My Current Daughters

Are Body Acceptance Blogs Promoting Poor Health?

Honestly, I don’t think so. I have never seen a body acceptance blog encourage people to eat too much, or to not go to the doctor.

No one in the body acceptance movement is asking people to ignore their health. It’s true, there are some fat people who are unhealthy. But are they any unhealthier then a thin woman who smokes too much? Unhealthy can come in all shapes, sizes and colors. You can not tell by looking at someone if they are unhealthy or not. I mean, hell, Halle Berry has type 2 diabetes and she doesn’t have an ounce of fat on her.

The body acceptance movement is about saying that society’s ideas of one type of body being acceptable is bullshit. That woman who are big or curvy or even super skinny are beautiful because of who they are, not because of their pants size.

And everyone should get a check up. And if you are unhealthy, you should do something about it. The solution is rarely as one note as losing weight. But don’t just assume that because a woman has a rocking ass, saucy hips and a soft cozy panza that they are unhealthy. And on the flip side, don’t assume because someone is a size 2 that they are healthy.

All we ask is that you open your eyes and try to accept a different definition of beauty and health then the one the media has been feeding you.  

Do you think body acceptance blogs are promoting poor health? Why?

Picture Disclaimer

As much as I wish, I am not a professional photographer, or even a really good amateur photographer. The majority of the photos on my blog are not mine. If you want to know where they come from please click the picture for the source. If you see your picture and don't want it on here, let me know and I will gladly remove it. Thank you.

Bed-Red Writing Hood

I don't think I ask for much. New sheets, a flip and a rotate now and again and a deep cleaning occasionally. But no! They don't even make me up in the morning! Can you imagine, always being undone? Sheets bundled down at my feet, pillows on the floor. You can not believe how lonely it is without pillows. 

And I put up with so much. I get bounced around by the adults, then comes the babies who love to jump and squeal on me. Oy my springs ache sometimes. Let's not mention the many times I have been peed on. You know they do have there own beds thank you very much. 

All I do is support them. I mold myself and cradle their delicate heads and weary backs. I've absorbed dreams and tears, I am full of them. The many fights I have heard, and the  mummers of the night. Whispers of love and forgiveness, quiet voices asking for water or to crawl in. Oh the snuggles I have enjoyed, those are my favorite parts. All the love piled into one bed, tickling and laughing and rolling all over me. 

I mean really couldn't they at least make me up? All neat with pillows and the blanket pulled up. It doesn't take that long for goodness's sake. 

What would your bed have to say about you?

Good or Bad Foods?

The best thing I have taken with me through intuitive eating or hunger directed eating is that food has no morality. It’s not good or bad. It’s how you approach it and how you eat it. It’s astonishing to me how many foods are considered “bad.” Even fruit because of its sugar content.

Try this. When you go food shopping listen to your reactions. Do you avoid the cookie aisle because it’s bad? or the chip aisle? Do you berate yourself for craving pizza rolls? Don’t judge yourself, just realize all these ingrained diet thoughts are in your head. Even when you aren’t trying to “diet.” It’s kind of insane. Also eat some fucking pizza rolls. Because they are tasty. Make sure you get Totinos, not the generic kind though.

Remember: Food has no morality. Repeat it and enjoy.

What is some of your "bad" or "good" foods?

Them Bones

 Didya know?

Babies have more bones than grown-ups. You’re born with about 300 bones, but when you’re grown up you end up with around 260. What happens? As you get older some of your small bones grow together into big ones.

What do you know?

Salt Water-Red Writing Hood

Some people don't know that salt should be in every recipe. Even the sweetest dessert has at least a pinch of salt. Because salt isn't actually for flavoring. Salt is supposed to bring out the other flavors. Also to keep your bread from rising up and exploding. No one wants bland exploded bread. 

