I am not ashamed of my anorexia. Anybody who is bothered by it, is a big waste of my time.
I deserve a guy who wants to be seen with me; wants people to know I am his girlfriend.
I deserve a guy who loves me for who I am.
I deserve a guy who sees me not as a girl who has been anorexic but who i am not in the present.
It takes more courage to be different. They feel threatened by people who aren't like them. This is why people from home gossip about me - they can't accept that there is a different way of life. I am an anorexic and a self harmer and I dont care that they know.
I have done more with my life than the people who put me down.
I dont need to compare myself anymore. I should be proud of being unique and knowing I have friends who are just like me :)
I dont need a boy to feel good about myself.
Learning to love myself will be a challenge but I have faith I can do it! I have filled two books with compliments people have gave me.
I used to think I had admirers back home because well it was shields and boys just want to sleep with you. But I am attracting boys here :)
For being 23 years old, I have achieved a hell of a lot.
When people slag you off or look you up and down they are jealous of you. Simple fact.
Sunday 30 January 2011
Thursday 27 January 2011
Letter to My Body
So Northumberland College had a fashion show - which looked great - and they asked us at Beat to write a letter to our bodies. They read our stories/poems out and put some on the clothes. Very exciting!
Here is my letter:
Dear Rachel’s body,
I may not completely like you yet but I recognize the wonderful things you do. You allow me to dance out with my friends; to skip; to go walking; to play with my nephews, crawling around the soft play areas!
I took you for granted before. Then I set out to destroy you when anorexia took over us both. Yet you proved to be strong and I am thankful for that. If I’d died, I would never have met my gorgeous nephews, I wouldn’t have completed a degree and a MA, I would not be living in Australia and I would never have been a Beat ambassador, hopefully helping others gain strength against their eating disorder.
I appreciate my curves now. After all, boys certainly like them! Having a healthy body makes me smile, glow and feel like a human being. I look like a woman now, not a little girl and I’m proud of that. I love having boobs and my long legs!
I guess what I’m saying is sorry for the pain I put you through but thank you for letting me learn to love myself, curves and all!
Rachel
Here is my letter:
Dear Rachel’s body,
I may not completely like you yet but I recognize the wonderful things you do. You allow me to dance out with my friends; to skip; to go walking; to play with my nephews, crawling around the soft play areas!
I took you for granted before. Then I set out to destroy you when anorexia took over us both. Yet you proved to be strong and I am thankful for that. If I’d died, I would never have met my gorgeous nephews, I wouldn’t have completed a degree and a MA, I would not be living in Australia and I would never have been a Beat ambassador, hopefully helping others gain strength against their eating disorder.
I appreciate my curves now. After all, boys certainly like them! Having a healthy body makes me smile, glow and feel like a human being. I look like a woman now, not a little girl and I’m proud of that. I love having boobs and my long legs!
I guess what I’m saying is sorry for the pain I put you through but thank you for letting me learn to love myself, curves and all!
Rachel
Tuesday 18 January 2011
The PLAN
Okay, I sort of had a plan in my head regarding how I want to be when I go home and regarding my ex. But the other day for some reason I emailed my ex, just a friendly messgae but still this was NOT part of the PLAN!
I guess what I need to realise is I am human and we all make mistakes; it is okay to have a blip.
So what is my plan?
I want to be confident in myself and respect myself as a person - no more letting one boy control the person I am.
I will not let what other people say to me get me down. Most of them have not experienced the things I have and probably never will so what right do they have putting me down?
I will not be involved in the gossip of my home town.
I know it is not the end of the world of I dont have a boy who likes me. I am my own person and I am achieving what I want.
I do not love my ex anymore therefore I will not be his booty call or embark on a relationship again with him.
I do not even want to be my exes friend even - I thought he was mine but I have realised it was all one sided. He never cared about when I was feeling down.
So why did I email then? I guess last weeks situation with twitter affected me more than I thought, combined with a terrible attempt at starting exercise again and the comments the other boy made about me.
Oh as a side note, this boy apologised to me for what he said - he recognised it was harsh - and I really appreciate it. He knew I knew because of reading my blog! Oh dear. One thing I realised though is I never say what I mean to in real life. I think of things much later on and its something else I need to learn: how to speak my mind. He had said he said those things as he had felt awkward that everyone was talking about me and him and how I had wrote about us on my blog. I wish I had spoken out then; because really I am not a girl who gets carried away. I was not expecting anything more than what happened between us but I get the feeling that he reckons I wanted a relationship. Erm no. I know it was just a one off thing and I am fine with that :)
So yes here's to the PLAN lets hope I stick to it!
