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!

Inspiring Women To Be Money Confident

I recently just finished watching the first two seasons of Mad Men.  I have loved the authentic sets, styling and vintage fashion of the early 1960's, but the most fascinating part of the series for me has been the very marked gender divisions between men and women at that time.  While so many of the women in the show look beautifully styled and dressed, they inhabit a world where equality, recognition and stature for them is virtually non-existent.  They have little control of major happenings in their life and this is particularly the case with money, for which they are entirely reliant upon their husbands to manage, never even seeing or knowing what a bank statement looks like. 

Times have certainly changed for women in today's world, but there is certainly still a long way to go when it comes to women feeling fully financially confident.  A recent survey by ANZ Bank has found that less than one third of women said they were very confident about managing everyday finances and 1 in 3 women believe they wouldn’t last longer than a month if they lost their job tomorrow.  I think this is such a shame for women in general, as it can prevent us from achieving dreams and goals that may require financial input.  That's why when I found out about ANZ's Febusave which is encouraging Australian women to start 'paying' themselves more by saving money and becoming more confident with their finances, I thought it was a fantastic thing to blog about.  Febusave is all about helping women to find ways they can start to develop sound financial habits and begin saving regularly - whether that be for a 'rainy day' or something significant in their life such as a home, establishment of a business or an overseas trip.  Having greater money confidence is also going to assist women to feel more confident in general and you all know that I'm all for anything that develops our esteem and confidence.   

Sometimes when we think about saving money, I think it can feel really overwhelming.  The economy has really been up and down of late and not everyone is feeling stable when it comes to finances.  I think it's a great thing to dream big, but think small, in these circumstances, thinking small all being about the little decisions we can make everyday that we might not think will add up to alot of savings, but in fact, over a long time, certainly will.  Some of my best money saving tips are -

- Be wary of purchasing beauty or personal care products that are really expensive.  Could you get the same result from a cheaper option?  Many times I think you can, especially when it comes to things like soap, most which contain very similar ingredients.

- Turn electrical appliances off at the power point when they are not in use.  This can reduce your energy bills significantly.

- Take your lunch from home to work instead of buying a $7.00 sandwich and $3.00 coffee.  That's a HUGE saving over a year.

- Consider entertaining and cooking at home more rather than going out to pricey restaurants.  I can't promise you what your cooking will be like, but I'm sure the service will be fabulous!

If you are one of the many women that feels you are living from pay to pay and don't feel fully confident with your money managing skills, Febusave is a great way for you to get some online and community support to help you with your finances.  There are lots of great tips there as to how you can become more financially empowered all it's all taking place next month.

I have joined the Febusave community to kickstart for me an intense savings plan that I hope will see my husband and I go on a trip to New York in October.  Mad Men is set in New York so I have that to further thank for the inspiration.  Thank goodness though, unlike Mad Men's main female character, Betty Draper, I know my way around a bank statement to ensure my finances are heading in the right direction!

Image: NY Daily News

Australia Day 2010

Whatever you may be up to on Australia Day - January 26th I hope you take some time out to put a little 'Australian' flavour in your day.  You could...

- Make some lamingtons and eat them of course too!

- Invite some freinds over for a bbq

- Cheer on your local Australia Day Award Citizens at local council celebrations

- Ring a mate and say g'day

- Wear your thongs with pride all day

Have a wonderful Australia Day.  I for one feel incredibly fortunate to live in this beautiful, spacious and diverse country.  Happy celebrating.

The 'Real' Demi Moore Wins!

Wow!  What an incredibly powerful example this is of photoshopping to the absolute extreme.

The natural photo of Demi Moore is so beautiful.  To my mind it's much more beautiful than the doctored one that makes her look plastic, shiny and altogether strange.  Why oh why does this continue to happen? 

I can't really say or explain it better than the great group blog Jezebel does, so I encourage you to pop over there and read their take on this. 

 "Real" wins for me every time and it sure does here. 

Image: Jezebel

Sunday Sunshine...

You are you know. 

Am I talking to you?

Yes!

I'm talking to you.

This inspirational print is by DazeyChic

Dazey Chic's blog

Barbie Seeks Help For Dieting Behaviours

I was emailed this rather kooky little video about Barbie by psychotherapist Jean Fain and I thought it worth sharing on Beautiful You.  Jean gently guides Barbie, (yes - as in Barbie Doll), through her first counselling session.  Seems after more than 50 years in the spotlight, Barbie has felt it necessary to seek some support from Jean because she is finding it increasingly difficult to maintain her strict diet and "keep up appearances." 

