Category Archive

body image

I am curvy and that's beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity

I am curvy and that’s beautiful: my (ongoing) journey toward body positivity

To be honest, I don’t recall a time when I have looked in a mirror and thought I was skinny or loved what I saw. I have spent hours trying clothes on; searching for that one outfit that made me feel good about every part of my body. I’m still searching, pretty sure those clothes don’t exist.

But here’s how I promise to try my hardest to love myself in my journey toward body positivity…

Tackling body dysmorphia with pole dancing

How one woman tackled her body dysmorphia with pole dancing

I was completely inspired with hope as I sat across from Jillian and listened to her story. The room buzzed with her energy. She was dynamic and powerful. I would’ve never known that just five years before she was in the depths of her struggle with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). BDD is all consuming — a constant obsession about the shame of one’s appearance. This description did not characterize the woman who sat confidently before me. I asked what shifted. I was not prepared for her response.

Let's be careful fat shaming public figures (yes, even Trump)

Let’s be careful fat shaming public figures (yes, even Trump)

We definitely want our leaders to be physically and mentally able to take on the huge burdens of leading. But if you’re at all familiar with the Fat Acceptance Movement, you’ll know that being concerned about the weight of others can lead to discrimination, bias, and detrimental health and mental health effects. So when I heard the term “girther” as a play on words for “birther” regarding Donald Trump’s presumed (by some) falsified weight in this last physical exam, I bristled…

How NOT to talk to pregnant women about their body

How NOT to talk to pregnant women about their body

I’m not sure there is a right answer for how to talk to a pregnant woman about her body, unless you fully understand your own relationship with that woman, or her own relationship with her changing body. In all reality, the worst offenders don’t come from my well-intentioned friends and family. They happen out in the world when I’m least expecting it.

Here’s how not to talk to pregnant women about their bodies…

How to respond positively to weight loss without shaming other bodies

Does anyone have any advice/thoughts on how to respond when someone talks about losing weight and is seeking validation for it? Previously I would have felt like “You look great!” is an appropriate response and validation for their hard work. But now I feel like that is saying that something was wrong with how they previously looked and shaming fat/bigger bodies, or pre-shaming in the future if they gain the weight back. Is there a good way to respond positively to weight loss?

I’m a therapist with self-harm scars

I am a Residential Therapist and a recent graduate. And I have concern about how to address my self-harm scars to my clients.

I have considered surgery for the major scars and tattoos for the minor scars. Looking for insight from others in the professional or helping field.

How to get the perfect body in ONE step

I’m writing this because I just can’t anymore. But, actually you know what, I CAN even, and I need to say it…

Your body as you are experiencing it right now, even in your off white underwear and tank top possibly covered in a delicate layer of Doritos dust, is a feat of evolutionary wonderment. Your heart (I require you to place your hand on your chest right now) that heart, that dull thud you’re experiencing right this second, well that dull thud, according to Google, that precious organ began thumping its little chant for you a day after your the condom broke and your parents thought it was fine. A day. One day! That heart has been rooting for you since before your eyeballs existed. That beautiful little blood chucking muscle was been “thub-thubbing” for you since before your mama even knew you were there. It predates your brain. Love it. Mind it. Feel it. Trust it.

As for the rest of you, you have bones to support you, a brain making you “you,” muscles to kick ass left, right, and centre, eyes to see, and a voice — a voice that needs to be heard more. Heard louder and stronger than ever. Why?

Because there is a multibillion dollar industry ($445 billion to be exact) out there making bank from telling you that your body is not enough and by association that you are not enough. And we are buying it.

Frankly, fuck that.

Lucy Davis as Etta Candy in Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman is bad-ass, but here’s why I love Etta Candy even more

Have you seen Wonder Woman yet? If not, get thee to a theater and enjoy some of the best ripped-women-kicking ass you’ve seen in ages. But I’m not here today to talk of Diana, Amazonian demigod of our dreams, but rather, plus size winner of our hearts, Etta Candy.

Etta is big, bold, adorable, and loves her damn self thankyouverymuch. Here’s why Etta Candy is the hero we need AND deserve…