Posts filed under 'Blogging'
Quoteworthy
This is not an original image, but I saw it over at Roni’s Weigh and just had to share it here, since it is so on-message, I think, with my blog, too.
Talk about a powerful message.
I read it several times and let it sink in. So often (ok every day), we’re bombarded with images that make us feel like we’re not good enough, not thin enough, not pretty enough. That we aren’t ok how we are. Ads tell us our skin is too splotchy, it’s not dark enough, we have “thunder-thighs” and we’re covered in “unsightly” cellulite … (ok, what woman DOESN’T have it?!)
We can choose to be bold and ignore these images and say, “I’m ok with not being a size X” and “I love my thick, muscled calves.”
Or we can look at magazines, movies, images and hate on ourselves, wasting hours of our day in a narcissistic bubble. (more…)
8 comments May 7, 2009
Open Book
I’ve been doing a lot of introspection the past couple weeks. One of the drawbacks about putting your thoughts and feelings out there in the blogosphere is that not everyone will love what you have to say, all day, every day.
Shocker, right?!
Naturally, I know it comes with the territory; it’s a risk I have to take, both as a writer, and also as someone who is trying to overcome a challenge. I have to realize that when I broach touchy subjects (or any subject, really), some people will possibly be turned off by my words, and some people might feel annoyed, frustrated, or upset reading my words …
Likewise, I never know what will be a “good post” or an “eh post.” Some days I see zero comments (but 700 hits) and other days I get a ton of comments on a particular post, or follow-up e-mails.
Comments are good; they create a dialogue, which is one of my blog’s missions. Often your comments (positive or not) lead to another post, and I do that because I’m listening … observing … absorbing.
Deep down, I know change doesn’t emerge from stagnancy … and so I know in my heart that writing/blogging about the good, the bad, and the ugly has helped myself and others. And I do believe that without it, I might not be where I am today on this journey.
That said, whereas before I wrote my thoughts and feelings in a journal and no one but me could read them … now my thoughts are out there for the world to read. And that can be a daunting notion. (more…)
7 comments April 29, 2009
Breaking Bread
Kind of off-topic post, but interesting nonetheless for our foodies out there.
The New York Time’s food critic, Frank Bruni, wrote this blog post today, Our Nightly Bread, which explores a positive side to restaurants charging for bread and butter these days.
As someone who loves, loves, loves warm crusty bread dunked in deliciously-herbed olive oil at good Italian restaurants (but could easily pass it up if it’s sub-par) I thought it was worth sharing.
Take a read and let me know what you think about charging for bread during tough economic times.
As for me, I’d rather pay for it and get the good, good stuff, then see a stale, wasted basket taking up space on the table!
2 comments April 28, 2009
Passing Judgment
Note: This post is all over the place and content-heavy, so … consider it a stream of consciousness and please bear with me.
My post last Friday about the evidently malnourished Australian Miss Universe contestant got me thinking about judgment … specifically, my unconsious (human?) tendency to pass judgment.
I called this woman out here on my blog — a disordered eating recovery blog — for being too skinny (at 5′11 and 108 lbs.) and for possibly having an eating disorder … in spite of her denial of it being true.
I called her out because in looking at her, I was concerned that this is the image our children see.
I called her out because I was both sickened and saddened — sickened that she looked so skeletal, and saddened that her figure personifies “beauty” to some … possibly even some of my own readers or followers of “thinspo” (the pro-ana movement).
The irony is, if I saw a morbidly obese person on the street, who might not be in the best health either, though I might make a superficial judgment in my head (as in, stating the fact that the person is morbidly obese) … would I devote a post about it?
No, I wouldn’t. (more…)
11 comments April 27, 2009
Reviews: P90X Teaser & 30 Day Shred, Level 2
This weekend was all about fitness, and in a good, healthy way — not an excessive way.
The weather was so-so, and I didn’t want to spend as much time as usual at the gym, so I was super-happy to hit the gym moderately and have home options, too.
When my hubby and I were out shopping Saturday (after he took the second of his three finals — he’s almost done with this semester) I stocked up on lighter (5 lb) weights, a yoga mat and resistance bands (pictured to the left) so I could do my first session of P90X — Core Synergistics.
I’m following the “Lean” plan, which seems to be more suited to women, but we’ll see if I don’t end up switching to the Classic track, or kind of mixing the two — I’m curious about the Plyometrics DVD which isn’t used for the Lean Plan, and I do so much cardio on my own, that I’m not sure I will do the Cardio X DVD very often, though I need to give it a try tomorrow. (more…)
Add comment April 26, 2009
Programmed for Weight Gain!?
