I saw something today that should just never happen.
I was in a grocery store and I saw a mother and her daughter, who looked to be about 7 or 8 years old. The mother was asking her daughter what she wanted for snacks this week, placing a box of granola bars into the cart.
The daughter picked up the box, looked at the label, and said:
“Mommy this has 5 grams of FAT in it!!!”
The mother, obviously used to this from her daughter, said, “Well what do you want to eat then?” and removed the granola bars from the cart.
The daughter said, “Nothing!”
My heart just broke for her and her mother.
And I knew immediately what tonight’s post would be about.
So I must apologize for having to post-pone my baked goods and Part 2 of muscle soreness until tomorrow, but some things just take priority when I believe in it passionately!
Check out Caitlin’s challenge called Operation Beautiful! Caitlin is challenging all women to start leaving themselves sticky notes that have positive messages written on them like “I’m beautiful”. She also encourages you to leave positive notes in public places, like public washrooms to help other women stop the fat talk.
I know I am already doing it!
Tonight’s question:
What would you write to yourself?
Excellent video and post.
at my thinnest (88 unheathly pounds), i still wasn’t satisfied. now i binge on 1000s of calories. i restrict. i count and weigh and measure and over exercise and beat myself up in a vicious ugly cycle.
even if i lost weight again and have a six pack, will i be satisified? probably not. because i won’t be able to see me how other people see me. i will never be good enough for me.
so for that, i’ll take a minute…
my thick legs carried me through 3 5ks, up 5.9 climbs at the rock gym, through countless 100# squats. i curl 20# like its 2#. i bench my bodyweight. i cycle up hills i had to walk the bike just 2 years ago.
thanks, body, for sticking with me even when i’m an abusive jerk.
Wow that is sooo sad :( I love the idea of sticking positive notes about myself where I can see them. Years ago I would post magazine clippings of skinny celebs or models I wanted to look like on my refrigerator but now I realize that is ridiculous and unrealistic. Thanks for the inspiring post :)
This is so ironic! Today at work we gave the kids apples and peanut butter. A fifth grader said she didn’t want any peanut butter and another girl (also 5th grade) asked her why. The first girl talked about how she is on a diet and peanut butter will make her fat. The second girl, obviously with it, explained to her the difference between good fat and bad fat and how she was silly for being on a diet. It was awesome!
Also, love your note!
love your video!!! thanks for spreading the OPERATION BEAUTIFUL message!!
Wow! A beautifully GLOWING post Angela! As a 35 year old mommy of 2 little girls and as a 5th grade teacher, I realize that I have a HUGE obligation to myself and the people in my life to stop letting the scale dictate my mood. Sadly, I find it hard to let go…
My note to self? So what if the tummy you have is not as tight as you want it to be, you carried two beautiful girls in that tummy.
Thank you for a great post, Angela. You’re awesome. I also love this note: “You are enough.” I’m tearing up just reading it; like you said, so simple, yet perfect.
Angela,
Your 5K seems to have really inspired your latest writing – I love it. Keep doing what you are doing and spread the glow!
Thanks for the timely reminder. I know what it’s like, been through it and it really spoils relationships, am still working through it, forging on. i hope to succeed one day in focusing on other more beautiful things than berate myself. thanks Angela. :)
Recently I found a piece of paper stuck into a brick wall at a local coffee shop that said this: “Dear loved one, even if I never meet you, I would still like you to know that life is beautiful and so are you.”
That random note affected my life in more ways than the writer may ever know. It is now framed and sits proudly on my bookshelf, and everyone who walks into my house sees it. Some people ask, and I get to share the amazing story.
I’ve seen/heard that same conversation. It’s very sad, and it makes me even more resolute to deal with body image issues now, so I don’t pass them on to my future children.
Thanks for the wonderful video! You’re such an inspiration!
That video was so powerful Angela! Thank you for that.
I tell myself everyday to “be rational. love yourself. and TRUST yourself. Because you can.”
I am enough. Hard to believe sometimes, but oh so true. :) LOVE IT.
HelpMeghanRun.com
What a powerful note. Good on you for having the guts to write it.
That was a very moving video, Ange. My heart goes out to those 9 and 10 year olds…they should feel beautiful. We all know what that stress leads to. It’s life changing.
What struck me the most was when you asked how many minutes each of us think about weight/food during our days. TOO MUCH.
I should tell myself, “Life is too short to worry about this day after day,” and “You know you’re gorgeous – show it off!”
I have done several research papers on young girls and eating disorders. It is so so sad. I probably would have cried if I saw that in the grocery store. The media sickens me with all of those tabloids about people’s weight and whatnot. Amazing post.
Thank you so much, Angela. This was beautiful.
i wish that every woman could see this video. maybe then, once mothers realize what they are passing on to their daughters and we stop comparing ourselves to other women, this fat + hate talk can end.
i have started to come to the realization that health and happiness is more important than image and the scales. life is too short to worry about minute ‘flaws’ that no one else notices.
thank you for the touching post!!! you are such an inspiration!! :D
wow, such a powerful post! i think my note would say “you are a strong, beautiful, intelligent and successful woman, no matter what your weight is.” i know that i’ve made a lot of bad decisions in my life because i thought i wasn’t worth it, because being fat made me not worth it. it really was just recently that i started to realize that being healthy is NOT just about the number on the scale or the size on my pants – it’s a mental thing too. working on my mental health is what is finally allowing me to work on my physical health.
Great post Angela. I used to be pretty restrictive with food when I first became interested in nutrition in High School. Almost a bit of orthorexia, but not quite that extreme? I would eat healthfully, but not enough for my very active, dancing body. I’ve now realized that I don’t have to be so strict and can enjoy every aspect of cooking, eating, spending time with family and friends. We need to realize that each one of us is special and our bodies deserve nourishing thoughts just as much as nourishing and satisfying food.
-kristen