As a personal trainer and aerobics instructor I often hear, “I know I can be healthy and happy if I just lose a few pounds.” It seems we women, in particular, are always in search of that elusive perfect weight, the one at which we can accept ourselves and our bodies. Of course if we are feeling unhappy in our bodies the solution is to go on a diet, right? After all, any doctor will tell you that thin equals healthy and fat equals unhealthy. We certainly get this same message from going to movies and watching television. The closer we can come to being thin, we believe, the healthier we will become.
 
 Wrong! Based on anecdotal evidence alone we can see that dieting is no solution. How many times have you or someone you know lost weight only to gain it back? How many times have you or someone you know lost weight and gained back more than you lost to begin with? Dr. Glenn Gaesser, author of Big Fat Lies, reports that at any given time nearly half of Americans are dieting to either lose or maintain their weight. According to National Institute of Health, a full 90% plus of dieters fall into the first category, and more than 80% of people fall into the second. Now, is this because we’re a nation of gluttonous, weak and lazy people who can’t control what we eat, or is there something else going on here that remains unexamined?
 

Our bodies really have a single goal, and that is to keep us alive. When we begin a diet our bodies immediately register that the nourishment we need to live is in scarce supply, and we prepare for the “famine” biologically by lowering metabolism and storing fat. Little do our bodies know, the “famine” is not due to an actual shortage of food, it is self-imposed.
Despite the body’s tendency to adjust to a dieting state, many of us do lose weight. For as long as we are dieting, though, we can expect to go through a recovery period where we feel hungry for no reason and generally out of control around food. This recovery period is our body’s way of recovering from the “famine” and making sure we do not ever go without again. It is during this time that we tend to regain weight and eat more than our body needs, not out of weakness or gluttony, but because our body is designed to help us survive. And surviving is a good thing, right?
Dieting leads to feelings of anxiety and powerlessness. After all, we think, what can we control if we cannot control our weight? Dieting also teaches us to distrust ourselves and our internal needs. If I were to eat every time I wanted food, the dieter thinks, I’d be as big as a house. I know this because I used to believe it myself, until I stopped dieting.
So if dieting isn’t the answer, then what is? The amazing truth is, our bodies have a built-in system designed to regulate our weight and our appetite which dieters generally try their best to ignore. Once restrictions around food are removed and our bodies are left to regulate themselves, our weights will stabilize and we will find peace with food. Once we are working with our bodies instead of against them, taking care of ourselves completely, we can know a more balanced, healthful existence, where energies are devoted to the truly important things in life, and not to food obsession and body hatred.

For books and resources on women’s health, fitness, self-esteem, exercise, eating disorders and more - visit the Elegant Plus Recommended Book and DVD List.

Plus-size fitness and work out apparel in sizes up to 6X is available though our Activewear Shopping Directory.

 © 2003 Jennifer Portnick

Popularity: 12% [?]

Womb to Grow, Pages from a Curvy Mom’s Life
 Society, Weight and Pregnancy
by Monica Rasso, Regular Contributing Author at Elegant Plus Magazine

Pregnancy is one of the few times in our lives that it is “acceptable” to be overweight. Or is it? When browsing through pregnancy magazines, maternity catalogs, and TV commercials, do any of those models really seem overweight (besides the tight, yet bulging belly)?

It seems there is an underground movement to ‘stay thin’ while pregnant. Last month I was flipping through the channels and became temporarily hooked on a show called Life & Style. This show is hosted by four well-known women with a format similar to The View and a goal of informing viewers on how to live life with style. The particular segment that caught my attention focused on women who are attempting to stay fit and thin while pregnant. The discussion focused on sacrificing the health and growth of an unborn child just to remain thin.

Pregnant, yet still thin, photos of stars such as Gweneth Paltrow and Sarah Jessica Parker grace the pages and covers of popular magazines giving readers the false idea that these goddesses of the big screen are not gaining any weight, except for that in their baby belly. Host Kimora Lee Simmons pointed out that ALL of the stars that she knows personally have gained 25-60 pounds during their pregnancy. She explained that the photos taken in these magazines are shot when the star has professional hair, makeup and styling that makes them appear thinner. Even if the women do gain weight, the thin images we see, are those that many readers aspire to imitate.

