HUMP DAY!! At long last 🙂
In honour of the Operation Beautiful book release by Caitlin, and Change the Way You See, Not The Way You Look week…
….I’m doing a post on bodies! Or, more specifically, why we hate our bodies and how to overcome that hate.
First up – why do women (and men) have so little love for their bodies?
I was thinking about this whilst running this morning, and I came up with a few reasons why:
1) The dreaded MEDIA! Magazines, films, websites..they all portray an image of what the ‘perfect’ body should look like – slim, sleek, wrinkle/cellulite/blemish free. It’s no wonder real women feel they aren’t good enough. But we have to remember – the images we see, they’re not real! Think about things like Photoshop and airbrushing….
Kate Moss:
Britney Spears:
Jessica Alba:
The seemingly ageless Madonna:
More Britney:
Km Kardashian:
See what I mean? Yet the [horrors] of airbrushing are so rarely highlighted (except in Britain’s version of Marie Claire magazine, which refuses to use airbrushed photos, anywhere in the magazine). So all day long, women are presented with these ‘perfect’ images – of course we’re going to feel bad about our bodies, because we’re often trying to aim for an impossible standard! I know media images affected me and my ED – In fact, when I was recovering, I banned myself from reading my Vogue magazines; I ended up with a stack of 4 or 5 months! But I just didn’t want to be brainwashed by the images and the idea that it was somehow OK to be freakishly skinny.
2) There are unreal expectations about what our bodies should look like. We see images of and hear about Madonna, or Paula Radcliffe, or Jennifer Aniston – but these folk have an army of people to look after them! Personal trainers, expensive beauty products mere mortals couldn’t afford, chefs, masseuses, and however many other people in their entourage. Heck, I know if I had my own personal Tracy Anderson clone following me about, my body would look a lot different! But would working out 4hrs a day, so I felt like this:
…actually make me like my body any more? Noooo.
3) Punishment. I think women as a whole, are pretty gluttonous about punishing themselves. I shouldn’t have eaten that biscuit, now I have to work out for 1hr more in the gym…My ass looks so giant in those jeans…I don’t deserve to wear those shorts, my legs are too fat…etc etc. We punish our bodies, we punish ourselves, by restricting food, bingeing, over exercising, fat-talking, or anything else. Again, if we’re always mean to ourselves, we’re not gonna feel the love for our bodies are we!?
Of course, there are a billion and one other reasons why we hate our bodies, but I don’t have the space to go through them all. Instead, let’s look at how we can reverse the hate, and learn to LOVE our bodies!
1) Recognise our strengths; we all have bits of ourselves which we don’t like, or that we’re self conscious about. But the trick is to find something – even if it’s just one thing – that we DO love about our bodies. If we can learn to love one thing, than other stuff will follow, or we’ll at least learn to accept our ‘flaws’. Take my sister – she thinks she has chunky legs, but there is one thing she can’t deny; she has the most amazing stomach. Ever. It’s flat and toned, without her needing to do a single sit-up. I am soo envious of her stomach! So, next time you look in the mirror, find one thing to love 🙂
2) Understand that the images we see everyday are NOT real and are NOT the ideal. As I’ve just shown, airbrushing is so amazingly common, that we basically can’t really believe a single thing we see in the media. And besides; maybe blokes do like Megan Fox’s body and would gawp if they saw her on a beach. But at the end of the day, your friends, your family, your partner – they shouldn’t like you because of your body, they should like you because of you. Who cares if you have the odd bit of cellulite!? If they won’t be with you for that reason, they’re not worth their salt. We can be beautiful whatever our shape, fat or thin!
3) Respect our bodies – look at the amazing things we can accomplish! Having a baby, overcoming an illness, running a marathon….it’s all amazing! Since I started running, I’ve developed SO much more respect and love for my body. After all, it got through the 2 years of starvation I gave it, yet it’s still here, it’s still strong, and it can run at least 16miles – soon to be 26.2! Sooo – Respect leads to love, dude! (Said in a crazy hippie voice :p). Respect your body – IT’S AMAZING!
