Do These Jeans Make Me Look Fat?

I love the title of this article... The scenario went something like:

Wife "Do these jeans make me look fat?"
Husband "No, love, they don't. It's your fat that makes you look fat."

Love it. No really.

I look in the mirror once in a while, while getting dressed, brushing teeth, doing hair and make-up, and it's amazing how powerful the 'mind' can be. If you think you're losing weight you will 'see it' if you feel puffy then you will look puffy (even if it's in your mind) Why is that?

I have reached the point where I have recognised that: most women are completely *insane* when it comes to weight loss, fat in general and the shape & size of our bodies.

Admit it.

We're mental about it.

We preen, pluck, starve, hide, cream, wax and tweeze ourselves until we are unrecognisable! All the while, our dear beloveds are looking on quizzically, saying
"But babe, I love you just as you are"...
And we ignore them with a pert,
"Mmm..."

Is it the media that is to blame? Is it the fact that we were made to:
"...Sit and eat that supper until the sun comes up! Eat every last bite"
"But I'm FULL?!"
"Don't you *know* how many children are *starving* out there!..."
"Well then give *them* my supper!"

And so we ate until it hurt and subsequently lost the ability to know when to say "I'm full thank you"

Am I right here? Am I on track?

We eat too much (a few bites too much, all of the time) and are being bombarded with imagery (magazines that are photo shopped) and we don't exercise enough (time constraints, safety of environment, cost of classes, cost of gym membership) and we loathe ourselves because we don't meet the grade. Isn't it sick?

I watch my daughters, Sav is three and a half, she is carefree and happy in her skin. She floats through her day concerned about whether Belle will love the Beast in time... And not about how she looks. She eats healthily and we don't make a fuss about finishing what is on her plate - she stops when she is full. Kels is one, she also eats when she needs to and stops when she is done. She runs off, and has a ball. She has no self awareness - it is liberating.
I want to be like that.
I WILL be like that.

I challenge you - whoever you are - stop criticising yourself and try to be happy 'as you are'. Accept your flaws and try to see the person you are 'outside' of your physical body.

- Eat healthily - make good choices.

- Exercise - short bursts of physical activity are just as good as slow workouts. The idea is to get moving. Go to the mall and walk from one end to the other.

- Stop speaking badly to yourself - you set the tone for your interactions with others. If you secretly treat yourself badly, don't expect others to treat you well.

- Start facilitating change in your life. Make the most of every day.

- Challenge yourself. Do something - a project - that pushes you beyond your comfort zone, something that you will have to work on. When you accomplish a challenging task you will feel exhilarated.

Have a good day,

Sandy Bigara
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