After 50 years of toppling around on those legs and trying to find jeans with such a tiny waist - I don't doubt Barbie!  I would want to relax things a little as well.

Now of course this is all tongue in cheek, but the meaning behind this video, to me, is very poignant from a real life perspective.  There are many people that believe, as Barbie does here, that if only they could curb their 'carb cravings', be a certain size, lose weight, or look different to the way they do now, they will feel happier, sexier and be an all round better person.  We live in a society that perpetuates this myth and consistently tries to tell us that thinness and a particular way of appearing will make us be a more whole and happy person.  Problem is, many people do not find this so-called 'pot of gold' at the end of the dieting rainbow.  I should know.  I was one of those people who dieted themselves away, believing it would make me happier with myself, only to find in my pot of gold was misery, and the never ending sensation of being hungry.  The smaller jeans were just not worth it. 

Feeling content and happy with the way we look is not about your dress size Barbie, and I applaud Jean for working with you to find that out.  It's all about loving and listening to your body and letting it 'be' the way it is naturally meant to be.  As we are all unique human beings, this will mean we will all be different shapes and sizes.  Great huh?

Jean has informed me that this is likely to be just the first counselling session and that there is more to come in helping Barbie uncover her dream 'diet.'  She would love some feedback and comments here so if you would like to see Part Two - let her know.

Good luck Barbie.  Wishing you much positive body love.

Weight Prejudice Lessons From Bene

Being a teenager and navigating your way through high school can be tough at the best of times.  Bullying and teasing existed in my day and I know they certainly still do now.  Some children and young people don't seem to cope very well with anyone that is too "different" from the accepted "norm" and via my own work in schools, I know that the most common thing children and young people get teased or bullied about is something to do with their appearance.  This appears to particularly be the case for children and young people who are viewed as being fat and the subsequent myths associated with that, including that they are lazy, ugly and stupid.

Below is one of the most insightful and powerful videos I have ever watched about the impact of prejudice and teasing towards a young fat girl - Bene.  It goes for 17 minutes and I really encourage you to take the time to watch it all.  It is very well filmed and put together and includes excerpts from professionals.

There are certainly some shocking incidents in the video - including some terrible treatment of Bene by her own teacher and her peers as well.  One scene in a cafeteria is so awful in its pack bullying mentality, that it looks like it could be out straight out of a bad teen movie.  While I'm not sure I would like to be secretly filmed as Bene does to show the prejudice of others - it sure is an eye opener.

The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University considered this to be such a powerful educational tool they have supported and released Bene's work to the wider public.  From my perspective, I think it something that all parents should watch with their teen to prompt discussion about the dangers of appearance and weight based teasing and bullying and why it is paramount we all take responsibility for creating a society that appreciates and values diversity in all its forms.

Some Kindness for Kerry Katona

Kerry Katona is a British celebrity not particularly well known in Australia or the USA.  In her homeland however, she is quite famous and regularly appears in the media.  I came across this article about Kerry today and it nearly broke my heart.  Even though I know very little about Kerry, I felt so incredibly sorry for her. 

The article is written by a 'Daily Mail Reporter' but I could not find the name of the actual journalist.  I wonder how they may feel if someone was to ridicule their food choices, poke fun at them for not being able to stick to a so-called 'diet' and belittle their clothes.  Stating things such as "she scoffed takeaway" and had been "piling on the pounds" is so degrading and to me, there is no point to the article at all except to target this poor woman in an offensive way and perpetuate to the wider public that you must be a certain look and size to be acceptable and attractive.

I realise you will likely never read this Kerry - but I send you a hug from across the waves.  If the article is correct in stating you have endured concerns about your weight, I just want you to know you are not alone.  It is such a shame that many women feel this way, but I can only imagine how having articles such as this one written about you would make someone feel a thousand times worse.  Hold you head up high girl and take no notice of this trash.  I wish you much peace and body love for yourself.     

Image: Marie Claire UK

Natural Aroma Beauty Interview and Giveaway

It has been such a joy for me to meet some wonderful new people through the blogging community.  One of those people is Jan from Pure and Natural Aroma Beauty who I greatly admire for her passion in starting her own business producing entirely natural soaps infused with esential oils.  Jan's Aroma Beauty Soaps are divine - I've tried them.  Read on to learn more about Jan and why she believes her products can make a positive difference to your mood, self esteem and attitude.  There's a giveaway of course!  I couldn't tempt you with all this talk of beatiful products without sharing some.

