Lemon Detox Danger

We are now well and truly into February and somewhat past New Years Resolutions, but it would seem that the onslaught of television ads promoting 'quick fix' and dangerous diets continues.  They are all as bad as each other, but I must admit to particularly loathing this one for the Lemon Detox Diet.  I'm not sure if it is because it is on particularly high rotation or if it is the associated messages that go with it.  It's probably both.  Watch here and see what I mean.

Apart from the obvious in that Tania Zaetta is very grating, looks uncomfortable and the screaming 'rent a crowd' in the background is enough to make anyone want to throw something at the tv - it's the blatant Hollywood image obsession message that goes with this ad that I really loathe.  Apart from one man saying the diet helped him to be more 'on top' on the soccer field (whatever that means), and another woman saying it had made her more 'alert' - no other health benefits to this diet are touted.  It's all about trying to be and look like a Hollywood superstar -

"Superstar results!"

"I've lost a dress size in a week!"

"I have a waistline again!"

"I've got my whole family on to this thing.  It is great!"

The message this sends is that you must go on this diet (or indeed any other diet) for purely aesthetic reasons.  You need to be thinner.  You can feel sexy, attractive, like a movie star, if you go on this detox.  This in turn perpetuates the thin culture we live in and the message that it is absolutely vital for your happiness and success as a person to be slender and sexy.  Is it any wonder with these sort of messages as the yard stick, that so many people, even children, believe that exercise is not for the benefit of our health, but instead is for weight loss and that eating nutritious food is the same? 

To make matters even worse the entire diet is a scam of monumental proportions.  It's not even a diet AS IT DOES NOT PERMIT THE CONSUMPTION OF FOOD.  For 10-14 days you are expected to have nothing more than a syrupy lemon drink with a sprinkling of cayenne pepper.  No food.  I repeat. No food.  If you need convincing of it's dangers you might want to check out this expose by Nutritionist Matt O'Neill. 

One really wonders how the promoters of this dangerous scam can truly get away with allowing someone to say that they have got their whole family on it.  I hope to dear heaven that the intent behind that comment did not mean children.  It pains me to think of the thousands of people who have spent $112 plus dollars on this horrible product only to have wasted their money, been miserable for the length of time they were able to manage to be on it and messed with their metabolism.  Further to that, I don't even want to think about the psychological and emotional torment many will have experienced.  I wonder if the time may be coming soon where this sort of advertising that is so obviously bad for people's health will not be permitted on our viewing screens.  I, for one, would be glad to never see this ad, or indeed any other like it, ever again.

Inspirational Chick Clips

There are alot, and I mean ALOT, of really dodgy music video clips that showcase women in ways that I think are demeaning and disempowering.  Just look up anything by the Pussycat Dolls and you will catch my drift.  Amazing and very scary to think that such things are being watched by young girls. 

I thought it would be a great idea to showcase here at Beautiful You some music video's and songs by women that I think are inspiring, powerful and filled with great messages.  I dare you not to tap your feet, smile or feel like dancing when you watch some of these.  Please leave a comment and tell me about some of your favourite chick clips and I'll be sure to add them to the post.  Happy viewing....happy dancing!

Beautiful U R by Deborah Cox

"Don't ever let anyone break you down girl

Don't ever let anyone tear your world apart

Look in the mirror and see who you are

Beautiful you are"

Be Yourself by Melinda Schneider

"Be Yourself

Everyone else is taken

No one else

Can do the things you do

Let your heart write the music you are making

You be you

Everyone else is taken"

Get on Your Feet by Gloria Estefan

"Get on your feet

Get up and make it happen

Get on your feet

Stand up and take some action"

Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves by Annie Lennox & Aretha Franklin

"Sisters are doin' it for themselves

Standin' on their own two feet

And ringin' on their own bells"

Beautiful by Jessica Mauboy

"I am beautiful no matter what they say

Words can't bring me down

So don't you bring me down today"

I know this song was originally written and performed by Christina Aguilera but I adore this performance by young Australian idol runner up Jessica Mauboy.  I take my hat off to the girl for choosing this song and singing it so well after vile judge Kyle Sandilands the week before ridiculed her by saying she had a "jelly belly."  To me it was a perfectly delivered - 'Up Yours!'

