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Monday, April 6, 2009 |
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| Nothing to Fear |
Hey FGs!
You know, lately I've had the opportunity of talking with and getting to know some girls who have dealt with eating disorders. And I have heard so many girls talk about dieting, weight, and their bodies to start to see a common thread, or the root of so many struggles - a fear of our bodies.
It sounds like a strange concept. But when we get to the age of growing up, our bodies get to be very unpredictable. Life begins to follow a similar pattern. But when you forget that your body is absolutely unique and works differently than anyone else's, or your ideal body is something much different than your own, sometimes your body can feel out-of-control. Add in celebrity photos, gossip, and life drama, and suddenly your body is a beast that needs to be tamed.
Diets, in my view, while sometimes seemingly "healthy" or "normal," are often a way to keep our body in check, because we're scared of what might happen otherwise. What if we let go, and suddenly gain 25 pounds? It reminds me of this commercial I saw last week for face care with the slogan, "Discipline your skin." That's so often how we approach caring for our bodies, like they need to be kept in check. Now, that's just fine for the model in the commercial - she can get paid to discipline her body. But when it's your own life, real life, it's not so fun.
It can be hard to believe, but your body does not need to be controlled, or in any way feared or punished. In that way, we are no different from each other - every body needs to be cared for and has the ability to know what it needs. Take good care of you.
xoxo
The Fab GalLabels: body image, dieting, eating disorders, fab gal, listening to your body |
posted by Fab Gal @ 10:47 PM   |
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Wednesday, April 1, 2009 |
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| Ready, Break! |
Hey FGs!
So I'lll admit it - I am definitely having an off day today. I'm not going to make excuses or blame the other side of the bed - it just is what it is. And I was really stressing out, because I realized this afternoon that today was a blog day, and for once, I had no idea what to say. Nada. It might be a first.
I kept worrying myself over it, until I asked myself, What would I tell one of my Fab Gals to do in this situation? Just take a break. We always want to be at the top of our game, doing the most, the best. But you know what? Sometimes, you just need to take a breather.
So that's all I've got for today - taking a break with a Seventeen magazine. But you aren't off the hook just yet, FG. Check out the new poll on the side - I would love to know what topics you want to hear more about so I can come up with some cool new stuff. After that, feel free to take a break from from go-go-go mode. It will be so worth it.
xoxo
The Fab Gal Labels: fab gal, listening to your body, relaxing, self care |
| posted by Fab Gal @ 8:42 PM |
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Saturday, March 14, 2009 |
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| Walk Your Talk |
Hey FGs!
So I have a confession to make: as much as I'd like to say I always follow my own advice, it doesn't quite always happen that way. I sure can talk, but walking that out? Not so easy. Sometimes it makes me wonder if I even know what I'm talking about.
Lately, I've been testing myself out on one of my favorite pieces of advice: intuitive eating, or listening to my body to decide what it needs. I never realized how much I don't do that, and how much I still follow all the "rules" I have about when, where, and what to eat. So at first, following my own advice wasn't as easy as I hoped.
But you know what? I am incredibly glad I did it. Because I realized I can do it, it's just a matter of actually trying, taking the first step. Not only have I gotten much better at trusting my "gut" (get it?), I learned that maybe I should listen to my own voice more often, because maybe I do know something.
And my point isn't that my own advice is so fabulous, so you should listen to all of it. But maybe your own advice, your own voice is worth taking in every once and a while. Give a try.
xoxo
The Fab GalLabels: advice, fab gal, independence, listening to your body, self esteem |
| posted by Fab Gal @ 9:20 AM |
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Monday, February 9, 2009 |
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| Mind Yourself |
Hello FGs!
This is a topic I've probably covered before, but I will come back to it again and again, because I'm still learning it too: "mindful eating." What is that? Pretty simply, it means listening to your own body to decide when and what to eat - not judging your wants or hunger by a calorie count, celebrity diet, or even a friend.
It's so funny, because this is really a process of unlearning - our bodies intuitively know what they need, but culturally it becomes more standard to follow someone else's rules, as if they know what's right. There's this gum commercial right now that is a perfect example - a woman is standing in front of the cookie counter, but then decides she "shouldn't" have one, so she chews a stick of sugar-free gum instead. Who told her that cookies are "bad" foods? If you want one, you can have one.
Beyond the influence of media, I catch myself following my friends too. If I hear them talk about bad foods or things they shouldn't eat, I keep that in mind. And I always seem to try not to eat more than they do. It's not like they would really care, or say anything about it. It just seems safer.
And you know what? There's no need to follow anyone's rules. Because who knows better than you what you need? The fact is, nobody. And it can be a great challenge to tune out all of those rules, especially if they've become a seemingly "natural" way for you - believe me, I know. But once you can start to turn them down, you can listen more carefully to the one who really knows best: you.
xoxo
The Fab Gal
Don't forget - I am always reachable at fabgalsite@gmail.com and at The Fab Gal Myspace. Whatever you need, I'm here for you!Labels: advice, fab gal, food, listening to your body, mindful eating, teens |
| posted by Fab Gal @ 4:28 PM |
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Wednesday, January 28, 2009 |
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| What is Healthy? |
 Healthy is getting your blood pumping...
...and finding time to relax.
Healthy is eating apples and carrots and yogurt... ...and chocolate or pizza or Ben & Jerry's.
Healthy is working your body... ...and working your mind and your soul.
Healthy is eating food for a healthy heart... ...and finding relationships for a healthy heart.
Healthy is living to feel great... ...and admitting when you don't feel well.
Healthy is pushing yourself to the limits... ...and knowing what those limits are.
Healthy is NOT measured by pounds, calories, dress sizes, or minutes on the treadmill. It's measured by how you feel. Labels: fab gal, health, listening to your body |
| posted by Fab Gal @ 8:43 PM |
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Friday, June 27, 2008 |
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| Young at Heart |
Hey hey Fab Gals! Have you ever watched a little kid and noticed how comfortable they are in their own skin? I think it's so funny - they know themselves and what they need better than a lot of adults. I don't think you would ever catch a little kid pinching their fat in the mirror or overeating or getting mad at themselves. Kids have this amazing ability to know what their bodies need, no worries. It's intuition - but somewhere along the way we lose it.  I know how it is, Fab Gals: life is really crazy. Once you start to grow up, there's school and friends and everything is changing all the time. There's a lot of pressure, and sometimes it feels amazing just to make it through the day in one piece! Don't get me wrong - there are major perks to being a teen. I know I didn't get a cell phone or to go to the mall by myself when I was 5. And it's nice to be away from time-outs and footie pajamas. Maybe, though, we can tap into some of the things that we knew as a kid. Intuitive eating, a new big movement in health, is a "no-diet" philosophy that is based on listening to your body, eating what you want, and stopping when you're full. Nobody knows how to do that better than a kid! Kids are truly free spirits - they live in the moment and are who they are, no complaints. And they enjoy themselves! There's no reason we can't have that too.
So go ahead Fab Gals- grab a jump rope. Make Kool-Aid. Wear jelly shoes. Then pick up your cell and go to the mall. Just remember: you know who you are and what you need, you just have to listen. Leave room for your imagination and room to grow. And always feel free to play. What about you, FGs? What do you miss about being a kid? What are the best (and worst) parts of being the age you are? Leave a comment to let me know what you think! xoxo The Fab Gal Labels: being yourself, fab gal, intuition, listening to your body, play |
| posted by Fab Gal @ 11:11 AM |
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