4) Learn how to nourish your body and treat it well. Eat lots of fruits, veggies, grains, healthy fats, legumes. The better you eat, the better you feel. I for one am finding the better I eat, the more I like my body. I’m nourishing myself, and I feel like I’m developing a ‘glow’ almost, from the inside out. Eat crap and you’ll feel like crap. Eat well and you’ll feel well! Positive feelings, thoughts, you’ll feel stronger, brighter..the benefits are endless 🙂 (But still have treats!)
5) Finally – accept what you’ve been given body-wise. Maybe you have large arms. Maybe you have a flat butt (I know I do – hurrumph!). Maybe you’re not built like Giselle. But unless you want to look like this:
..or plan on doing a Heidi Montag, accept who you are. Your body is yours, it’s the only one you’ve got. Life is too short (or too long?) to go through it hating yourself. You, and your body, are fabulous!
So, there you have it 😀 In the spirit of loving out bodies…..Tell me one thing you love about your body. I like my hair, and my eyes 🙂
————-
Looong post, so I’ll shoot through the food today. First up – apple/wheatgerm/square of chocolate –> RUN!
5K as per the marathon plan. I got fab negative splits today!!
8.35 - 8.24 - 7.51
BOO YEAH!
Breakfast was a woooonnderful EGM – all the usual suspects (cereal, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, vanilla, banana, xanthan gum) but with the addition of some pear – WELL good! Toppings = grated cacao, puff cereal, homemade gooseberry jam, granola & dates:
One.
Of.
The.
Best.
Ever.
Lunch was pretty awesome too – I attacked two of these babies:
I scraped the insides out, then seasoned them and baked for 25-30mins:
For the stuffing, I cooked up a mix of red quinoa and buckwheat, with dried mixed herbs, dried basil, seasoning and sundried tomatoes:
Meanwhile, I stir fried the courgette innards (!) with some balsamic vinegar til it was caramelizing:
Theeeen, I added that to the grains along with some more balsamic vinegar, mixed it up, stuffed it into the courgette, and served it with some squash, celeriac and parsnip:
Oh man. The mix was BEAUTIFUL!
Loved. It.
I also had some Fake Cake – cereal blended with a pear, cocoa powder and agave nectar, then nuked in the microwave:
Tasted JUST like chocolate cake!!
I’ll skip posting dinner today and do it tomorrow instead, or this post will reach epic lengths 😛
Don’t forget – Tell me one thing you love about your body!
—–
Of course, I haven’t forgotten it’s Horsey Humpday, so here’s your horsey hit for the day 😀
Great OB post!!! Those before and after shots are CRAZY!!! Even though I feel like I’m “aware” of photoshopping, it still shocks me to see how MUCH of it goes on, sometimes without us even knowing.
I knOW! When I was searching for them, I was so shocked at some…
EXCELLENT post Freya! Love love love it. One of the best I’ve read in the series 😀 That picture of Kate Moss is out of this world disturbing.
In other news, I love the squash idea! It looks so delicious.
Wow, thank you!! That’s some high compliments right there 😀
Great post! Those pictures are so crazy! I love my finger nails that are always super long and strong without me doing anything to them. 🙂
You’re blessed!! My ones break so often (thank youuuu horses….)!
Absolutely amazing OB post Freya! I think it is one of my favourite posts of yours. 🙂
Love the horsey humpday photos!
One thing I love about my body – can I say my finger nails?
Of course you can!! 😀
I’m glad you like it 🙂
I love my skin. It’s pale and freckle-y and clear. I used to want to tan all the time, but now I embrace my paleness!
Good for you! I’m pale too – we rock!
Great post!!! I love my smile; I think it’s my best feature, and I always feel better when I’m flashing it. 🙂
You do have a beautiful smile – I’ve seen it on your blog :p
I love my big symmetrical ta-tas! I said it!!
HAHA! Loves it 😀
Great post Freya – well done!
One thing I like about myself? Hmm, I suppose it’s that I have a relatively small waist.
Gorgeous 🙂
Great post, thank you : ) I think Madonna actually looks better in the non-Photoshopped picture! Much more real…
I like the length of my legs – good for riding my horse as I’m sure you’d agree!