Recommended by YOU!

Wildflower by Rachel Sage

"Are you gonna hold my hand

Are you gonna hold it back now

Are you gonna take a stand

Are you gonna reattack now"

Thanks to 700 Stories for this one.  Fabulous!  Learn more about Rachel Sage here.

Flawz by Caitlin Crosby

This clip is just absolutely BRILLIANT!  Big thanks to Kristina Klausser for tweeting this one to me.

Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

"Reaching, for something in the distance

So close you can almost taste it

Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin"

Um, it's a tragedy I had to have the wonderful Andrea Own tell me about this song which I had never heard of.  Beautiful.

The Blessing by Celtic Woman

"When your weary heart is tired

When the world will leave you uninspired

When nothing more of love still sounds

My blessing goes with you"

Sent to me via Beautiful You's facebook fan page by the lovely Maria K 

Burn by Tina Arena

"Be anyone you want to be

Bring to life your fantasies"

Shine by Vanessa Amorosi

"You can give your life

You can lose your soul

You can bang your head or you can drown your hope

Nothin' lasts forever, but you can try

Look around you, everyone you see, everyone you know is gonna shine"

Permission to Shine by Bachelor Girl

"I'm gonna give myself permission to shine
Gonna shine so bright
Gonna make every head wanna turn their finally gonna see me
Give myself permission to shine
Gonna light up the night
Shine a little of my light on the world"

My friend Kate just rang me and said it was a travesty I had not included these three Australian classics by Ms Tina, Ms Vanessa and Ms Tania.  Corrected!

Proud by Heather Small

"I look into the window of my mind

Reflections of the fears I know I've left behind

I step out of the ordinary

I can feel my soul ascending

I am on my way, can't stop me now

And you can do the same"

You guys are amazing!  Thanks to my friend GiGi who emailed me about this great song by Heather Small.

I Am Woman by Helen Reddy

"If I have to I can do anything

I am strong

I am invincible

I am woman"

Ok Mum!  Here it is.  The original power chick song.

The Iron Lady Diet

I was fascinated to read this week that former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher went on an intense crash diet just prior to winning the 1979 election.  The heavily protein orientated diet consisted of eating up to 28 eggs a week and a great deal of meat, with little fruit or vegetables.  According to Chris Collins from the Margaret Thatcher Foundation, the reason behind the diet was likely to be so the PM could "get in trim for the cameras."

Anyone that knows anything about Margaret Thatcher (or the "Iron Lady" as she became known) will likely tell you that Britain's first and only woman Prime Minister was not someone to be trifled with.  Throughout her time at the top of British polictics she was known to be tough, uncompromising, stubborn and dogged in her opinions and beliefs.  Much has been made of these qualities of course, mostly I believe because she was a woman.  I'm relatively certain that if a man displayed such traits in the political arena, well, he'd just be seen to be doing his job.  To give you a taste of what Maggie T was like, here are just a few famous quotes of hers...

'I'm extraordinarily patient provided I get my own way in the end'

'I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left'

'It may be the cock that crows, but it is the hen that lays the eggs.'

Uncompromising indeed.

That's why it did come as somewhat of a surprise to me to learn that such a strong woman would be sensitive and concerned enough about her appearance to the point of engaging in a dangerous diet.  This is a woman who was having regular phone conversations with Ronald Reagan and Mikhael Gorbachev about nuclear war!  Then again, if there has been one thing I have learnt in all my time counselling people who are having concerns related to how they see themselves, their self esteem and body image, it is that people who experience such feelings come from all walks of life, varying socio-economic backgrounds, with different levels of intellectual and emotional intelligence, and of course wildly varying appearances.

