Promoting healthy body image for all us

Enjoy this beautiful message promoting healthy body image and positive being. The short and sweet video speaks to 15 year olds yet warms the heart of our own still-struggling 15 year old within.

J. Crew sends unhealthy message: Diet or cover yourself

I think J. Crew was spending too much time with nail polish remover to notice my recent rant. Sadly, they have done it AGAIN!

Picture from J. Crew May 2011

On page 40 of this month's catalog one will find this caption among one piece bathing suits:

"Forget the pre-vacation crash diet. Our one-piece wonders come in cuts that complement with ruching in all the right places."

Although I would usually order one of these pretty bathing suits, I refuse. How can I buy a product from a company that tells me I need to have less of me or cover my body up!?!  I can't give my money to a company promoting the idea that dieting = permission to be an uncovered me. Just to spite them and all the other bad body image promoters, I will be wearing a 2 piece bathing suit sans dieting all summer.

Picture from J. Crew April 2011

(In case you were blinded by pink toe nail polish last month, here's the original picture that inspired my body image and anti-diet vlog.)

The Wedding Dress & Weight Loss Does Not Equal Happily Ever After!

As you walk down the aisle in your wedding dress, you may be pondering a few things:

• I am so happy (and nervous!) to spend the rest of my life with this person
• What will our children will look like?
• I L-O-V-E this person no matter what.

Sadly, a new wave of products and programs have inserted what we should be thinking:

• there needs to be less of me before I commit to the man who unconditionally loves me
• this white dress makes me look huge so glad I crashed dieted
• I wanted to invite my best friend into my wedding party yet she is too fat. Wouldn't look good in the pictures.

Shedding for the Wedding has couples compete to lose weight for their wedding. The first ad for this TV show brought a sigh and saddened look to my face. The Slim Fast Twitter campaign made me shoot fire from my ears and daggers from my eyes. I am pissed.

I could rant for hours on this issue and I will sum up my anger source in 4 points:

• Losing weight for an event does not equal health. This external motivator promotes temporary crash dieting negatively altering metabolism (read: promotes the body to preserve fat and breaks down muscle for energy). Once the event is over, the person's body will quickly regain the weight and be more prepared to maintain body fat for the next diet attempt. This is also referred to as yo-yo dieting.
• A wedding is a celebration of unconditional love. This type of regard is hopefully genuine and made to withstand "sickness and health"...and weight changes. Shame on you Slim Fast for disregarding the moment's beauty just to make money. Blech.
• One of the toughest thoughts: we need to shame our friends or ourselves if too large. Subtly provide your potential wedding party Slim Fast so they will look good enough for your pictures. Or, if you want to EVER get married (symbolized in catching the bouquet), drink Slim Fast or else. Duh duh DUUUUUH.
• The wedding build up including fitting in her wedding dress is one of the top 5 experiences that triggers one to practice an eating disorder. Thank you Slim Fast and Shedding for the Wedding for rationalizing this practice. Of course, all women will not experience severe pathology from this yet minimizing who's affected doesn't make it okay.

Promoting quick weight changes prior to the big day does not promote health or a stronger marriage. It only promotes shame. And, shame is an experience that never promotes healthy behavior change.

Food Addiction

As a diverse nation many issues divide us. Consider these emotionally charged topics:

• abortion
• death penalty
• affirmative action
• fruit as dessert (in my opinion, those believing fruit and chocolate provide equal satisfaction are from another planet).

A new issue has divided us especially in the disordered eating field: is food addicting? I have found myself on both sides of the fence. Today I consider food to not be of the addicting quality although it may feel like addiction.  Colleague Evelyn Tribole RD and co-author of Intuitive Eating has a clear and scientific proposal that sums up my views.

Whether or not food is scientifically addicting, healing one's relationship with food is hard work. And, it is good important work. I hope you have the support you need during the arduous and rewarding journey.

Goal weights

What do you want to weigh? __________

What does your body want you to weigh? Yes, your body gets a vote on this decision. One woman's struggle with accepting this vote can be found here.

Trusting your body's hunger and fullness cues along with enjoying movement that feels good will allow you to maintain the weight your body prefers. If you aren't there, trusting this will allow your weight to get there. What would it be like if you trusted this? Imagine the possibilities....