Hi Jan – You live in beautiful north Queensland. Tell me more about where you live and your family.  I live in the Northern Beaches of Mackay, a beautiful place. We have the hills behind us and the choice of four different beaches just minutes drive away. I share my home with my hubby of 22 years, our 2 sons, a beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog and 3 guinea pigs. I also have a daughter who is married with 3 littlies of her own and a Step-daughter who not long ago gave us another grandchild.

You have a business called ‘Pure and Natural Aroma Beauty.’ What was your inspiration to start Aroma Beauty?  I was surfing the net one day when I found some information about chemicals contained in our everyday personal care products. I was horrified by the serious health effects the use of these chemicals cause. I decided that I wasn’t going to expose my family to anymore of these dangerous additives. At that point I found it very hard to find any all natural soaps and the ones I found were $10 a bar plus postage, so it made sense to make my own. After making my first batch I was hooked. I’ve also been making my own skin care products with the intention of taking them public in the future.

                                                     

I greatly admire that your business operates from a very ethical and giving perspective. Where do you think you get this sort of spirit from?  I have Christian beliefs so I think it comes from there. I think that if we’re in a position to be able to help others less fortunate than ourselves, then it’s a good thing to do. I have occasional giveaways on my blog because I enjoy doing it, but my priority is giving 10% of all profits to charity. Just imagine if everyone who was able to help gave that extra 10%. The world would be a lot better off.

Beautiful You’ is a blog that focuses on real and inner beauty. Can you share with us what your number one beauty tip is? To smile. Have you ever noticed how a smile can make any face truly beautiful? I think we all need to smile more often. It not only helps us to feel better, but others as well.

Do you have a favourite soap? Why do you love it so much?  “Sunshine Exfoliating Bar” - I love having a shower at the end of a hard day, closing my eyes and breathing it in. I love its fragrance and it’s so relaxing. It contains Ylang Ylang which is calming for the nervous system and and is good for PMS, depression, irritability and panic attacks. It also contains Patchouli which eases anxiety, confusion and depression and Mandarin which is good for tension, over-excitement and insomnia. The combination of these Essential Oils makes it a great choice when you want to wind down at the end of the day.

Your soaps contain natural and essential oils which I know can uplift people’s moods and senses. Is there a particular soap you would recommend if someone needed a little boost?  You’re right about Essential Oil’s ability to uplift. Not only do they smell beautiful, but they are healing and help enhance the mind, body and spirit. They are a much healthier alternative to chemical synthetic fragrance oils which have been proven to cause numerous health concerns for some people. When you smell and enjoy the fragrance of an essential oil, tiny molecules enter the body via the nose and send messages to the brain to uplift the mind and spirit. If you are looking for a soap to give a boost, I’d suggest “Geisha Girl” as it revitalizes the body and enhances positivity and humour. It contains Jasmine which is emotionally warming and uplifting, easing depression, lack of confidence and emotional imbalance; Lemon which brings cheer and strength, easing anxiety, confusion and depression; Sweet Orange which is refreshing and cheering to the mind and is used for stress relief and for alertness; Grapefruit which is spiritually uplifting, so is invaluable in times of stress and Geranium which acts as a tonic to the nervous system.

Thanks Jan for being such a great interview subject.  Jan has kindly given me this box of four of her soaps packaged in this gorgeous box to give away to a reader.

To be eligible to win these soaps you need to be a follower of Beautiful You and leave me a comment telling me what natural beauty means to you by Friday January 29th.  This giveaway is only open to Aussie residents as the box is quite heavy to post!  Jan has kindly offered a further discount to Beautiful You readers as well.  Order 6 normal sized Aroma Beauty bars and receive a free 'Bubble and Squeak' soap until January 29th.  Don't forget to check out Jan's blog too where you can learn more about the power of essential oils and Jan's healing soaps.

Monday Magic...

For the past week I have been away with my family enjoying a lovely seaside camping holiday.  Cut off from much of the world, it has not been until I returned home that I have been able to comprehend the devastation of the earthquake in Haiti.  My Monday Magic post is devoted to all those affected.  I wish for all of us who can donate or express our love, compassion and empathy - to do what we can.

This lovely print is by willowing.