It would be easy to think that a woman of the Iron Lady's fortitude would be immune to such 'trivial' goings on such as her weight or appearance, especially as she was quite a tall and slender woman.  Learning of her desire to lose weight in this way however, just shows us that, at times, no-one is immune to doubts and concerns about their appearance.

Despite the fact she was not eating well and treating her body poorly, Margaret did go on to win the election.  It would seem as if she never lost any considerable amount of weight at any point in time after that - nor should she have.  Maybe Maggie is more like the rest of us than we think and she threw in the diet when she realised all that deprivation simply wasn't worth it, and there were better things to do, like, say, running a country.  I'd love to think that was the way things happened.

Image: Daily Mail

Jennifer Love Hewitt Stands Up To Media Body Bashing

Way back in 2007 some paparazzi photographs of Jennifer Love Hewitt taken while she was swimming on holiday caused quite a media stir.  Below is just one of the photographs in which Jennifer was labelled as (wait for it)...FAT.  Yeah right.

While I guess she could have stayed silent about the media belting she copped, Jennifer chose to speak out stating "I’ve sat by in silence for a long time now about the way women’s bodies are constantly scrutinized. To set the record straight, I’m not upset for me, but for all of the girls out there that are struggling with their body image...being a size 0 doesn’t make you beautiful."  Bravo Jennifer.

Fast forward a few years and it seems media body bullying is still on Jennifer's mind.  She has been interviewed by the Daily Mail today further criticising the media for how they portray and constantly focus on the weight of celebrities - "Young girls don't know what has been airbrushed and what hasn't and I think it's very irresponsible. I think we are feeding eating disorders; we are promoting sickness to girls using celebrity role models."

Like Kate Winslet before her who has openly criticised the media for their innacurate portrayal of her image, I applaud Jennifer for speaking out about these things.  Kourtney Kardashian has also recently stood up for herself and how her image is portrayed - bravo to her too.  This sort of media portrayal of women promotes a thin culture and body ideal, and is both dishonest and cruel.  While I do think we need to be careful to ensure the impression is not given that the media is the sole reason people develop eating disorders (they are not, the illness is a great deal more complex than that), it is important that wherever we possibly can, more realistic images of women appear in publications that are not only not photoshopped, but further to that, do not contain the horror body bashing that so often accompanies them.  It serves no purpose whatsoever except to maintain this culture we currently have that seems to think it is acceptable to scrutinize, criticize and pick apart people's bodies.  Let's have some celebration, acceptance and beautiful diversity instead. 

In today's interview Jennifer goes on to say she does exercise and take care of herself because it makes her happy to do so and she wishes to take care of health due to a family history of heart disease - "I am doing it for me - not the media."  Good for you Jennifer.  Do whatever makes you feel comfortable, strong and accepting of yourself.  By doing so, you help anyone who may admire you be more accepting of themselves as well.  While we should not base loving our own bodies or take care of them the best we can from what someone else says, when you have a young fan base like Jennifer does - it sure can help from a role modelling perspective. 
 
Image: Zimbio

Saturday Sunshine

I dislike the saying "Life wasn't meant to be easy."  So pessimistic!  It's not always going to be filled with lollipops and rainbows either - I know that.  There are always hills, corners and forests to navigate our way through or around, but I believe these things add depth and challenge to our life.  They are the times when we really find out how strong and capable we are.  I think this beautiful card sums that up perfectly.

This inspirational card is available for purchase at Quotable Cards.

Goodbye Ana. Hello Kate.

Kate Le Page is an extraordinary young woman from the UK.  After a ten year battle with anorexia nervosa, Kate is now well and has started a positive, eating disorder support website called Goodbye Ana.  Just in it's emerging stages, I am sure this will be grow to be a positive community for those living with an eating disorder very soon.  Kate is also a published author with a book of the same name, focusing on uplifting and recovery inspired poetry.  Read on for my interview with Kate.