Eleanor
I totally would! 😀 another horsey reader! Love it 🙂
great post! it’s eye opening to see these pics… how foolish we’re to believe they’re perfect.
I love my body, every part of it because it’s natural and I work to keep it healthy. 🙂
That is a FANTASTIC attitude – go you!
ugh – the amount of photoshopping that occurs in mags makes me nearly sick 😦 it’s really such a shame, but i think it’s great that some mags (like marie claire) and even models/singers/actresses are refusing to have retouching done. and lets not forget that AWFUL ralph lauren ad (was it ralph lauren? or tommy hilfiger? something like that, anyways) where the girl was shrunk down to horrific proportions – not just skinny, but to the extent that there was no one on earth who would be that itty bitty and healthy.
Thanks for the eye-opener, Freya. I think often the horrors of retouching are overlooked, but it’s SO true, and SO bad for younger women and men.
Yes yes, I remember that advert – it was so disgusting. The media has a lot to answer for…
All that airbrushing is SO insane! Wow! I am so excited, I’m getting dinner with Caitlin next Wednesday. I can’t wait to read OB!!
Whhaat?! How come you’re doing that!? You lucky thing!
F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C post Freya.
Well done!
I like my legs, my height, my face generally and my hair.
xx
Julia
http://www.britbride.com
Fabulous post my dear. I LOVE my whole body because I feel really fortunate to have it. It seems unfair to dwell on the small things I can’t change, when I should be so grateful just to have this strong + healthy body! Can’t wait to meet you!
That’s such a good way of thinking about it! SO excited to meet you too 😀
that stuffed squash looks AH-MAYYYYYYYY-ZING!! oh my gosh. seriously, that looks soooo good! 🙂 good job girly.
yeah….kate moss. her before pics should really be a testament to how smoking,drinking, and drugs really age you.
thanks for all those before and after pics!
i think stuff like that should be publicized even more.
what’s kinda freaky is that Paris Hilton actually looks prettier without makeup.
remember when she walked out of jail a couple years ago and had NO makeup on?
i was like, “whoa. you can actually see her face. and it’s gorgeous.
anyway, GREAT post 🙂
Totally – I don’t get why people who make a living out of their looks or voice (ie Kate Moss, Cheryl Cole) smoke – it ruins you!!
Yeah, Paris did look good!But then I think she’s beautiful anyway :p
I really loved this post. I actually came across it because I saw the Operation Beautiful lady being interviewed on the Today show. Hearing that interview and reading your post really affected me – especially since just this morning I went through the list of everything I hate about myself be it personality or appearance.
Even now I’m pausing – trying to think of something I like about myself…
My eyes are a nice solid brown…My hair is also very thick and beautiful (My mom even mentioned it today! ^_^).
Perhaps I’ll read more of your posts. I still don’t know how to change myself to feel better.
But thanks! You and Operation Beautiful did make me feel better. Also, I looked at your picture and you’re really pretty, too! I love horses as well ^_^
Oh I am SO glad you found Operation Beautiful and the my blog and everything – and that it helped you! Good for you for finding something you like about yourself. I really struggle with it too, but we all have something beautiful about us, and it’s worth remembering 🙂 If you get a chance, check out Caitlin’s blog (Healthy Tipping Point.com – Caitlin was the OB woman) – she’s seriously amazing.
Thanks for the comment!
Great post! I admit, airbrushed images in the media were a big part of my bad body image issues for years. I’m so glad people are starting to realize how unrealistic these images are. Maybe we’re in the midst of a body image revolution that’s long overdue.
So what do I love about my body? Eight years ago, I would’ve said “my blue eyes” and that’s it. Right now though, I love my curves. I’ll never look super skinny or boyish, but that’s ok. I love my body shape the way it is.
Good for you!!
Excellent post!
I really like my hair and that I am quite tall, but I don’t really dislike any bits strongly enough to make me worry about them. I am grateful for having a fully functioning body. Those retouches should not be allowed…awful- hello??!! As if girls like Jessica Alba aren’t ridiculously gorgeous enough naturally??!! Crazy!
Is that Madonna in the LV ad?!