I guess what I need to realise is I am human and we all make mistakes; it is okay to have a blip.
So what is my plan?
I want to be confident in myself and respect myself as a person - no more letting one boy control the person I am.
I will not let what other people say to me get me down. Most of them have not experienced the things I have and probably never will so what right do they have putting me down?
I will not be involved in the gossip of my home town.
I know it is not the end of the world of I dont have a boy who likes me. I am my own person and I am achieving what I want.
I do not love my ex anymore therefore I will not be his booty call or embark on a relationship again with him.
I do not even want to be my exes friend even - I thought he was mine but I have realised it was all one sided. He never cared about when I was feeling down.
So why did I email then? I guess last weeks situation with twitter affected me more than I thought, combined with a terrible attempt at starting exercise again and the comments the other boy made about me.
Oh as a side note, this boy apologised to me for what he said - he recognised it was harsh - and I really appreciate it. He knew I knew because of reading my blog! Oh dear. One thing I realised though is I never say what I mean to in real life. I think of things much later on and its something else I need to learn: how to speak my mind. He had said he said those things as he had felt awkward that everyone was talking about me and him and how I had wrote about us on my blog. I wish I had spoken out then; because really I am not a girl who gets carried away. I was not expecting anything more than what happened between us but I get the feeling that he reckons I wanted a relationship. Erm no. I know it was just a one off thing and I am fine with that :)
So yes here's to the PLAN lets hope I stick to it!
Wednesday 12 January 2011
It was all a hoax....
Yesterday the guy off twitter announced that his promotion of managed anorexia was all a hoax - a 'scientific experimentation' as he called it to see if he could become famous overnight; a bet with his friend. I think it being a hoax is even worse. That he knew what he was doing was wrong and he still went ahead with his twisted plans.
What has angered me more is the media's and twitter's reaction to him. If he had chosen a topic like racism or suicide, there would have been public outrage and he would have surely been taken off Twitter immediately. Instead he chose anorexia - something that the vast majority has never comprehended at the best of times. Therefore he was allowed to stay on twitter as apparently he wasn't doing that much harm. Thankfully sufferers like me and positive body image advocates took a stand against him: creating a petition as well as tweeting #itswhatsinsidethatcounts. Celebs showed their disgust at him too, which I greatly appreciated - Rhianna, Rochelle Saturdays, Gordon Ramsay... Simon Cowell even urged people to tweet #notosizezero
The guy believes that by donating money to Beat he can redeem his terrible actions but how can he? He has already affected people, myself included. And that is something no apology or donation can ever fix. I also feel like he has ruined all the amazing work Beat has done over the past 21 years; work the ambassadors have done and the last 5 years of work I have done as an ambassador myself on campaigning for the awareness of eating disorders.
Eating disorders are like a taboo subject - no body want to talk about them. Why i have no idea. You could say it is because they are a mental health illness but a lot of people think eating disorders are extreme diets or all about appearances. Whatever the reason it needs to stop. I am not ashamed of my anorexia - most of my friends know I have been anorexic and are very supportive of me. So if I don't care that I used to be anorexic, why should anyone else be bothered?
I am already writing a book as is an amazing friend of mine of our ordeals and battle between anorexia and us - I hope that more people will understand because of our stories. I also hope he may have an ounce of decency left and read them so he can understand how awful an eating disorder is to live with.
I know people have written that surely everyone could see he was a hoax but the reality is eating disorder sufferers are vulnerable people and when he was attacking girls' rolemodels like Holly Willoughby for being "fat", girls and boys could start worrying about their appearance. The same with his backlash against Rochelle Wiseman saying if she wasn't thin she wouldn't be in The Saturdays. What kind of message is that sending? You dont have to be a size zero to be successful; in fact the irony is when you are a unnatural size zero you cannot do anything at all.
I thought anorexia would make me happy and perfect. It didn't. Perfection doesnt exist for a start. I was never good enough for anorexia; I wasn't thin enough; I didnt die.