So salt is to food, tears are to life. A good life should have at least a pinch of tears. Tears can bring out the flavoring of life, so to speak. They will remind you what is important, who is worth it, what you should risk your heart on and why. They come to you in different ways. Great heaving sobs trying to hollow out your sadness in one go, angry wiped away tears refusing for others to see your weakness and the very best kind, laughter and tears. Your real friends are the ones who stay and try to make you laugh.

Baking is something that heals me. It drains all the pain and sadness from out of my arms. When I am done I feel lighter and ready. I am unaware of my tears until I wipe them off my checks, smearing flour and chocolate. And I don't ever forget the salt.

What heals you?

Advice from Kindergarten

 

We can all use a little refresher course on the basics. Here's some rules to remember for 2012.

Share everything—no matter how much you want it for yourself.

Play fair and give everyone an opportunity to participate.

Don't hit people. Make peace instead

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Put things back where you found them. An organized life is something to value.

Clean up your own mess so others don’t have to clean things up for you.

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody—it could avoid wars!

Wash your hands before you eat. Stay healthy and clean.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you—yum.

Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together—Never forget that family is the most important thing in the world.

Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup—they all die. So do we. Live life everyday with as much joy and wonder as possible.

And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first words you learned—the most important words of all—LOOK. LOOK, DREAM, LIVE.

from All I Really Need to Know I Learned In Kindergarten. 

What is your lesson you learned from kindergarten?

Unity

Revolutions not Resolutions

Loyal Friends

"There is no friend as loyal as a book"

-Ernest Hemmingway

Being a Fat Girl-PYHO

I have always been a fat girl. Chubby, overweight, big boned. Fat. When I was in basic training I was the smallest I've ever been. But I was still a fat girl. Like it just wouldn't sink in that I was skinny.  And it didn't last long anyway.

I wasn't raised in a healthy way. My dad would joke when he made dinner about how his doctor said he needed more cholesterol. I wasn't ever encouraged to go outside. I read a lot and watched a lot of TV. But then my dad would make piggy noises at me when I went to the fridge. Needless to say I have body and self esteem issues. 

But now I am not just a fat girl, but a fat mom. I have three little girls. And I never ever want them to feel bad about who they are. Even if who they are is chubby. I can't possibly do that until I accept me. A fat mom. 

I don't plan on giving up and just eating chips and cheese dip all day. I still want my girls to eat healthy and move their little bodies the way they were meant to. But I want them to know that food has no morality. It isn't "good" or "bad" and shouldn't be associated with guilt. Ever. A well balanced meal with vegetables and protein is important and healthy. But ice cream is health food too, mental health food. Sometimes it's okay to eat a box of french fries. Just savor them and move on.  I want them to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full. Not to starve or binge or gorge themselves. Then beat themselves up afterward.

I know that I can't fight against the media or the popular opinion. But I will do my best to fight it at home and to fight it by being the example they see. I'm not saying all my issues will go away over night. But I will fake it until I make it and hopefully teach my girls a new way to look at things. So they know healthy is not the same as skinny and vica versa.

What body issues do you struggle with?

Meet Our Sponsor!

When I was a kid my step mom taught me to sew. I made all kinds of clothes for my barbie dolls. We made our own patterns and my Barbie's were pretty freaking stylish if I do say so myself.  And ever since then I have a love of making things with my hands. When people ask me where I got my dress, I get a smug satisfaction being able to say. "Oh I made it myself."  Like it's no big deal.

That's probably why I think our sponsor this month rocks my (hand-knitted) socks off! Tina from 

What-I- Found was one of the very first blogs I followed. Her and her husband travel around the country and she hunts for vintage sewing patterns. And has found a ton of amazing ones. Now she has branched into selling them.

On her website you can find vintage, current, and even cosplay patterns. (Be still my nerdy heart.) You can search by size, type, or pretty much anything you can think of or you can just browse around. She thoroughly checks them to make sure they are complete and usable. She also offers shipping discounts for bigger orders. And she is always around if you have a question.

Go check her out and I know you will find something that you will love and want to make for yourself.

Are you interested in sponsoring? Contact me at sweetbutterbliss@gmail.com.