As a professional model, I hope to model maternity clothes during my pregnancy. Although I am proud of my body and have a great self image, I find myself questioning whether or not plus models are accepted in the one area of modeling that I thought we would FOR SURE be accepted. An area where it is all around acceptable and favorable to be chubby and cute! But look in the maternity catalogs and pregnancy magazines. Beautiful, yet thin, models grace the pages in all the editorials and advertising. Is this yet another area where the real, curvy woman is unaccepted?!

I contacted the premier agency for pregnant models, Expecting Models. Twice I sent in my best headshots, full body shots, and resume. I did not hear anything. As I perused the pages of their website, my heart dropped as I saw that there were no plus models represented. I called Brian, an agent at the Expecting Models, and asked if my photos had been received, but more importantly, since I assumed they were not interested in my look due to their lack of response, to discuss the use of plus models in maternity modeling.

As we all know, any successful business becomes that way by providing their clients what they ask for. It seems that the advertising companies rarely look for plus models to show their maternity products, thus the maternity agencies rarely have a need to sign a plus model. Until the companies that sell maternity products acknowledge that over 60% of their customers are plus-sized individuals that relate better to Plus-size images, the modeling agencies will continue to hire thinner, high fashion models because that is the smart thing to do financially!

In all fairness, there are companies such as Fashion Bug that primarily use plus models in their advertising. I LOVE their ads! The most recent publication of Figure Magazine had a terrific 5-page editorial spread featuring a curvy model with a general softness about her. She looked like she could give a great hug! Someone we can relate to! The loving neighbor next door! In summary, although our society has welcomed the real woman into many aspects of advertising, film, music, and TV, there is still a great lack of acceptance in the pregnancy advertising area. It is such a small area of advertising, but pregnancy is such an important time for us to feel beautiful and accepted at our size. Let’s all do what we can to further the acceptance of curvy, real women in maternity advertising. Send emails and letters to companies such as JC Penney , the rest of the companies listed in the Elegant Plus Maternity Clothing Directory and any other companies where you feel that the real woman should be represented in advertising.

Since the initial publication of this article Brian Marggraf of Expecting Models has responded that “we do embrace women and models of all sizes, from petite to plus-size, and we, Expecting Models, would love to see the industry expand in that way… we have represented Plus-size models in the past, but not so much lately. If the industry was more interested in Plus-size models, we would definitely sign and promote them… to fill that need…” (April 2006)

Popularity: 12% [?]

Kiss My Assets: Self-Esteem and Body Image
Holiday Survival for the Body Healthy Gal
by Dr. Robyn Silverman

How can December be so wonderful and so stressful at the same time? Holiday cheer is the air; all our favorite foods are cooking in the oven and BAM, New Year’s resolutions about dieting and losing weight creep into consciousness.

People can go a few ways on this issue.  You have the overeaters — who know they are going to put food restrictions on themselves as soon as the date says “January 1” so they binge on everything in sight to make up for it.  Then you have the guilt eaters — who feel bad about eating at all for fear that someone in the family is going to say, “now I know why she’s getting so big.”  Then you have the healthy eaters — who don’t let the time of year or family opinion dictate the food choices they make.  They don’t over do it and they don’t restrict themselves from enjoying great food.  Which one are you?

We have likely all heard about the need to be “healthy at any size”.  But since we are in a world where time whizzes by and we don’t always have the time to make the best food choices, many of us are left with food that does not nourish or satisfy.  We know what is good for us but the “good stuff” can spoil quickly and can take longer to prepare when you compare it with going to the local fast food joint.  No wonder our relationship with food can be so erratic.

It is time to take back our health.  Why wait until January 1^st to star thinking about health?  Believe it or not we can nourish our bodies and our minds and still enjoy this holiday season:

(1)     Get rid of the diets: Seriously.  Food restrictions only make us eat more and they just plain do not work.  In fact, they slow down our metabolism and make us feel more anxious and depressed.  Dieting can make us more preoccupied with food and weight loss.  Instead, embrace a steady, healthy way of eating for life.

(2)     Eat for health: Perhaps when you were younger you were told to “eat the rainbow.”  This is still true for adults today.  Eat foods that have a lot of color and vibrancy because they are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that make us look and feel younger and more energetic.  At this time of year, make sure that your meals are balanced with whole grains, lean proteins and lots of fruits and veggies so that we can keep up with the hustle and bustle.  Think about it: a fast food hamburger and French fries—what the heck color is that in the rainbow?  There is a reason we feel sluggish after we eat it!

