But, I have been writing.
I have been on a journey of self-acceptance and body love for some time now. I'm happy to report that I'm getting further and further along on my journey every single day. In January, I was inspired and led to start a Facebook Page called "Love Your Body Project: Peace, Love and Food". In the past 3 months, we have gotten 770 likes and I couldn't be happier about what I am co-creating with these wonderful people who are beginning to chime in and share their hearts.
Here is a sample of what we talk about:
"If you hate yourself because you are 'overweight', 'chubby', or 'obese', it's likely that you would hate yourself being 'thin' or 'lean' as well. Weight loss is not a magic bullet. It doesn't magically fix all of your self-esteem issues. People who have lost significant amounts of weight often times trade one problem for another. They suffered the pain of obesity and endured the negative social stigma of it
Then, they lose weight. Maybe it's 10 lbs., 20 lbs., or 100 lbs. All of a sudden EVERYONE LOVES THEM! Compliments abound. And, yes, of course it feels good to have people say nice things to and about you.
Until you realize that you are now IN BONDAGE to their approval. Now, you must shoulder the arduous task of maintaining this new and improved body in order not to fall out of favor with the masses. So now, you diligently work to count your calories, track your workouts, and keep up with the Joneses. And soon, you'll find, that those good feelings, predicated on the positive attention you receive from others about your body, are a burden to carry. If you gain it back, you fall out of favor with the crowd.
Is that what you want? To be thin just so people love you?? Is that the kind of person you want to attract???
The time to love yourself is now. Right now. The time to make peace with your body, sans judgement, is today. If you commit to accepting yourself and practice the art of self-love and self-care, you will be happy. And if you are overweight, you will lose that weight. But that weight loss will be a side effect, not the main attraction. And the compliments will come from those that haven't learned that beauty is only skin deep, i.e. physical beauty is superficial. If you are loved only for your beauty, what happens when you age? What happens if and when your body changes??
The main attraction is loss of baggage, shame, self-hatred and cognitive distortions. That is the only kind of 'weight loss' any of us should pursue."
Please check us out on Facebook and give us a like if you feel inspired too.