When I was anorexic I had no interest in anything; all I wanted was to disappear and not have to suffer anymore. Yet when I came close to death I realised I didnt want to die. There was so much I wanted to achieve with my life. But first I had to battle this illness that wanted me dead. When I was stopped in my tracks by the unit, I had no life. I had no energy; my body was shutting down. I couldn't go out with my friends; I couldnt go to college or work; I couldn't drive, walk or anything. I wasn't interested in boys like my friends were; I hadn't laughed in months. I lost friends because they were living their lives whilst I was under my mam's 24 hour care. All I was, was an empty shell; a walking skeleton.
Anorexia took a lot from me but the best day was when i realised she didnt control me anymore; that I had the right to be happy and to learn how to love the person I am.
I would never wish anorexia on anyone not even my worst enemy and I sincerely hope he never has to experience anyone close to him, to be taken over by an eating disorder, as he will truly regret making a joke out of a very serious mental health illness.
What has angered me more is the media's and twitter's reaction to him. If he had chosen a topic like racism or suicide, there would have been public outrage and he would have surely been taken off Twitter immediately. Instead he chose anorexia - something that the vast majority has never comprehended at the best of times. Therefore he was allowed to stay on twitter as apparently he wasn't doing that much harm. Thankfully sufferers like me and positive body image advocates took a stand against him: creating a petition as well as tweeting #itswhatsinsidethatcounts. Celebs showed their disgust at him too, which I greatly appreciated - Rhianna, Rochelle Saturdays, Gordon Ramsay... Simon Cowell even urged people to tweet #notosizezero
The guy believes that by donating money to Beat he can redeem his terrible actions but how can he? He has already affected people, myself included. And that is something no apology or donation can ever fix. I also feel like he has ruined all the amazing work Beat has done over the past 21 years; work the ambassadors have done and the last 5 years of work I have done as an ambassador myself on campaigning for the awareness of eating disorders.
Eating disorders are like a taboo subject - no body want to talk about them. Why i have no idea. You could say it is because they are a mental health illness but a lot of people think eating disorders are extreme diets or all about appearances. Whatever the reason it needs to stop. I am not ashamed of my anorexia - most of my friends know I have been anorexic and are very supportive of me. So if I don't care that I used to be anorexic, why should anyone else be bothered?
I am already writing a book as is an amazing friend of mine of our ordeals and battle between anorexia and us - I hope that more people will understand because of our stories. I also hope he may have an ounce of decency left and read them so he can understand how awful an eating disorder is to live with.
I know people have written that surely everyone could see he was a hoax but the reality is eating disorder sufferers are vulnerable people and when he was attacking girls' rolemodels like Holly Willoughby for being "fat", girls and boys could start worrying about their appearance. The same with his backlash against Rochelle Wiseman saying if she wasn't thin she wouldn't be in The Saturdays. What kind of message is that sending? You dont have to be a size zero to be successful; in fact the irony is when you are a unnatural size zero you cannot do anything at all.
I thought anorexia would make me happy and perfect. It didn't. Perfection doesnt exist for a start. I was never good enough for anorexia; I wasn't thin enough; I didnt die.
When I was anorexic I had no interest in anything; all I wanted was to disappear and not have to suffer anymore. Yet when I came close to death I realised I didnt want to die. There was so much I wanted to achieve with my life. But first I had to battle this illness that wanted me dead. When I was stopped in my tracks by the unit, I had no life. I had no energy; my body was shutting down. I couldn't go out with my friends; I couldnt go to college or work; I couldn't drive, walk or anything. I wasn't interested in boys like my friends were; I hadn't laughed in months. I lost friends because they were living their lives whilst I was under my mam's 24 hour care. All I was, was an empty shell; a walking skeleton.
Anorexia took a lot from me but the best day was when i realised she didnt control me anymore; that I had the right to be happy and to learn how to love the person I am.
I would never wish anorexia on anyone not even my worst enemy and I sincerely hope he never has to experience anyone close to him, to be taken over by an eating disorder, as he will truly regret making a joke out of a very serious mental health illness.
Tuesday 11 January 2011
The Big Debate
Unless you have been hiding from social media this week, you will all know what my post is about: the current outrage at a certain someone who thinks promoting size zero and anorexia is a good thing.
I didn't want to write about it but I think this person has been allowed to stay on Twitter for too long. I thought that by asking people in the British media to help would give us a head start, as usually they excel at social campaigns such as this one.