(3)     Eat a light snack before shopping or partying: We all know that if you go shopping when you are hungry, you will make food choices that make you feel bloated and tired.  Plan to eat something satisfying and healthy before you go.  Sandwiches on whole grain bread, salads with lean proteins or fish, or even an omelet filled with your favorite veggies will give you the energy to be out all day.  In addition, this is a great thing to do before a holiday party because it puts you in control.  You get to choose the foods you eat rather than letting the circumstance dictate your diet.

(4)     Go out for a walk:  Boy, do we sit around a lot at holiday parties!  This is a great time to reconnect with your family and friends who you don’t see very often.  Why not take the conversation outside?  The fresh air and exercise will make everyone feel great.  This will burn off some stress and get you out of the house.  You can also choose to do another form of exercise, like going to the gym, roller blading or going biking—either way, it does a body good!

(5)     Savor, don’t shovel: With so many tasty options, it is easy to binge eat even when we don’t want to do it.  After all, eating can be very social.  But remember, people took a lot of time (perhaps even you!) to create these delectable dishes.  It is a compliment to the chef to take your time eating it and it certainly is healthier for the digestive tract.

(6)     Enjoy the holiday:  Don’t worry so much about what other people are thinking or doing.  Take time to enjoy the people who you are with and the experience of celebration.  Holiday times do not need to be about stress, over eating, and preparing for your New Year’s resolutions.  It can be a time to relax, laugh, and enjoy if you make it that way.

(7)     Give yourself a break:  You are not a bad person if you over eat at holiday parties.  You are still a beautiful, healthy person. Obviously, if you eat in a healthy way most of the time, take your vitamins, and exercise, one day will not undo all of that.  It takes many days of eating unhealthily to put a person on an unhealthy path.  So give yourself a break—and if you overindulge at the holiday party, get up the next day and resume your typical healthy eating and exercise plan.

 Enjoy your family and friends this holiday season, but most of all, enjoy yourself! 

 Have a wonderful holiday and a happy, healthy New Year!

Additional Resources:

• Women’s Health
• Size Acceptance

Dr. Robyn Silverman is looking for preteens and teens to interview for her upcoming book! Please contact her if you are interested in participating!!!! Dr. Robyn is a success coach and body image expert who can help you to achieve your goals at any age. 

For more information, go to http://www.DrRobynSilverman.com or email her at DrRobyn@PowerfulWordsOnline.com. To share your thoughts about this column or to help Dr. Robyn with her research, join her blog at: http://kiss-my-assets.blogspot.com/

Popularity: 12% [?]

Kiss My Assets: Self-Esteem and Body Image
The ABCs of De-stressing and Confidence Building

by Dr. Robyn Silverman for Elegant Plus Magazine

It’s funny. But as the weather starts to cool down, we seem to get more stressed out! We question our abilities to “keep up with the Jones” and somehow exhaust ourselves with relationships, school, family, work, extra activities and everything else we could possibly heap onto our already full plates. And what about the ample time we consistently devote to primping, de-wrinkling and skimping on meals so that we can fit into our skinny jeans by Saturday night? You know what I mean. Have we had enough yet?

Here’s an article you may want to print out and tape to your dashboard, your bulletin board, or your planning board schedule book. Perhaps it will remind you that there is only one of you and it is OK to sit down every once in a while, kick up your heels and congratulate yourself on surviving and thriving through yet another day.

A.- Appreciate your best qualities: Big brains, great laugh, long legs, fabulous hair? If we could spend as much time focusing on the things we love about ourselves as we do about the things that frustrate us, we would be a great deal happier.

B.C.- Breathe and be Calm: Sometimes a deep breath can get us focused and give us just enough time to realize that everything is going to be OK. When we take a moment and calm ourselves down, we can think more clearly, become more productive, and show ourselves that no, indeed, we are not going to go insane.

D.- Date someone fabulous: You deserve someone who can see all the beautiful things in you. If you are already married or seriously involved, take your significant other out somewhere quiet or exciting and learn something new about them. Let them get to know something new about you!