Genesis Fitness Clubs Fat Campaign Failure

Genesis Fitness Clubs claim to be "The Fitness Club for EveryBody."  There is clearly an emphasis in the slogan on the clubs not just being for everybody, but indeed everyBody.  I am not sure what this means to you, but to me it means Genesis welcome people who have all different shaped and sized bodies into their clubs.  Great!  That is just the way it should be.

So then Genesis....what's this? A 'Fat Ass Fighters' Campaign?  Are you kidding me?  With your slogan about being for everyBody so heavily promoted and used throughout your clubs - surely this must be a mistake?  Or have you gone down the same path as Sumo Salad and think it cute and funny marketing to belittle people in this way as they did in their disgusting cankle and moob campaign? 

This sort of body hatred makes my blood boil and genuinely shake my head as to how anyone at Genesis could honestly believe such a campaign is in line with their so called appreciation of body diversity.  Do they actually believe that anyone who may have concerns about their weight, shape or body would feel comfortable and confident to step into their club while this campaign is running?  I can't see how anyone would, for fear that staff and other club members may think they are one of the fat asses!  How terrible.

Do Genesis possibly think that the financial incentive is what will get people over the line and in the door?  A sweetener of sorts.  There are 'conditions' of course which are not clearly stated.  Is one of the conditions that you have to be a certain weight or have a certain sized ass to be eligible?  Seems ridiculous I know, but I wonder what Genesis staff would do if someone arrived to them wanting to be part of the offer who actually did not need to lose weight?  Will they know how to spot someone who may be desperate for money and /or psychologically compromised, thinking they are much larger than they really are?  Or will they just let anyone work with a trainer, oh sorry - I mean - Fat Ass Fighter.

While Genesis may think it acceptable to market to people using the image of a sweating pig standing on a scale - I do not.  When will companies learn that supporting people to embrace a healthy lifestyle (no matter what their size) should not involve humiliating them?  How about some encouragement instead?  Some positivity? Something uplifting? That would make a fantastic change.

Biggest Loser Trainers Fear Contestant May Die

The female trainers on the US and Australian versions of The Biggest Loser, Jillian Michaels and Michelle Bridges, have spoken out about their concerns for the welfare of the show's contestants saying bigger sized contestants, drastic diets and extreme workouts are a deathly combination.  Jillian claims "she has no control over their demanding workouts and is scared the unfit competitors could keel over" and Michelle has admitted to having "many sleepless nights concerned about their welfare, concerned about their health and concerned about their headspace."

Who would ever have known that these women would have shared my own concerns about the show which I went into detail in this post entitled 'Biggest Loser Busted.'  I still shudder at the thought that contestants on the show sign a waiver that states that any medical treatment they may receive will not necessarily be administered by a qualified medical practitioner.  That one fact alone, apart from all the other apalling practices, should surely prompt some smart television executive to ponder about the liability they are creating.  Alas, however, the show goes on.

The real test to come with these comments by Jillian and Michelle to my mind, will be whether they try to do something about their concerns or just let things slide.  If they are truly genuine, being such an integral part of the ratings success of their shows, surely they must be able to exercise some influence in making some positive changes.  A good place to start would surely be a much greater emphasis on the psychological wellbeing of contestants that can be seen by the viewing public and the cessation of extreme workouts that clearly push contestants so hard that now even their trainers have concerns for their wellbeing. 

Image: Daily Telegraph

Rick-Lee Coulter - Unretouched or Retouched?

I have always loved Ricki-Lee Coulter.  From the first time I saw her perform on Australian Idol I thought she was incredibly talented, sassy and likeable.  I love that she has always spoken so confidently of her curvaceous body, displaying a fantastic sense of positive body image.  Despite reporting that 'industry' people have told her she should slim down, Ricki-Lee has refused to do so, stating she feels very comfortable the way she is.  Bravo!

Ricki-Lee has appeared in this weeks Woman's Day Magazine in a swimsuit shoot.  Here she is looking incredibly beautiful. 

This is not the first time Ricki-Lee has been shot in swimwear or even lingerie, so that is really nothing new to us.  What is 'new' about these photo's is that they are supposedly unretouched in response to the recent Marie Claire cover of Jennifer Hawkins.  While I think its fantastic that cover continues to promote discussion and responses about excessive retouching practices in women's magazines, I must admit to having some niggly concerns about this shoot.

My first concern is related to the title of the story  -

"Hey girls, this is what a real woman looks like!" 