Imagine then my dismay when barely anyone paid any attention except for lovely people at ELLE and Red magazine. Instead I was told that I was helping this idiot become news just because I was standing up against them! The fact remains that even after the amazing work of Beat; the awesome work of all Beat's Young Ambassadors and other lovely advocates of positive body image, the media still has no clue at how serious an eating disorder is and how potentially dangerous pro-anorexia can be.
Eating disorders kill. Fact.
Eating disorders are a mental health illness. Fact.
Eating disorders wreck people's lives. Fact.
Once upon a time I thought anorexia was the only thing I was good at. I believed I was in control and soon I would be able to disappear. To be invisible so nobody could bully me anymore and call me ugly. However being anorexic gave me attention I did not want. People getting upset about my sunken face, my lifeless eyes, my desire to do nothing but exercise and study, my jutting bones and my shrunken body.
Also I was not in control; my eating disorder was. Anorexia told me to trust nobody; they all wanted me to be fat. Anorexia shouted that I was fat, ugly, worthless, unloveable and stupid. Anorexia lost me the trust of my family; it made my parents worry if they were going to find me dead in the morning.
Anorexia is not pretty. Anorexia is not glamorous. Anorexia is evil. It will strip you of the person you are until there is no one left. It won't be happy until you are dead.
This whole management of anorexia is not possible. An eating disorder manages you.
The best thing about anorexia? It is beatable. Myself and many others are proof of this. Recovery can be a very long and hard battle but it is completely worth it. I can laugh again, dance and spend time with my friends. My family are proud of me; I am starting to be proud of me. Recovery is many things; read my blog and you will see how wonderful it is :)
Now I hear people say, "Yeah this guy isnt making anyone be anorexic!" and you would be right. Yet I know how damaging pro-anorexia can be. It is after all why hundreds of pro-ana web sites were shut down in the first place. People already in a vulnerable state, who feel like nobody understands them, often turn to pro-ana. Pro-ana glamourises anorexia; pro-ana tells you that you are not a good enough anorexic; pro-ana urges you to follow their tips, to stare at the thinspiration photos, to starve yourself to death.
This man may not directly make anyone become anorexic but his tweets are dangerous to those who are already in the midst of an eating disorder. I know it is. I have friends who have been greatly affected by his words. Even I have been affected by them; to the point I have had to remind myself why recovery is worth it. And it so is.
So please take a moment to think about this. Please do sign the petition at http://twitition.com/wq6ke and let's restore my faith in humanity.
I didn't want to write about it but I think this person has been allowed to stay on Twitter for too long. I thought that by asking people in the British media to help would give us a head start, as usually they excel at social campaigns such as this one.
Imagine then my dismay when barely anyone paid any attention except for lovely people at ELLE and Red magazine. Instead I was told that I was helping this idiot become news just because I was standing up against them! The fact remains that even after the amazing work of Beat; the awesome work of all Beat's Young Ambassadors and other lovely advocates of positive body image, the media still has no clue at how serious an eating disorder is and how potentially dangerous pro-anorexia can be.
Eating disorders kill. Fact.
Eating disorders are a mental health illness. Fact.
Eating disorders wreck people's lives. Fact.
Once upon a time I thought anorexia was the only thing I was good at. I believed I was in control and soon I would be able to disappear. To be invisible so nobody could bully me anymore and call me ugly. However being anorexic gave me attention I did not want. People getting upset about my sunken face, my lifeless eyes, my desire to do nothing but exercise and study, my jutting bones and my shrunken body.
Also I was not in control; my eating disorder was. Anorexia told me to trust nobody; they all wanted me to be fat. Anorexia shouted that I was fat, ugly, worthless, unloveable and stupid. Anorexia lost me the trust of my family; it made my parents worry if they were going to find me dead in the morning.
Anorexia is not pretty. Anorexia is not glamorous. Anorexia is evil. It will strip you of the person you are until there is no one left. It won't be happy until you are dead.
This whole management of anorexia is not possible. An eating disorder manages you.