Today, Kath posted this awesome article on her blog (which she wrote for Gather.com) that I wanted to share with you, called “Are We Programmed for Weight Gain?”
Check it out and let me know what you think.
I have to say, I agree with her 100%.
I think we, as humans, ARE predisposed to gain, and it’s up to us to every day make decisions. Some days it’s easier than others. And sometimes we reach a point where we’re comfortable with a little gain, or that we aren’t. And we take action … or don’t.
The important thing to remember is, we’re fighting nature every step of the way — and so personal responsibility becomes tantamount. I know this from experience, in dealing with my own gain and struggle to lose all over again.
Definitely a good read. Thanks for sharing, Kath!
5 comments April 20, 2009
Article Worth Reading: “An Open Letter to Oprah”
Over the weekend, YogiClareBear shared an article from The Huffington Post with me that she thought might be a good fit for readers here on my blog. After reading it, I couldn’t agree more.
The article, called “An Open Letter to Oprah” is written by the director of the documentary, “America The Beautiful,” which explores our nation’s unhealthy obsession with beauty.
Take a peek at his plea to Oprah to stop the yo-yo dieting and end her public obsession with body image.
What is most interesting to me is that the director (and author) is a man. Not to play the sex card or anything, but usually we hear other females talking about weight issues and body image issues. And while men are certainly impacted as well, it was refreshing to hear a guy’s perspective. (more…)
8 comments April 20, 2009
The Shred/P90X/Etc.
Random post, but has anyone tried Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred? What about P90X, which has taken the infomercial world by storm?
I just ordered the Shred, and it should arrive Monday. Very excited to try it; I hear it’s a killer and I’ve never done a fitness DVD. I’m such a total gym rat, but think it’d be awesome to have the ability to work out from home every now and then.
And, I’ve heard soooo much hype about P90X and was kind of curious about it — it’s a 90 day program, an hour a day, and it’s supposed to be killer. I like the idea of muscle confusion; it sounds logical. And for such a creature of habit, it’d be a good mix-up for me. Some male friends have done it and they post alllllllllllllll about it on Facebook.
So I figured I’d ask if anyone has had first-hand experience with either of these programs? I still have some fitness reimbursement funds I can use, and am considering getting P90X.
Finally, a small request: if anyone’s on Facebook and wants to be my friend 
I need people to confirm my blog. All you have to do is click here. Thanks!!
UPDATE: I ordered P90X — it will be here in 5-7 days! Hope I like it. 
12 comments April 19, 2009
Commentary: Living a Dream
I think you’d have to be living under a rock to not know who Susan Boyle is, the Scottish woman who has won the hearts of millions around the world with her emotionally-charged rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from one of my fave Broadway shows, Les Miserables.
Like everyone else, I was absolutely blown away with her stunning performance … and had I not seen her video, I — like anyone else — would probably just think she was another amazing Broadway star with awesome pipes.
But when we see Susan, we see an ordinary woman who you’d pass on the street and probably not give a second glance to; a woman who admits she’s never been kissed and lives in the house she grew up in, who took care of her ailing mother until she passed away. A woman, just like you or me.
And what is bothering me the most is how she’s being coined “the unlikely star” … simply based on her physical appearance. (more…)
12 comments April 17, 2009
I’m a Grade-A “Self-Saboteur”
Um, yes, that’d be me. 100% bonafide, grade-A “Self Saboteur”.
About four years ago, through the beauty of the Weight Watchers message board, “Tales from the Scale” a group of several amazing women of all ages from all corners of the U.S. came together and dubbed ourselves the “Weekend Sabatogers.”
At one point, we debated changing our name, since “sabatogers” doesn’t really exist in proper English … but the point is, we had one thing in common: in our own ways, we all practiced diligence all week, and then we tended to let our guard down on the weekend … and repeated the same vicious cycle over and over and over again. We picked each other up, dusted each other off.
I love these women dearly — many (if not all?!) are loyal blog readers, and though our little group disbanded when life just became too complicated to keep up the thread each day last fall, we are still very close in a way that is hard to explain except to each other.
(In fact, they even sent us an incredibly generous engagement present when my husband and I got engaged in 2005!)
I’ve met five of these amazing women in person (four of us met up in Chicago for an amazing weekend two Aprils ago, and one of them I met when I lived in DC). And today, one of these incredible women is one of my closest confidantes in real life now, too; my move to Michigan was a blessing in more ways than one, since she’s in Chicago!
I feel very blessed for their friendship and support … and that’s why today I am here to admit, once again, that I am a complete self-sabatoger … all week long, lately. (more…)
12 comments April 8, 2009