Grrrr.  Once again we have this ludicrous sentiment being pushed about by the media that some women are supposedly more 'real' than others for no other reason than their size.  It's so offensive and genuinely stupid, serving no reason other than to pit women against one another, get them to continue to compare their bodies and be each others worst enemy.  As I state here, I believe all women are real women, regardless of their shape or size.  Your 'realness' is not determined by the size of jeans you wear.  Fail Woman's Day.  Particularly bad fail when Jennifer Hawkins regularly appears in your magazine too.  I hope someone has a nice explanation regarding this cheap shot you have taken at her. 

My second niggle is about the photo's themselves.  As I have already mentioned, I think Ricki-Lee looks amazing in this shoot - totally gorgeous.  But unretouched?  I'm not so sure about that.  In my work I see alot of photo's that are both entirely natural and those that have had the Photoshop wand waved over them.  To my eye these photo's do appear retouched, chiefly due to the fact that Ricki-Lee's skin has that regular magazine shoot 'gloss' and uniformity that is now so the norm in fashion spreads.  Her skin on her stomach looks the same as on her legs, as on her face.  This is simply not the way a person's skin appears in real life. 

The other skin issue with these photo's is that on Ricki-Lee's body there are no creases, lines, or the usual dimpling that women have.  This is particularly noticeable in the photo where she is lying down.  I do not know of any woman who has a shape like Ricki-Lee's where this would not be seen in a position where their thighs are pressed into the floor.  I don't say this because I think it's bad - not at all!  Dimply thighs and cellulite is a natural and normal part of most women's bodies.  It has only been made 'bad' by cellulite cream marketers and of course magazines who consistently airbrush it away.

I wish it to be clearly known that if I am wrong about these photo's and they have not been digitally altered in any way, I will eat humble pie and duly apologise.  I have emailed Woman's Day asking the question and if I get a response I will let you all know.  If they haven't been retouched and someone can prove it to me, despite not liking the story title, I will shout praise for Woman's Day as another magazine taking a step to show us more realistic images of women on their pages.  I will also take my hat off to Ricki-Lee, like Jennifer, for having the courage to appear a la naturel.  In this day and age where Photoshop so often reigns supreme - I think that's a great thing.  If the photo's have however been passed off as unretouched, when they have actually been altered, that, in my eye, will quite simply be the biggest magazine fail I have seen in a very long time.  In fact, probably ever.

Love your thoughts Beautiful You readers on both the story title and the photo's.  Do you think in the wake of the Marie Claire controversy it's justified, or are you over all this talk of what is a 'real' woman and what isn't?  And the photo's?  Do you think I've lost my mind and positivity and am picking things apart too much, or do they appear a little too 'perfected' to you too?

Images courtesy of Woman's Day.

Beautiful You Holidays

Thanks for dropping by Beautiful You.  I am currently having a much needed holiday on the lovely NSW Sapphire Coast.  I look forward to posting again sometime very soon after January 16th.  Please come visit again!

Can You Help This Beautiful Family?

I have been incredibly moved today by reading the story of Cate Bolt, her husband and their nine children; 8 beautiful boys and an adorable little girl.  The Bolt's are a community minded and giving family who are currently experiencing some very tough times, having spent their Christmas and New Year homeless.

You can read more about their situation in Cate's incredibly eloquent and heartfelt open letter to the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd requesting help here.

Upon reading the letter I immediately posted a comment of support to Cate and emailed her asking if I could mention her families situation here at Beautiful You.  She replied that I could and I am doing so in the hope that someone who reads this may feel the same compassion as I do, but be in an even greater position to help the Bolt's with a rental home they can access in Queensland.  Please do reach out to them if you can help in any way.

'She Listened To Her Heart' Giveaway

I have spontaneously decided to have a small giveaway here at Beautiful You simply because I love you - my readers - and want to give a little back.  This week has been one for me where I have really had to listen to my heart and not be afraid to speak my mind.  Many years ago when I was more insecure about myself and my value to the world, I don't think I would have been able to do that.

Writing Beautiful You has opened my heart even further and for that - I thank you.

In what I am sure is not a coincidence I have been sent this gorgeous notebook which states "She listened to her heart above all the other voices."  The one I have is orange rather than red as pictured below.  It's adorable and I want one of my followers to have it.

To be eligible to win the notebook please be a follower of Beautiful You and leave me a comment, sharing with me a time when you benefited from listening to your heart.  Giveaway closes this Friday January 8th so be quick for this one.  International entries welcome.  Love my friends from over the waters.  Good luck to Beautiful YOU!

