Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Fat Language

Tonight's blog is a bit of a serious one coming from me. I have been having these reflective thoughts today and thought I'd share them with all of you! I have watched and followed the entire season of The Biggest Loser, and the season finale was last night. I don't know how many of you watched it, but I think there are good things and bad things about this show. Good things-- it tends to inspire people to exercise and eat healthier. Bad things-- gives false hope that dramatic weight loss is normal and healthy; that even at 300 pounds, its completely acceptable and safe to start a workout program with 9mph sprints on a treadmill and that its OK to run a marathon even though you haven't trained for it. 

Now, I have been slightly more impressed with TBL this season; they touched on issues this time around like how its not so easy to loose weight at home; how you must eat ENOUGH calories and how finding balance is tough. At the end of the show however, I was dissapointed by the winner's look. Helen, who got on my nerves all season, looked scrawny, depleted and 10 years older. And yet, they celebrated the fact that she lost 140 pounds in 9 months. I found myself thinking as a professional that I really hope my clients don't expect or try to see these fast results. I also found myself thinking about my daughter.

I don't want her to base her self-worth on her weight. I know as females especially, we grow up in a world where beauty is stressed and throw in our face; where thin is in; where its wrong to think you are beautiful and God forbid you actually like they way you look... if you do, you'll be considered full of yourself. As fate would have it, Jillian Michaels from TBL was on tv this mornign talking about this very issue. Have you ever noticed that when a woman says "Ugh, my thighs looks fat..." we, as her fellow female friends, are programmed to say... "no they don't!" OR ... "oh, tell me about it. have you seen my calves??" Why is it that we as a society, especially as women in today's society, find this "fat talk" normal? Is it normal? I don't know the answers... I am just reflecting :) But I know one thing. I am going to watch what I say around Bella. There will be no more "I feel so fat" or "Ugh I look terrible in this outfit!" statements around her. She will hear everything I say, and want to be just like Mommy. (Remember on TBL how Mike wanted to be big and fat just like his daddy??) I think this cutting out of "fat talk" in my life will not only be good for Bella's self esteem as she grows up, but will also be good for my own self-esteem. 

Its time that I tell myself its OK to like the way I look. So goodbye fat talk, you are not welcome in this house anymore! :)

Anyone care to join me??? Come on ladies!!

Oh and don't forget about the Celebrate Nutrition giveaway... only 3 more days to comment!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

ummm want to cry over here! you are SO right! I definitely think it's oK to like the way you look, in fact I think it's necessary. And, I have always had a goal that when I had a daughter I would keep those kinds of comments to myself, so now you get to help me do exactly that. and I agree, Helen needs to gain back 10 of those pounds, her arms are way too thin! she looks much older than before!

Taya P said...

This is a great post, thanks


BKD Designs