I’m just going to begin with a quote by my new idol Dr. Robyn Silverman, author of the MUST read book: Good Girls Don’t Get Fat.
‘How am I supposed to teach girls to follow their passions and embrace their most ‘extreme dreams’ when their sense of purpose and personal power are tied up in a number sewn into the back of their jeans?
In our society, being a size 0 is top priority. Models, actresses, robots, all the ‘girls’ we look up to provide the sick and twisted idea that we have to look unhealthy in order to look…well healthy and beautiful! We all come in different shapes and sizes, we need to accept that fact and start embracing it.
What is it about this ‘number’ that we tie our identities to? The last couple examples that I can recall where identities were tied to numbers are prisons and the concentration camps during the holocaust. Oh yea that sounds great. Funny though… back then the poor victims of the concentration camps were branded with a certain number and then starved to death. Now we are starving ourselves to death to be able to identify ourselves with a certain number… How did we complete that circle? How did we get here?!
My favorite movie of all time is Titanic. My favorite actress of all time is Kate Winslet. Titanic took place in a time where, yes, thin was considered beautiful (hence the corsets), but if you take a look at Rose…she is not a size zero. She is THE definition of elegance and beauty and she had GORGEOUS curves and porcelain skin. WHAT HAPPENED?? Now… beauty is how blonde and fried you can make your hair, how ‘shredded’ or how ‘skinny’ you can make your body, and how fake and huge you can make your boobs! I wish that elegance was back in style. That’s why I’m embracing my white, Irish skin and my god given curves. Maybe I’ll dye my hair Rose Dawson Red too 
. Another GREAT thing about Kate Winslet is that she loves her curves too. She sued an advertising company for airbrushing her picture to match the sick and twisted, unhealthy image they were trying to portray. She said to them ‘I don’t look like that. I never will look like that. I never WANT to look like that.’ A-freaking-men sister. You are a hero.
Let’s stop being obsessed with what size we are. The size of our jeans, the weight on the scale, or the size of our shoes say NOTHING about us. Does that size 8 portray your intelligence? Right. Does that 140 lbs illustrate how great of a friend you are? Didn’t think so. Does that size 9 shoe describe the compassion you have for others? NO IT DOESN’T!! So why do you care? Why does it define you? If you ask me…number shouldn’t be used anymore. It should go like this:
‘What size are your jeans!?’ Size awesome.
‘That dress is so cute! What’s your size?’ Size sexy.
‘How much do you weigh?’ About beautiful and a half pounds.
‘How much weight are you trying to lose?’ I’m not trying to lose ANY of my determination, but I am trying to be healthier!! (determination is a good word for this one huh )
You are more than just a number. I pinned two pictures on Pinterest in my Strong is the new Beautiful Board. They just about rocked my Hot-Sized socks off:
Change how you feel.
I’m size Strong. What size are you?
Stay strong. Stay motivated. Stay real. Stay you.
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Tags: anorexia, beautiful, Beauty, body building, Body Dysmorphia, body image, bulemia, eating disorders, eating habits, empathy, exercise, fitness, health, inspiration, love, motivation, nutrition, Peace, Pride, strength, strong, women, women's issues, workout
I read an interesting article the other day. What are your thoughts? http://www.npr.org/2012/01/09/144799538/controversy-swirls-around-harsh-anti-obesity-ads?sc=fb&cc=fp
wow… I have to say that I agree with the side that says these ads are doing more harm then good. Yes obesity is an epidemic and it is receiving a great deal of attention. Another epidemic, however, that people don’t see very much is the prevalence OF eating disorders. These ads do plant a seed and lower self-esteem. It is MUCH harder to improve self-esteem than it is to lose weight. That seed will be with them forever…even when the weight is gone. It then becomes an obsession. They become paranoid with looking that way.
Ads like these don’t only effect the people it is targeting, but it creates an obsessive fear in those who are not over weight. That, to me, is counterproductive.
Thanks for sharing this with me and thanks for reading!
Love it! I’m size curvalicious!!
Love it!!!! Thanks for reading! Stay Curvalicious!
Great post. I have a hard time picturing the day when I could just “let it all go” and not care. Good for you!
It is definitely easier said than done.. but the more you are aware of it…the easier it is to start changing it and inspiring others to do the same!
Thanks for reading!
Wow, I love this post. Someone very dear to me also told me once about numbers being tied to prisoners like during the Holocaust.
Your blog is something I like very much. When I first came across your blog, I saw the video by Dove with that little girl in it and absolutely fell in love with what you have to say and what you are writing about. Keep it up!
I greatly appreciate your kind words and your support. Thank you so much for reading! Keep a look out for more!!