pilates at least four days a week. I have to work so hard at not being the size of a bus. And it's OK. That is just my journey. That is my karma. I don't know, maybe I was thin and mean in a past life,” says Barrymore.The actor's critique of her body has sparked a debate online. Huffpost writer Emily McCombs wrote about Barrymore’s comment and the danger of assigning morality to ‘good’ and ‘bad’ food. “'Taking care of yourself’ is not defined as shrinking your body or maintaining a smaller body size,” wrote McCombs. “In fact, we cannot begin to truly take care of ourselves until we opt out of a system that tells us our worth is determined by a number on the scale and make peace with our bodies, sans judgment or shame.”Barrymore has previously talked about her contentious relationship with her weight. In February, Barrymore posted a side by side picture of herself before and after losing weight for her show Santa Clarita Diet. While Barrymore celebrates her body that carried two kids, calling her weight loss a “challenging, but beautiful ride,” she also admits that her weight has caused feelings of inadequacy and depression. “There have been times I have stood in my closet and just cried. Hated getting dressed. Didn’t feel good! It takes so much for me to look decent,” writes Barrymore, adding “So DON’T Be fooled by what you see when people are thin right after baby. Don’t compare yourself to the magazines and the red carpets. If I looked decent on anything I have done since I had my two kids, I have clawed my way there. You can too.”

 

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I go up and I go down. The rollercoaster of my body is a challenging, but beautiful ride. I made two kids. The single most important purpose for me being on this planet is for them! It is a true miracle I was able to have these two girls. So whatever the aftermath on my body, well bring it on! That said, there have been times i have stood in my closet and just cried. Hated getting dressed. Didn’t feel good! It takes so much for me to look decent. I have to eat just right and Work my ass off! I cannot fight the fact that I have the propensity to be the Pillsbury dough boy! (Now all I can think about is crescent rolls) So DON’T Be fooled by what you see when people are thin right after baby. Don’t compare yourself to the magazines and the red carpets. If I looked decent on anything I have done since I had my two kids, I have clawed my way there. You can too! However, it is hard to sustain and can take a lot of the joy out of life with food. But not anymore. NOW I have found that elusive B called BALANCE. 45! It only took 45 years to find myself. Right where I am supposed to be. And it’s not perfect. But it’s me. And most importantly, I want to share it with you. Ps this is the power of @marniealton, she’s the one who helped me be @santaclaritadiet ready! #WELLNESSWEEK

A post shared by Drew Barrymore (@drewbarrymore) on Feb 19, 2020 at 8:25am PST

Barrymore’s comments likely elicited a lot of head nodding from readers, who were relieved to finally hear a celebrity admit that dramatic weight loss is not an easy path. But Barrymore’s note that ‘you can too’ be your ideal weight reinforces the notion that there is an ideal weight.As noted in the new InStyle article, Barrymore is currently running six businesses and is preparing to host her own daytime show this fall. She’s also a single mom to two young daughters, which means on top of working, she’s also spent the past four months homeschooling, a new reality for parents that has caused widespread stress and anxiety for families scrambling to survive the ongoing pandemic beyond avoiding a positive COVID-19 test. Even with all of Barrymore’s accomplishments, the actor’s comments on her weight are yet another reminder that most women and many men feel the constant messaging of thin = good and worthy.Many of us have seen the memes joking about the Quarantine 15 weight gain. We’ve likely lamented to friends and family about gaining weight while in isolation without even realizing the absurdity of being concerned about a change in appearance at time when people are dying by the thousands. Like Barrymore, many of us are scared, stressed and overworked, which can lead to feelings of depression and a lack of self-worth. Barrymore is not alone in her concerns and adds that isolation has made her feel overwhelmed in almost every facet of her life, something she has fought to move past. “I realized that I had to get out from under it. I have so much empathy and patience for everyone but myself,” says Barrymore. Same, Drew.[video_embed id='1990896']Before you go: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard open up about how quarantine has affected their relationship[/video_embed]