Comments on: Summer Reading: Thin is the New Happy ~By Valerie Frankel

By: patricia

patricia — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:06:37 +0000

Welcome Cindy and thank you for your comments.
Develop your mind – what wise words and I thank you for giving them to us. “Develop you mind rinse and repeat” I love it…good advice.
I was very careful with three daughters, but number 3 is a producer’s dream so I am working on translating that into a wholistic approach to fashion and body image. As a communications major she would made a great stylist for all women if she would learn about different body types and how a body works at it’s optimum – at 23 it is hard for mom’s to know anything!

By: Cindy Platt

Cindy Platt — Tue, 26 May 2009 02:06:43 +0000

Body image. Grrr anger. My grandma was a full figured dairy farmer. Every day when we milked the cows one of her bits of wisdom that I hold deeply was: "develop your mind and the rest will follow". She was right. I am super cautious about what images my daughter sees like magazine covers, zero tolerance for commercials, billboards etc. She can read now and asks questions and takes second glances when we are at a check out stand and the magazines are glaring at us. Develop your mind rinse and repeat. Looking forward to the book. Cindy Platts last blog post..You are a Writer

By: Patricia

Patricia — Sat, 23 May 2009 18:55:44 +0000

Barb,
thank you for coming on by and sharing, I hope you will share Becky’s book when it is found too.

My hubby does look in the mirror lately and sees old…His eye lids are drooping now as the fat tissue shifts downward (Like Brian Williams on the TV News) But with all his outdoor biking and gardening work he is truly looking like a “wrinkle dog” He loves that he is so muscular and “skinny” tall, where as I get sick about all the comments about how I should share my food (I am heavy) and not eat all of his…hmmm

By: Barb Hartsook

Barb Hartsook — Sat, 23 May 2009 13:17:29 +0000

Hi Patricia. I once heard a speaker say that men don’t talk to the mirrors as women do. We pinch and pull in and take note of what is wrong with us. Don’t look at my fat! we want to shout. While men flex their muscles — or where they want them to be — and see what they want to see.

I haven’t watched any men do this — my hubby wouldn’t do that in front of me at least — so I can’t say with certainty. But I can agree all us gals are like that. I used to work with women on self-image, and had to coax out of them something they liked about their bodies! (Me too.)

I’m gonna’ buy Becky’s book as soon as she finds it and shares.

Barb Hartsooks last blog post..Do You Have a Minute, Jack?

By: patricia

patricia — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:44:30 +0000

Tess,
It is so hard to help children have a good body image…my sister was nearly Miss Ohio in college and I was the only tall – giant kid in the family…Bones was my nickname in school !…My kids are in fairly good shape, but each has had to learn to like their own bodies and in our culture this has not been an easy task

By: Tess The Bold LIfe

Tess The Bold LIfe — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:29:25 +0000

I used to have a body image problem. I out of 10 kids and I want the only short and well endowed one and got teased and mocked all the time. In high school I made many good friends who never said anything mean about my body. I recovered! I wouldn't allow a scale in my home when my kids were growing up. It didn't help because of all of the other influences from media, friends etc. Tess The Bold LIfes last blog post..Bold Spontaneity In California

By: Patricia

Patricia — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:21:27 +0000

Liara,
I think you are completely right about self acceptance. I do think you can be self accepting but not accepted by others and although you may be upset by others non-acceptance this can certainly influence one’s life.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:17:30 +0000

Lisa,
Body Image is such a tricky issue and I had a hard time with our discussion – I am more with Betsy on this subject.
I was just sent another book to review which is about how the food industry is corrupting our food and overt addicting people with their formulas and advertising. It is full of quite a bit of new research but it makes me happy I did not have TV for a great deal in my life.
I got my copy for $1 at a used book sale. I am sure it is in the library

By: LisaNewton

LisaNewton — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:04:06 +0000

Although I haven't done any book discussions, it's a great way to introduce yourself to books you might otherwise pass up. I'll have to see if there's one at my local library. Body image is tricky business, and I'm with Betsy on this one...................:) LisaNewtons last blog post..A Garden Tour of Malibu’s Adamson House

By: Liara Covert

Liara Covert — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:34:25 +0000

When a person is completely happy with the self, then he or she does not think abut size, labels or eating habits, what he or she has or has not. One can evolve to fully love and accept any condition. This is the infinite power of love. Liara Coverts last blog post..Sandra Rogers & 11 points on anger & hate