What Was Your Self-Image In Grade School? A Baby Boomer's Tale Of Changing How We View Ourselves

There it was.  That dreaded scale.  The one I thought would ring a bell loudly and shout,"Oh, jeez, please get off of me!"

Scale Self-Image

I remember when I was young and my mother was on a diet.  She put a gadget inside our refrigerator that, after opening the door to find something to eat, would scream "Close the door, fatty!"

 I hated that contraption.

Self-image is an important reason why women (and men) spend thousands of dollars on beauty products each year.  According to an article in MarketWatch.com, the Commerce Department reported, "Americans spent a whopping $33.3 billion on cosmetics and other beauty products in 2010, up 6% from 2009."

And according to a 2013 article in TIME article, "The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) says that while total cosmetic surgeries fell by 2% last year, the number of what they call “minimally invasive” procedures rose by 6%. The most popular of these were Botox and Dysport injections, followed by soft tissue filler injections, chemical peels, laser hair removal, and microdermabrasion."

We all want to look good.

But at what price? Our self-image starts when we're young. We begin by comparing ourselves to the most popular girls in grade school.

Self-Image

You know, the girls all the boys were going ga-ga over while our hormones were raging out of control.  The ones with straight, shiny hair, button noses and long, slender legs who were good in gym and always wore the coolest clothes.

Sorry to digress.  That was my memory.  What?  Did I hear you nodding your head? Phew.

Today, the news about self-image for young people is appalling. Take a look at recent statistics:

 

I don't know about you, but I find these numbers appalling. A female's self-image needs a lift, and young girls urgently need our help.  

How can this be done?

Through education and awareness. And the buck stops here.

As a baby boomer and a mother, I feel a sense of urgency to portray ourselves in a positive light, and to be good role models for young people. However and whenever we can, we need to write messages that clearly demonstrate we are beautiful no matter what the scale says.

What society deems, and what glossy magazines portray, is not reality.

I want my clothes to fit better, and I'd like to feel healthier. It's simply unhealthy to carry any extra weight, especially when there are family genetics skewed in the wrong direction.

Taking steps toward wellness and living a healthier lifestyle is why I began the Jenny Craig program. I want to get back to eating regular portion sizes, bump up the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables I consume, drink more water and get more exercise.

Self-Image

When I was young I wanted to look like Christie Brinkley.  Today, I am comfortable in my own skin.

I don't have straight, shiny hair or long, slender legs.  But I do have my own unique brand of beauty, and that is something that every one of us has.

What did the scale say to me?  It said "job well done" and "thanks beautiful."

At least in my heart it did.

What can you do to help change a young girl's self image?

 

*I received a free month on the Jenny Craig program and a discount on food products.  There was no compensation.  All opinions are solely my own.  NOTE: Members following the Jenny Craig program lose, on average, 1 -2 lbs. per week. 

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Spring Has Sprung: Time To Get Back To Healthy Living

"After thirty, a body has a mind of its own." ~Bette Midler

Spring is here.  Looking outside my window, I see snow on the ground, a gray sky, and the leaves of our rhododendrons tightly closed.  I can say spring has not yet arrived in the Northeast.

I feel relieved.  Why?  The colder temperature gives me more time.  Warmer weather would mean packing up sweaters and heavy coats. It also means uncovering arms and legs without the benefit of long, woolly, layered outfits.  No more turtlenecks to hide any turkey twaddle, and no more long sleeves to cover any jiggle.

In other words, the forty-degree temperature allows me more time to get into shape.

With each passing year, losing weight and getting into shape gets harder and harder.  I have a chronic illness that makes playing sports impossible, and menopause has reared its ugly head by redesigning my body to look like a cubist painting by Picasso.

I also curse Isaac Newton for introducing the world to the concept of gravity.

Why, oh why, couldn’t I have been born with the genes of Christie Brinkley? But, alas, even she works out like a good little soldier.  Take a look at her Infomercials with Chuck Norris.  Seeing those two boomers dressed in clingy workout clothes makes you want to jump off the couch to order a Total Gym.

We all need to maintain a good weight and a healthy lifestyle.  Some of us must find an eating program that best suits our needs.  What program will help us lose weight and feel better by the summer?  My head is spinning with information about new cleanses and detox programs, all claiming to help us regain control over our bodies.

Thirty years ago, the decision was more straightforward.  There were only a few popular diet programs to choose from. Weight Watchers, The Scarsdale Diet, The Stillman Diet, The Atkins Diet, or The Ayds Diet were the go-to programs.

"After trying Atkins and doing Nutrisystem a few times, now I'm just focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle rather than dieting." ~Miranda Lambert

Today consumers have become wiser about diet and exercise. We’ve learned that eating too many carbohydrates and consuming too much fat and sodium may lead to obesity, high blood pressure, or heart disease.  We need to stay away from hydrogenated and trans fat oils, and too much sugar may lead to a whole host of diseases.

I’ve cut out white flour and sugar from my diet.  I don’t eat red meat and have oily fish at least three times a week.  I use olive and grapeseed oils, and I use them sparingly.  I eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Dairy products are limited to low-fat yogurt, soymilk, and soy creamer.  Sweets are consumed only on special occasions, and I drink water, coffee, or tea.

So why are these pounds creeping up on me?

The culprit might be I’m not getting enough exercise.  Dieting alone is not enough to lose weight.   Exercise helps to control our weight by using excess calories that would be stored as fat, as well as boosting our metabolism and lowering insulin levels. As for menopause, the American Council on Exercise states, “The good news is that a regular physical activity program can help manage many of the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause.”

Making better food choices and exercising more often is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves in our Second Chapter.  This positive step will sustain us for the rest of our lives.

"I want to get old gracefully. I want to have good posture; I want to be healthy and be an example to my children." ~Sting

I recently had lunch with a new friend I met through my fabulous blogging group. Her website, The Recipe Renovator, illustrates her love of food, taking everyday recipes and turning them into healthy ones.  Take a moment to check out Stephanie Weaver’s fascinating website.

She also introduced me to the “Hungry for Change” website, which looks at the relationship between food, health, and emotional well-being.  I watched one of their videos and signed up for their “free take action videos and detox recipes and live Q&A” offer. The first video included Dr. Christiane Northrup, a proponent of women’s health and wellness (I’ve read several of her books). It opened my eyes to a new way of looking at eating.

Do you need the benefit of a structured diet program? Has menopause and/or physical issues affected your ability to lose weight and get into better shape? Please share your stories.  I’d love to hear what you have to say.

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DISCLAIMER:  Comments from An Empowered Spirit are brought to your attention on topics that could benefit you and should be discussed with your doctor or other medical professional. I am not medically trained, and my posts are journalistic and not instead of medical advice. An Empowered Spirit and its author will not be held liable for any damages incurred from using this blog or any data or links provided.

 

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