Healing.

I'm supposed to tell you what kind of healing I received this year and how I hope to heal in 2011. Eh, not sure this is my fav. prompt - sorry 'reverb 10'.

For those of you who have watched the Biggest Loser before, you know that frequently people's weight is a result of bigger issues. Whether it's overeating, under eating, not eating, etc there's usually a bigger issue behind the behavior. Over the last 8-9 months of weight loss I've really had to delve into that myself and really explore why it took me until 25 to care enough to take care of me.

In recognizing the reasons behind that, I've been able to heal as I work back towards being in shape. I realized in a personal training session with a celebrity trainer that Dove gave me earlier this year that she was right, having the ability to be active is a gift. One that not everyone has. I can run. I can jump. I can swim laps in my pool. I am capable of so many great things because my body is young and healthy. Not doing those things is a little like having the ability to read and not using it, it's really sad how many people waste that gift.

As I've dropped the weigh, eaten healthy, and fallen absolutely in love with excercise I've healed all the bad feelings I had about the way I looked and the way my body was before. It may not be exactly where I want it to be right now, but it's come a long way with me in 2010. We've battled some tough stuff together, and we've come out swinging - or running.

I look forward to continuing this journey in 2011 but I'm thankful for the people encouraged me through a year of healing this year.

Love,
B

Maura Kelly Blog Post.

To know what I'm about to speak of, read this first: http://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/dating-blog/overweight-couples-on-television

As a formerly plus size girl myself (before losing 50 lbs this year), I'm sensitive about weight related digs. We live in a culture that puts entirely too much emphasis on size, weight, and looks in general. Above that, not everyones fat by 'choice' or even by their own doing. Many things factor into weight and health. Now to have a magazine blast overweight people, as this paragraph in particular does:

So anyway, yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room — just like I'd find it distressing if I saw a very drunk person stumbling across a bar or a heroine addict slumping in a chair.

is really shocking to me! As a former Marie Claire subscriber myself I've been shocked to see them stand behind what Maura wrote. My thoughts? She was unfair, out of line, and down right insensitive. Even when she added a somewhat half-hearted justification after the backlash from the original post, I'm not convinced she didn't mean it just the way it came out.

With eating disorders running rampant in young women today, I'm applaud to say the least by Marie Claire's post. What are we teaching women? When you have a platform such as a magazine, it's important that you are wise with your words - you are influencing a great number of people. With great power comes great responsibility, does it not?

I may no longer shop in the plus size section and to be honest I've never felt better about my body and my weight than I do now, after 6 months of hard work to get to where I am. That being said, I believe that I was no less worthy to be seen kissing a boy I love in public when I was 50 pounds heavier than I am now. And I would argue that if Maura Kelly is that easily disgusted perhaps the problems lies within her own attitudes towards people and body image, not in the people she views as inferior.

I hope that there will be consequences for Maura's blog post, as I'm sure the ramifications for those insecure women who read that article will be far-reaching and long-lasting.

A great reminder that our tongues are powerful tools of destruction when we allow them to be. The bible calls the tongue a restless evil, full of poison.

My thoughts from where I stand now are these...take care of your body, it's the only one you get. Work and fight for the body that you want, and love the way you look. People can be beautiful at any size and any shape. Never be ashamed of how you look. Don't be discouraged by narrow minded people. Try not to allow yourself to believe that you are the only one who believes you can get to where you want to be...it's more than likely not true.

I've been watching this season of the biggest loser for the first time and I'm so inspired by these people who are going after what they want. Getting in shape and fighting obesity isn't an easy journey but it's also not an impossible one. There is always hope.

Love,

B