Kate & her cute puppy

Hi Kate. Tell me a little about your eating disorder journey and recovery.  My eating disorder started to develop when I was about fourteen.  School was a nightmare at the time, as I was being bullied a lot and I believe that a combination of this, bereavement, and moving house away from friends, all contributed.  It wasn't until I was 17 that my family doctor began regularly weighing me and put me on anti-depressants - neither of which had any positive impact on my illness. At 20, whilst at university endless restricting, using diet pills, laxatives and compulsive exercising, I was referred to the local Eating Disorders Service for outpatient support. However, it wasn't until after graduation that I got into recovery through residential treatment at the Priory Clinic where I learnt the tools I still use today to maintain recovery - a menu plan, exercise contract, cognitive behavioural therapy and relapse prevention planning.

You now manage an anorexia recovery website. Tell me about why this is a passion of yours?  I wanted to get the message out there that recovery is possible and with so many pro-anorexia sites springing up all the time, I felt the need to provide a positive, pro-recovery site. It can also be very confusing, particularly in the early stages of recovery, about where to turn to for help. This is why I keep updating my links to other recovery sites and recommend several pro-recovery books.

You state on your site that you are "passionate about reducing the stigma and widespread ignorance surrounding eating disorders." What do you believe are some of the most dangerous myths associated with eating disorders?  I believe that the most dangerous myths are those to do with weight in relation to medical complications. It is possible for someone to look 'normal' and be dangerously malnourished and at severe health risks. It is also dangerous to think that if someone has been discharged xx kg heavier after treatment that they are 'fixed.' In reality, weight gain is just the beginning of recovery and the psychological recovery work takes much longer.

You are a published author - Congratulations! Tell me about your book and why you decided to write it.  Thanks, my book "Goodbye Ana" is a collection of poetry about recovery, relapse and rediscovering life after anorexia. It also contains self-help information and recovery resources. I have always loved writing poetry and kept a journal from a young age. The decision to put together the book came after struggling to find non-triggering anorexia recovery books and out of a desire to break down the stigma and myths surrounding eating disorders.

What do you most hope to achieve for others with your website?  I hope that it will provide some tools, support and self-help essential to healthy recovery and that it will educate those affected about the illness and what they can do to best support others. Also, I hope that the site will encourage others to share their story and challenge myths/misconceptions often portrayed in the media.

What is your most valuable 'tip' for those in recovery for an eating disorder?  Grab every bit of support you can with both arms and legs - you can't do it alone - eating disorders thrive in isolation so the bigger your support network, the better.

Kate has kindly shared one of her poems from Goodbye Ana with me.  Thanks for being such a wonderful inspiration to those in eating disorder recovery Kate.  All the best with your positive site and community.

Mental Health Day

You declared today as a way to get my health back,

A day where anorexia and depression are banned from throwing me off the right track,

A day where opportunity strikes providing a chance to feel again,

Where painful memories are forced to wane,

Stress-free, care-free, happiness like a dream,

Frowns etched to laughter soaking every beam.

 

She gazes quite contently,

Like an unfinished scene staring out to sea,

Just being there all alone became enough for me,

Mental health rose and soared as a bird,

Spreading shaken wings flying away today,

Been trapped in this cage far too long to stay.

Bye Bye Betty

Oh. Sigh.

I was saddened to learn today that the tv show Ugly Betty has been cancelled.  I love Betty!

Betty Suarez was a true individual and such a great female character.  As the descriptor of the show's pilot says..."In the superficial world of high fashion, image is everything. How can an ordinary girl - a slightly plump plain-Jane from Queens - possibly fit in?"  I was certainly happy to tune in whenever Betty (played by the gorgeous America Ferrera) was on to find out.   Some of the reasons I fell in love with the character of Betty over the past few years include -

Betty believing in herself and refusing to let her non-model like appearance or quirky fashion sense dissuade her from wanting to work in her dream industry.