We Are All 'Real' Women

With Jennifer Hawkins currently being one of Australia's most successful models, I always knew the unretouched cover of her on Marie Claire was going to generate a great deal of publicity.  As Jennifer fits into the media and societal driven 'ideal' body type, I also knew it was likely some people would criticise the use of her.  The media surrounding the cover has very quickly dumped the core reason it was created in the first place, which was to present more realistic images of women in magazines and inspire other publications to do the same.  What they have grasped on to is that supposedly Jennifer is now being upheld as the body type that all women should aspire to.

This is utterly ridiculous.  Unfortunately however, many people have fallen for this simplistic notion that is entirely media created.  On a variety of blogs and online news sites people have posted comments that have attacked Jennifer for promoting eating disorders, stating that the image makes them want to "vomit" and posted statements saying that they look at her, compare themselves, and feel terrible.  There has also been widespread negativity aimed at not just Jennifer, but thin women in general, with the sentiment being put forward that if you are thin, you are not a 'real woman.'  To read any of these thoughts you just need to google Jennifer Hawkins Marie Claire cover.  There are now hundreds of them.

Some people may disagree with what I am about to say, but I feel these comments reflect more on the people who are making them, than they do on Jennifer Hawkins, Marie Claire or even other magazines.  Do I think magazines need to do better in showing greater body diversity and less retouched images?  Damn straight I do and anyone who reads Beautiful You regularly will know I advocate for this consistently.  But - I want to talk about personal responsibility for a moment - as many of the comments I have been reading from people about this issue appear to have forgotten one fundamental thing and that is...

Body Image Is A Feeling State That You Alone Create in Your Thoughts and Feelings About Yourself.  No-One Can Make You Feel Less Than You Are Without You Letting Them.

One of the fastest ways we can slam our body image into the gutter is to compare ourselves to what other people look like.  No-one that has had a hand in creating this cover has asked any person to compare themselves to Jennifer in any way.  This is something some people have chosen to do themselves with predictably negative consequences.  I beg of anyone that does this on a regular basis either via comparison to models, celebrities or other women, to stop.  It does not serve you in any way.

Another less talked about issue is my belief that when we say negative things about the way someone else looks, whether they are a model, a family member, or someone we see walking down the street - we denigrate ourselves - and push the cause of positive body image back dramatically.  Many responses to this cover have claimed that Jennifer and any other woman who looks like her are an abomination and not 'real'.  How can that possibly be?  Every single, living, breathing person is real.  What they look like is completely irrelevant.  Because I am a size 16 does that make me more real than my best friend who is a size 10?  Of course not.  How ridiculous.  Because a woman is thin does that mean she automatically is disqualified from having potential body image issues?  Believe me when I tell you it most certainly does not.

Far too many people live in consistent judgment of others and in this instance, so many women are choosing to degrade other women based purely on their appearance.  How terribly ironic this is, when they do so while simultaneously stating they promote positive body image.  Well - here's my final take. 

Any Person That Degrades Someone Else Based Soley On Their Appearance Or Claims They Are Not Real Because Of The Size They Are, Cannot Truly Claim To Be A Positive Body Image Advocate.

Only when we truly learn to embrace our own bodies as they are and permit others to do the same, with no comparisons, no judgements and no negativity, will women the world over begin to develop a level of self esteem and positive body image that will see them thrive.  The feeling and creation of this begins with us.  Once we can grasp that, then, and only then, can we be strong body image warriors and advocate for greater media and societal responsibility in this issue.  Operating from this beautiful, thriving and strong state I believe, would permit us to see that this magazine cover is a positive step towards showing more natural, realistic images in the media, which so many women have been crying out to see for so long.

Nicole Ritchie To Front Body Image Campaign

Celebrity and young Mum Nicole Ritchie is being reported by Grazia Magazine today to be in talks with health experts about fronting a positive body image campaign. 

The article states that eating disorders are an issue very close to Nicole's heart and that she "hated being the poster girl for anorexia and drug addiction."  The article goes on to say that Nicole wants to be a positive role model for her daughter Harlow and that she wanted to show her and others it is possible to recover from addictions and illnesses.  The proposed campaign will involve Nicole and other eating disorder survivors acting as 'big sister' like mentors to at-risk girls in Los Angeles schools.

