Iona Winter

While trawling the internet today, I inadvertently clicked on a link to a celebrity update. Unable to backtrack I was forced to read on. Well perhaps “forced” is a little too strong….alright then, I was curious.

To my surprise it was a witty repartee, regarding a celebrity being touted by mainstream media as having “Dropped Two Dress Sizes.” The non-conformist reporter was appalled (as was I), that an already very slim person was being congratulated for losing (even more) weight. I found myself smiling at their outraged response. It was delightful to read the article — as opposed to (yet another) endorsement on the benefits of eating a singular lettuce leaf per day!

Historically I’ll admit, I’ve felt envy towards goddesses with bronzed bodies, squeezed into infinitesimally small bikinis (when my best effort is a one piece cover-all). BUT jealousy aside, I have (for some years now) harped on to long suffering friends about the importance of loving ourselves. TRULY LOVING ourselves, bumps and all.

You don’t need me to tell you (but I will again, just incase you’ve forgotten) that many of us struggle every day with how we look. AND that media attention constantly focuses on the slim, the perfect and the beautiful. We all know this. Do I blame the media? Partly.

By applauding incredibly thin bodies as the ideal way to look, the media (and our dear selves) have created a rather bizarre paradigm: Be unhappy with yourself, when COMPARED to a celebrity (who has access to the best food, personal trainers and plastic surgeons). Strangely, we snaffle this up like ravenous vultures endeavouring to apply it to our own unique bodies.

Media blame aside, we all need to think before we speak. How we talk about weight and body image does affect others, including ourselves.

What I realised, whilst being encouraged by the article I read, is that deep within me lurks a sharp edged voice. This voice occasionally screams “You’re fat!” Sorry to say, my dear readers, the door to this screeching harridan was opened today.

In order to soothe my frayed nerves (and to shove the old witch back down) I have been self-medicating with dark chocolate. My message for the day: LOVE yourselves, LOVE your chocolate and BE KIND to one another.

Oh and if my bum looks big in my new jeans, please (for goodness sake) think before you speak!