The best thing about anorexia? It is beatable. Myself and many others are proof of this. Recovery can be a very long and hard battle but it is completely worth it. I can laugh again, dance and spend time with my friends. My family are proud of me; I am starting to be proud of me. Recovery is many things; read my blog and you will see how wonderful it is :)
Now I hear people say, "Yeah this guy isnt making anyone be anorexic!" and you would be right. Yet I know how damaging pro-anorexia can be. It is after all why hundreds of pro-ana web sites were shut down in the first place. People already in a vulnerable state, who feel like nobody understands them, often turn to pro-ana. Pro-ana glamourises anorexia; pro-ana tells you that you are not a good enough anorexic; pro-ana urges you to follow their tips, to stare at the thinspiration photos, to starve yourself to death.
This man may not directly make anyone become anorexic but his tweets are dangerous to those who are already in the midst of an eating disorder. I know it is. I have friends who have been greatly affected by his words. Even I have been affected by them; to the point I have had to remind myself why recovery is worth it. And it so is.
So please take a moment to think about this. Please do sign the petition at http://twitition.com/wq6ke and let's restore my faith in humanity.
Thursday 6 January 2011
Attracting The Right Guy
Now why is my post called this? I seem to have a habit of being sub-conciously attracted to guys who play on my insecurities, by using them to their own advantage. I got myself involved in a two year on and off relationship because I loved my ex that much I believed anything he said to me, when really he was probably just trying to get me into bed. Before now I believed this was how I was meant to be treated - but I deserve more. Being in Australia has forced me to look at my past behaviours and beliefs.
I deserve a guy who respects me and wants to be with me, and me only.
I deserve a guy who is proud of everything I have overcome and everything I have achieved.
I deserve a guy who wants to be seen with me; wants people to know I am his girlfriend.
I deserve a guy who loves me for who I am.
I deserve a guy who sees me not as a girl who has been anorexic but who I am now in the present.
On a previous post about New Year, I said I had shared a midnight kiss with a lovely guy. Turns out he isnt as nice as I thought. He is just like the others have been - nice to me, then talking about me differently to his friends as if I am a joke.
The other night he had told me he hopes I listened to everything he had said to me on New Year; how he can see the potential I have and had been reading my blog. I had appreciated him reading my blog as not many boys would do that. Yet the next day all his kind words seem tainted.
Basically I read something I wish I hadn't. He had left a conversation open with a friend on my housemates laptop. In it he said this about me:
"Girl's got issues man; Anorexic for years; Dark as fuck."
Yes it doesnt seem much but to me, it was just another sign that no guy is ever going to want to be with me. I was upset but after a while I thought hang on! I am not the only person with issues. Like my cousin said, "Everyone has issues." Plus my issues aren't that bad anymore - I just lack confidence which I am quite good at hiding to the outside world. I am not dark at all and so what if I have been anorexic? He even said himself I should be with someone who is proud of what I have overcome.
So now instead of being upset, I have thought stuff him! I will show him what I am made of!! I am determined to get rid of my insecurities and have the life I deserve. I am not ashamed of my eating disorder and to prove this point this is what I had my facebook status as:
"Feeling empowered today so... Yes, I am a recovered anorexic. So fuck! If I dont care, why should anyone else?!
I deserve a guy who respects me and wants to be with me, and me only.
I deserve a guy who is proud of everything I have overcome and everything I have achieved.
I deserve a guy who wants to be seen with me; wants people to know I am his girlfriend.
I deserve a guy who loves me for who I am.
I deserve a guy who sees me not as a girl who has been anorexic but who I am now in the present.
On a previous post about New Year, I said I had shared a midnight kiss with a lovely guy. Turns out he isnt as nice as I thought. He is just like the others have been - nice to me, then talking about me differently to his friends as if I am a joke.
The other night he had told me he hopes I listened to everything he had said to me on New Year; how he can see the potential I have and had been reading my blog. I had appreciated him reading my blog as not many boys would do that. Yet the next day all his kind words seem tainted.
Basically I read something I wish I hadn't. He had left a conversation open with a friend on my housemates laptop. In it he said this about me:
"Girl's got issues man; Anorexic for years; Dark as fuck."
Yes it doesnt seem much but to me, it was just another sign that no guy is ever going to want to be with me. I was upset but after a while I thought hang on! I am not the only person with issues. Like my cousin said, "Everyone has issues." Plus my issues aren't that bad anymore - I just lack confidence which I am quite good at hiding to the outside world. I am not dark at all and so what if I have been anorexic? He even said himself I should be with someone who is proud of what I have overcome.