E.F.- Eat healthy Foods: It is not about staying away from “bad foods” or foods that are fattening. It is about eating the foods that give sustained energy and nourishment. We are girls and women on the go! No stink’n fast food burger joint or teeny weeny salad is going to keep up with us. You deserve more. Eat well because you deserve to eat well.

G.- Go out with a friend: Good friends always have a way of putting a smile on our faces, don’t they? Taking time out to sit, talk, and laugh with a buddy can take pounds of stress off your life and make you realize that you are important.

H.- Hold out for the Good Stuff: Sometimes we take whatever man, opportunity, or dinner that comes are way—but we are worth more than that! It is time to step back and survey your life—if you are not happy with what you got, change it. You can have whatever your heart desires.

I.J.- Identify what “Juices” you: What gets you motivated, inspired, exuberant to the point of jumping on a couch and making a fool of yourself a bit? Whatever it is, do more of it. Whatever deadens this impulse, do less of it.

K.- Kiss the mirror: You are beautiful! Really, you are. It is time to start realizing that the only person stressing about your looks, is you! Accentuate your assets and show that you are proud.

L.- Laugh: Really hard and often. Laughing lets us “let go” and it just feels so good. Why take life so seriously? If you can’t remember what was so funny, spend some time with a little kid or a playful pet and they will remind you.

M.- Move your body: Exercise clears the brain, gets your body healthy and blows off steam. We always feel better about everything when we have endorphins pumping through our bodies!

N.O.- NO! Say it when you need to! You can’t do everything for all people and you can not go everywhere in one day. Though we might attempt it, it is not possible to be in more than one place at a time. When we try to cram in too much, we feel unsuccessful when everyone’s needs are not met. What about your needs? 

P.- Purge yourself of any toxic relationships: Toxic relationships are any relationships that make you feel bad about yourself when you are involved with them. You deserve the very best! Tell them to take a hike! It might be Fall but Spring cleaning is a necessity year round.

R.- Request help: It’s OK to ask for help! The most successful people in the world do it everyday. Feeling blue? Ask someone to lend an ear. Trying to reach a goal? Let a success coach help you! Got too much on your plate? Scrape some onto someone else’s! When we ask for help, we can make sure that the most important things get done and get done well.

S.- Say I love you: Say it to yourself and to those you love. It never gets old when you really mean it.

T.- Take some time for yourself: Sometimes it seems that we have enough time to focus on everyone else but ourselves. Curl up with a good book, go out shopping, take in a movie and realize what a good time you can have with the most fabulous person in the world…you!

U.- Unbuckle those too-tight clothes: Clothes that fit your body well are the ones that make us feel the best because they look the best. Nobody can be comfortable in clothes that are 2 sizes too small! The only one who knows the size of your jeans is you—and frankly, you are the only one who cares! Let it go!

V.- Value what you have: This means your health, your happiness, your relationships, your family, and your ability to contribute to this fabulous world we live in. It is always good to want more but we will always think the grass is greener somewhere else if we do not look around and realize that we have beautiful gardens growing right under our nose.

W.- Wonder. Dream, Fantasize about what could be…and then make it happen!

X.Y.- eXperience and Yearn: Get out and experience life! Learn something new! There are so many things to see and do. There really is no reason to be bored with life. Join a new class, date a new person, go hot air ballooning! When we do new things, we feel exhilarated and build competencies in new areas.

Zzzzzz- Get some sleep! Do you really need to stay up to watch that trash on TV? Some people say that it is relaxing—you know what else is relaxing? Sleep! Sleep makes us feel more beautiful, work more productively, make better decisions, and stay healthier than watching reruns of Loveboat! I guarantee it.

Additional Resources

• Plus-Size Fitness Books and Videos
• Voluptuous Art Books
• Novels with Curvy Heroines

Dr. Robyn Silverman is looking for preteens and teens to interview for her upcoming book! Please contact her if you are interested in participating!!!! Dr. Robyn is a success coach and body image expert who can help you to achieve your goals at any age. 

For more information, go to http://www.DrRobynSilverman.com or email her at DrRobyn@PowerfulWordsOnline.com. To share your thoughts about this column or to help Dr. Robyn with her research, join her blog at: http://kiss-my-assets.blogspot.com/

Popularity: 12% [?]

Popularity: 16% [?]