Betty trying to convince a highly paid model to resist her image being excessively photoshopped.

Betty's devotion to her eclectic family, including her openly gay and gorgeous young nephew Justin.

Betty convincing her boss to do a fashion show using women who were not professional models and of all shapes and sizes.

Betty's open love and enjoyment of food.

Betty's incredible sense of self, including having a positive attitude to her body and appearance.

Betty's kindness, interest in and encouragement of others.

Betty was a true individual and to my mind, one of the most beautiful and least "ugly" female characters on TV in many years.  Such a shame to see a positive body image and girl role model lost from the screen.

Thanks for the laughs and inspiration Betty.  You were one of a kind.

Image: Jaunted.

Beautiful You Profiled

I am delighted that Beautiful You is currently being profiled at the lovely blog Simply Stacie.  Stacie Vaughn's blog is somewhat like visiting Santa's workshop every day of the year!  She runs lovely giveaways, product reviews and blog profiles daily and she gives away gorgeous things to her readers.

If you would like to learn a bit more about me and some of the passion behind Beautiful You you can find Stacie's interview with me here.

Thanks Stacie!

Is There More To Being A Mummy Than Being Yummy?

I recently came across a cover story published in Woman's Day Magazine about tv presenter Catriona Rowntree.  Last year Catriona, 38, was blessed to give birth to a healthy baby boy - her first child.  Woman's Day did an interview with Catriona two and a half months after she gave birth.  While one may have thought a weekly magazine aimed at women 30+ might have focused on the ups and downs of being a first time Mum and the joy Catriona must feel in starting a family - alas, no.

The article instead screamed at us from the cover with the title "I'm back in my jeans" - because, of course, that is the most pressing and important aspect of being the Mother of a new born baby.  Hmmm.  Catriona goes on to state throughout the interview things such as "I have a pair of jeans I've worn since I was 21...I'm not a model and I have never been stick thin, but if I can get into my jeans then everything is OK" and that she became "really conscious" of her diet post birth.  While I guess this consciousness may have been motivated for good health reasons, I somehow suspect based on Catriona's other comments in the interview, it was more to do with her appearance.  Underneath her 'happiness' at having her baby and bouncing back into her jeans, my feeling is that Catriona may be quite beholden to the thought that to be beautiful and successful she needs to be thin.  Nothing else is as important.

This obsession with new Mothers losing their post baby weight as quickly as possible is seriously concerning.  At a time when a new Mum should be focused on nurturing, caring for and loving their baby, while simultaneously loving, nurturing and caring for themselves, they are now faced with the added pressure of needing to slide back into those skinny jeans asap.  The message given out is that being a "yummy mummy" is THE most important aspect of Motherhood and that everything must be done to snap back to a pre-baby size.  The pressure this must create for vulnerable women struggling with issues of body image and acceptance shouldn't be underestimated and could easily see them turn to dangerous diets, excessive exercise regimes or taking diet pills - all of which are not only harmful to a Mum - but harmful to a baby as well.

This excellent article "The Post-Pregnancy Weight-Loss Obsession" by Katie Gentile outlines that we "rarely see a picture of a pregnant celebrity without the requisite estimation of weight gain" and of course there are countless stories about how quickly model Mum's get themselves back on catwalks and star Mum's on the red carpet.  The focus is weight, weight, weight, thin, thin, thin and glamour, glamour, glamour.  Even when we see celebrity Mum's doing something everyday such as taking their children to school, the focus reported on is their appearance as is the case in this article which gives the impression that if your not a 'Yummy Mummy' you could well be a 'Slummy Mummy.'  Talk about a kick in the post pregnancy belly. 

There is also the inherent danger we have in those first post baby stories where a glowing new Mum poses with her beautiful bub.  Anyone that may have recently purchased OK Magazine's edition with Kourtney Kardashian on the cover - I would be demanding your money back.  Kourtney has bravely come out and said the photo of her has been dramatically photoshopped to make her much, much thinner.  The proof is very evident below.

