It’s the time of the year where women (and men) resolve to “be better” next year.
They promise themselves that starting on January 1st, they’ll stop eating sugar, join Weight Watchers, go to the gym at least 5 times a week, eat only 1500 calories, lose those 25 pounds and finally fit into the skinny jeans from the 80s again.
By the end of January, 99% of these women feel defeated, disgusted, disappointed with themselves. They believe they’ve failed yet again, they don’t have the willpower they need and they hate their body more than 31 days before. Becasue they obviously didn’t do what they’ve resolved to do and who do they blame? Themselves.
Today, I want to share 5 stories of women who are ready to claim their body and instead of going down the same old road of resolving to go on yet another diet to feel better, be better, be sexier and more themselves, they own all of these feeling states right here and now.
These 5 women have resolved to NOT go on a diet next year and they’re proud of it.
I hope that these stories will inspire you to work on your body image and on your inner well-being instead of your outside look.
I have a 12 year old daughter who I cannot continue to be such a terrible role model for!
Jay Crisp Crow, Perth, Australia
I have a 12 year old daughter who I cannot continue to be such a terrible role model for! She is delightful and sporty and beautiful and healthy, and I don’t want her to look at herself with anything akin to hatred. It’s time to break that link.
I’ve made a resolute revolution for 2016. Not only am I NOT dieting, severing a 25 year long battle with my weight, but I’m quite frankly sick to death of hating myself.
I’ve bought two bikinis, I’ve worn them both overseas but haven’t yet been brave enough to wear them here in Perth much. But 2016 will change that.
My body has brought forth life, given me a career as an entertainer, lived through me taking diet pills, starving myself and eating paper, tried every diet under the sun and it still keeps on giving.
It’s time in 2016 to simply take care of it, rather than starve it.
I am so sick of seeing beautiful women trying to starve themselves and then feeling guilt and shame when they don’t manage to stick to these crazy fad diets that are simply unsafe, unhealthy and unattainable.
Dannielle Archer, Adelaide, Australia
I have learnt through many years of trial and error that dieting does not work and only ends up making me feel worse, and generally leaving me heavier than when I started! Sometimes when I incidentally lose weight when I’m not even thinking about calories/dieting, I get motivated and start to get strict with a diet and then BAM; weight gain! The mindset of sacrifice, starvation, guilt, deprivation is such a damaging place; not only emotionally but physically.
This year I have actually managed to lose weight simply by caring for my body, loving myself unconditionally, eating food that feels good for me, and trying really hard to not feel guilty when I treat myself now and then. I haven’t even thought about dieting or restricting calories or eating less carbs, I’m just eating foods that make me feel good and are full of nutrition.
I am so sick of seeing beautiful women trying to starve themselves and then feeling guilt and shame when they don’t manage to stick to these crazy fad diets that are simply unsafe, unhealthy and unattainable.
My body is a new book.
Rosie Banyan, Melbourne, Australia
I am at a pivotal cross roads with my body.
A couple of years ago I shed 35 kilos in 6 months. It was by weighing all my food and simply sticking to it. It worked and I know I could do it again, yet it is not sustainable. 2 years later I am back to where I started from. I do not weigh myself on scales as I see these as my enemy. They really do kill your mood for the day – based on the numbers.
I know that my weight is not all about what I eat and how much I eat. It stems to the feelings that I have while I eat. What emotion am I struggling with? How do I feel about myself?
There are some interesting triggers that I have regarding my body that I want to explore next year. You see, I shut down emotionally years ago due to sexual abuse in my childhood. This I managed to reset. I discovered my own method of meeting with the aspect that I used to shut down my emotions. I would like to explore this same method with regards to my body. I believe that I have lost touch and disconnected with my body.
So ‘NO’ I am not going to go on a diet. I am going to start a fresh new relationship with my body to really discover what it needs to teach me.
I’m sick of diets – the word ‘die’ is in them.
Catherine Moolenschot, London, UK
Growing up I had two close friends who are naturally skinny, and whenever I compared myself to them I felt fat. Particularly my thighs. For years I looked at myself in the mirror not liking what I saw.
I remember my cousin showing me a book of Renaissance paintings when I was 15. She pointed to their thighs, showing me what people viewed as beautiful back then. It was a good balance to the images of models I was used to seeing. But I still wished I was thinner.
I knew this wasn’t healthy, yet I still struggled to accept my body type. I know I’m not fat, but I often still felt fat.
I watched That Sugar Film this year, and it taught me how ridiculous calory counting is. I now focus on eating food that is actually healthy (there’s a lot of ‘healthy’ food out there), and I’m loving my body. It’s been a journey for me to get to the point that I love my body, don’t weigh myself and don’t stress about it. My life is so much happier now! Loving my body – and my thighs – makes every day more enjoyable. This is my body type, this is me. And I love it.
I am always conscious not to be hard on myself or expect perfection.
Eve Phillips, Glasgow, Scotland
I’m a 42-year old mother of 3 and a heavily tattooed ex-model turned tattoo artist. I was once a size 8 but I now sport a size 12 and I’m totally fine with it.
I’ve realized that I cannot get back to my former size 8 without a diet of lettuce, but I’m perfectly able to stay at a size 12 with treats. Despite having Hashimotoes, I still love carbs, gluten free pasta, rice, corn & potato chips, sweets, chocolate and wine.
We find many of our tattooed clients also walk out with a better body image than when they walked in. There’s no need to be skeletal. Unless that is the way you’re built; like I was when I was young, and just like my tiny 17 year old daughter who is a chocoholic.
So, what about you? Are you going to diet next year or will you choose the healthy road and learn to respect your body from the inside out?
I got off the diet bandwagon 2 years ago and I have never looked back! Life is a lot easier and a lot better
So glad you did and you’ll have a better life because you made that choice. xx