I would love some wider comments on this one as I must admit I have mixed feelings.  From what I have seen of her(only in the media of course), Nicole appears to be quite a sweet and lovely person who is devoted to her children.  I think she looks healthy and glowing at this stage in her life, but I wonder if in campaigning for positive body image she may have been better to align herself with some of the wonderful US based eating disorder and body image charities who are already doing great work?  Hmmmm.  It's still one for me to ponder, but if the campaign does eventuate and it is positive and touches lives in a great way - that can only be a good thing.

On a final note though - Grazia - please!  A positive body image campaign does not mean an "anti-anorexia" campaign as you state on the cover here.  Let's stop with the negative messages and also appreciate that there are many other types of eating disorders other than anorexia.  'Positive Body Image Campaign' would have been so much more inclusive.  Next time ok? 

Jennifer Hawkins Sans Photoshop

Regular readers of Beautiful You will be aware that every now and again I do moan about some magazines and their less than self esteem enhancing practices and stories.  Despite this, they continue to be read by millions of women worldwide and while they don't always get it right, of late, I am seeing a positive shift.

As I blogged on the first day of 2010, V Magazine is releasing its first ever Size Issue this month, showcasing both regular and plus sized models and over the past six months there have been many other magazines that have taken positive steps to showing more body diversity and real beauty on their pages.  Glamour created a stir via model Lizzi Millers tummy and subsequent plus sized model shoot.  Harpers Bazaar photographed 80's supermodels with no makeup.  Women's Weekly featured Sarah Murdoch on its cover in full colour with no retouching and Madison Magazine featured prominent Australian women posing nude with lots of beautiful bumps, curves and sizes on display. 

Marie Claire

The latest magazine to join these ranks is Marie Claire whose February edition features Jennifer Hawkins unretouched on the cover.  As it is not on sale until next week I am yet to see all the photo's, but I did an interview about the cover for the Sunday Telegraph today.  It is clear to my eye it has not been retouched, as Jennifer does not have that fake, porcelain like 'doll' skin that so many other magazine covers do and natural creases in the folds of her skin can be seen.  I think it is significant that one of Australia's most high profile women, like Sarah Murdoch before her, has agreed to let images of herself in the public realm that have not been photoshopped.  Believe me when I tell you that I am acutely aware via my work that this is NOT something that most celebrities are willing to permit when their livelihood is entirely centred around their appearance.

I am well aware that some may argue this cover does little at all because Jennifer fits the current societal thin and beauty ideal. I am conscious of that too, however am choosing to see this positively, as another small move by a very popular magazine to present images that are more real, natural and unretouched - even if they are of a former Miss Universe. I know it's not perfect or the answer to all the media woes we see - but I believe we have to work with these steps or I fear magazines may throw their hands in the air complaining they can do no right by us and revert to horror practices all the time.  If we don't show support in at least a way that signifies we see this as a STEP towards more realistic images - I'm not sure how we can hope to affect more significant change.

And believe me when I tell you I want to see ALOT more changes made in the magazine industry. Like unretouched covers REGULARLY, plus sized women on high fashion magazine covers and in fashion spreads REGULARLY, older women and women of varied cultures and backgrounds in fashion spreads REGULARLY, more women in fashion magazines who are not models and celebrities and no retouching in magazines that are marketed towards girls and teens. The below Redbook cover of Faith Hill is a perfect example. The original photo of her is stunning. Why in God's name do we then have to have the magazine try to sell her to us - thinner, blonder and all together looking more like a Barbie doll? She is beautiful as she is, and the photo of her is absolutely good enough to appear on a magazine cover as is.

I did want to mention that one thing I found puzzling about the Daily Telegraph article is Marie Claire's editor, Jackie Frank, stating that she feels the Federal Government's proposed body image strategy has had no impact on this issue in Australia. I find that quite ironic considering this cover and others mentioned, such as Women's Weekly and Madison, have all come out since the proposed strategy was presented to government. Let's also not forget the strategy is also still at a proposal stage. A formal response on the recommendations from government is due in the next few months. I do appreciate Jackie stating however that greater funding needs to be directed towards eating disorder services and that these photo's of Jennifer will be used to raise funds for The Butterfly Foundation, but somehow I think my take on this is more positive than her own!

So...what are your thoughts readers?   Do you think small steps are being made towards more realistic images in magazines and showcasing of body and beauty diversity?  Do you believe change is afoot or are magazines no better than they were a year, three years or five years ago?

Love to hear your thoughts.