Image: Huffington Post

If you ask me Kourtney looks absolutely stunning and has that beautiful post baby belly that all new Mum's have.  OK Magazine should be outrageously ashamed of themselves for doing this to not only Kourtney, but in fact, their entire readership.  It's a disgrace for a publication to try and falsely give the impression that a woman can give birth and then there be no evidence of that in her body.  Kourtney's original photo is what women post pregnancy can look like for many, many weeks, even months, after they give birth.   It should not be photoshopped away but instead celebrated and honoured as part of the process of becoming a Mother.  We should see more 'real' photo's of new Mum's in the media like this one of a glowing Jools Oliver, wife of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, pictured here after giving birth to her daughter Petal.  Bless.

Image: Now Magazine

So...is there more to being a Mummy than being yummy?  While you could be forgiven for thinking the glossy media doesn't think so, of course there is.  Being a Mum is so multi-faceted, demanding, joyous, challenging and uplifting, that is hard to describe exactly how complex a role it truly is.  All new Mum's face the challenge of sleep deprivation, feeding, routines and never ending loads of laundry as well as soft cuddles, first smiles, contentment and joy.  All of the love, patience, gratitude, fortitude, strength, giving and care this requires is in no way impacted by the size of the jeans the Mummy wears or how red carpet delectable she looks. 

Thank goodness.

Madly In Love With Me

"There is nothing more beautiful, powerful or free than a woman who truly loves herself"

Well...ain't that the truth.

I was thrilled to recently come across an incredibly inspiring movement called 'Madly In Love With Me' by Christine Arylo.  Madly In Love With Me is a movement encouraging women to nurture and develop their own self love.  Loving one's self - really LOVING one's self - is often something that women are not really willing to explore due to it being seen as something that is selfish or conceited.  What a great (and rather damaging) myth that is to any woman's true sense of self and freedom.  I can only imagine it has perpetuated from women seeing themselves as nurturers, givers and carers of other people and on the path of doing this - forgetting to love and care for themselves.  I just love that Madly In Love With Me is turning this completely around to help women understand that unless you nurture, care, and yes, LOVE, truly love yourself, you can never expect to reach your full destiny. 

As anyone who is a regular reader of Beautiful You will know I believe that every woman is unqiue, inspiring and beautiful.  This uniqueness, beauty and inspiration is found in something much deeper than what can be seen and really is about someone's heart and soul.  That, to me, is what real beauty is about and real beauty such as exists in you and me, deserves to and must be loved. 

The Madly In Love With Me movement is encouraging all women to declare their own version of self love and here is mine.

Self Love to me is -

- Permitting myself to shine and never hiding my talents and abilities away

- Honouring my individual beauty and self by never comparing myself to others

- Believing in the power of my womanhood and ability to do anything I want to do

- Being compassionate towards myself especially at times when I know I need it most

- Communicating in a way that is authentic and from my heart

- Prioritising my health

- Knowing I need only the approval of myself and not that of others

The Madly In Love With Me Movement is encouraging all women to write their own self love manifesto as I have done here.  Maybe you could put it up on your blog or facebook page, or simply write it in your journal or diary.  Think of it as a wonderful thing for you to do for YOU.

As a little extra incentive, you could win some great prizes by posting your self love declaration on Madly In Love With Me's Facebook Page.  Reading other women's self love statements is also incredibly inspiring so do drop by there.  If you REALLY want to try your self love luck Christine Arylo has very kindly given me one of these cute 'Me' necklaces to give away to a Beautiful You reader. 

To win you just need to get the Madly In Love With Me Kit (it's downloadable and free) and post a comment here at Beautiful You telling me which self love dare or vow from the kit you took and why.  You have until February 26th to leave your comment and entry is open to readers worldwide. 

Go on!  Fall madly in love with yourself.  I dare you!