So now instead of being upset, I have thought stuff him! I will show him what I am made of!! I am determined to get rid of my insecurities and have the life I deserve. I am not ashamed of my eating disorder and to prove this point this is what I had my facebook status as:
"Feeling empowered today so... Yes, I am a recovered anorexic. So fuck! If I dont care, why should anyone else?!
Monday 3 January 2011
A 'moment' of appreciating my body
I had one of those moments in the airport where I appreciate my body – I was wearing a short dress so I was all long tanned legs. I need to accept I have a great body – I am slim, tall, all legs and have slight curves in mostly the right places. I am still a size eight and I get many compliments about my body, I should love it too.
Interview with Operation Beautiful
It's time we stop emulating or striving for a type of perfection that doesn't even exist in the real world. It's OK to look like a human!
This statement by Caitlin, the creator of the site Operation Beautiful, is so true. Society nowadays has made people strive for perfection, especially with our appearances. Caitlin is right: we can just look like ourselves! What is important is loving ourselves for who we are and maintaining our beautiful individuality! If only the media and fashion industry would celebrate this… As a supporter of All Walks I have been interviewing other people who promote healthy body image. Here is my interview with Caitlin: check out her site too! http://operationbeautiful.com
How did you come up with the idea for Operation Beautiful?
I was inspired to start Operation Beautiful after having a really bad day; I wanted to do something small and simple for someone else to make me feel better! I posted my first note in the bathroom of a community college and blogged about it, and the concept went viral.
What has been the response to it?
The site started in June 2009 and I've received over 7,000 notes from all over the world since it started, including notes from Asia, Europe, and Africa. Operation Beautiful involves posting random notes in public places for other people to find. These notes typically encourage a positive body image or outlook and include phrases like "You are beautiful inside and out" or "Scales measure weight, not worth."
What has been the best anonymous note?
My favourite story is Vit's. A teenager in Canada, Vit was in a treatment centre for severe anorexia. Her doctors were concerned that it was going to eventually kill her. She slipped into the bathroom to throw up her lunch and found an Operation Beautiful note on the stall. The simple message - "You are good enough the way you are" - made her pause and reconsider her destructive behaviour. She followed up with me a few months later and said she was out of the hospital and healthier than ever. Vit knew a stranger posted the note, but she felt like the timing was a message from God.
Do you think the media will ever change their attitude towards promoting healthy body image?
I think society needs to ask them to change, and then I hope they will listen to consumers.
What has been your reaction to the increase in pro-Ana and pro-Mia websites?
I think they are horrible, but they are allowed under the First Amendment, I suppose. I wish people would be more responsible with what they write and say on the Internet.
If you could give advice to a young person suffering from bad body image or an eating disorder, what would you say?
Everything you already need is already inside of you, and don't be afraid or ashamed to reach out to an adult for help. Keep reaching out until you get the help you need.
What has been the media’s response to your web site?
They love it. You can see a complete list of the PR the site has gotten here: http://operationbeautiful.com/press/
This statement by Caitlin, the creator of the site Operation Beautiful, is so true. Society nowadays has made people strive for perfection, especially with our appearances. Caitlin is right: we can just look like ourselves! What is important is loving ourselves for who we are and maintaining our beautiful individuality! If only the media and fashion industry would celebrate this… As a supporter of All Walks I have been interviewing other people who promote healthy body image. Here is my interview with Caitlin: check out her site too! http://operationbeautiful.com
How did you come up with the idea for Operation Beautiful?
I was inspired to start Operation Beautiful after having a really bad day; I wanted to do something small and simple for someone else to make me feel better! I posted my first note in the bathroom of a community college and blogged about it, and the concept went viral.
What has been the response to it?
The site started in June 2009 and I've received over 7,000 notes from all over the world since it started, including notes from Asia, Europe, and Africa. Operation Beautiful involves posting random notes in public places for other people to find. These notes typically encourage a positive body image or outlook and include phrases like "You are beautiful inside and out" or "Scales measure weight, not worth."
What has been the best anonymous note?
My favourite story is Vit's. A teenager in Canada, Vit was in a treatment centre for severe anorexia. Her doctors were concerned that it was going to eventually kill her. She slipped into the bathroom to throw up her lunch and found an Operation Beautiful note on the stall. The simple message - "You are good enough the way you are" - made her pause and reconsider her destructive behaviour. She followed up with me a few months later and said she was out of the hospital and healthier than ever. Vit knew a stranger posted the note, but she felt like the timing was a message from God.
Do you think the media will ever change their attitude towards promoting healthy body image?
I think society needs to ask them to change, and then I hope they will listen to consumers.
What has been your reaction to the increase in pro-Ana and pro-Mia websites?
I think they are horrible, but they are allowed under the First Amendment, I suppose. I wish people would be more responsible with what they write and say on the Internet.
If you could give advice to a young person suffering from bad body image or an eating disorder, what would you say?
Everything you already need is already inside of you, and don't be afraid or ashamed to reach out to an adult for help. Keep reaching out until you get the help you need.
What has been the media’s response to your web site?
They love it. You can see a complete list of the PR the site has gotten here: http://operationbeautiful.com/press/
Operation Beautiful
I love Caitlin's website and mission, Operation Beautiful. Her idea is for people to write post it notes with positive quotes etc and put them around in public or on your blog to help others realise their true beauty.
Eating Disorders
To me this is significant because I would like to hope that one day eating disorders will disappear or at least the numbers of people suffering will significantly drop. It saddens me how many people are suffering from an eating disorder still and how so many people die before they have realised how amazing they really are.
Positive Body Image
I wanted to share some striking photos that promote a healthy body image with you :) It is possible to learn to love the body you are in. Above is the Butterfly Foundation one and this is so true: our beauty is not measured by how much we weigh.
Sunday 2 January 2011
My Aims For 2011
1. Visit North Australia, Bali and the South Island of New Zealand.
2. Snorkel in the Great Barrir Reef.
3. Cook more.
4. Start up more toning exercises - long walks, swimming, boxing.
5. Stop putting myself down and not be as sensitive to things.
6. Wear grown up clothes when back in the UK (too hot here to be smart 24/7 in Sydney!)
7. Continue writing for All Walks, MPB, LGN events and possibly The Line.
8. Do lots of work experience.
9. Spend time with my family.
10. Remove myself from my home town gossip.
11. Do not let a boy treat me bad again, especially my ex - I want to have no contact with him when I go home.
12. Obtain my Youth Achievement Awards.
13. Hopefully get into uni again to do my PGCE and manage being away from home.
14. Do the spilts.
15. Be comfortable with the person I am.
2. Snorkel in the Great Barrir Reef.
3. Cook more.
4. Start up more toning exercises - long walks, swimming, boxing.
5. Stop putting myself down and not be as sensitive to things.
6. Wear grown up clothes when back in the UK (too hot here to be smart 24/7 in Sydney!)
7. Continue writing for All Walks, MPB, LGN events and possibly The Line.
8. Do lots of work experience.
9. Spend time with my family.
10. Remove myself from my home town gossip.
11. Do not let a boy treat me bad again, especially my ex - I want to have no contact with him when I go home.
12. Obtain my Youth Achievement Awards.
13. Hopefully get into uni again to do my PGCE and manage being away from home.
14. Do the spilts.
15. Be comfortable with the person I am.
Happy New Year!
I hope that 2011 is even better than 2010. I have finally gotten over my ex and although I struggle with other things, I know my eating disorder is not worth it. Anorexia does not give me the life I want. It makes me look like a little girl and quite frankly I want curves :)
My New Year was amazing in Sydney; we went to a pub and then a nearby park where you could drink and watch the fireworks from the Sydney Harbour bridge. I also had a kiss at midnight with a lovely guy who is from my home town too. So I guess nice guys do exist and that I do deserve better from boys. The guy in question is a friend and he gave me some advice: how I should be with someone who is proud of all I have acheived and overcome.
I guess what this post is about, is that I am realising what I want out of life and the kind of relationship I think I deserve.
I wish you all an amazing 2011 :)
My New Year was amazing in Sydney; we went to a pub and then a nearby park where you could drink and watch the fireworks from the Sydney Harbour bridge. I also had a kiss at midnight with a lovely guy who is from my home town too. So I guess nice guys do exist and that I do deserve better from boys. The guy in question is a friend and he gave me some advice: how I should be with someone who is proud of all I have acheived and overcome.
I guess what this post is about, is that I am realising what I want out of life and the kind of relationship I think I deserve.
I wish you all an amazing 2011 :)
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