First goal for 2011...

I'm going to run.
Yes you read that right... STOP LAUGHING.
I am committing to all of you that I am going to register for the Forzani Mother's Day Run. It's May 8th this year, giving me about 3.5 months to train and get read for the run. I haven't decided if I want to do the 5 or 10 k yet, but we will see soon (in my heart, I want to do the 10k... but god only knows if I will be ready.) I have already recruited a friend to the challenge with me.
Which leads me to y'all. I am challenging everyone to get up and make a physical goal this year. Pick whatever it is you like, but make it something with an end point (don't pick "to be more active" pick " do a physical activity 3 times a week"!). Let people know what it is, be proud of the goal and own it! Maybe it will be to pick up a new activity or return to one you once loved. Maybe it's a competition, or maybe it's just to compete against yourself. I also hope that you will want to share your challenge and progress with me along your journey, but if not that's ok too I just want everyone to try.
If you want to join my running journey, Chatelaine has a how to start running guide. If you're not quite ready to run, they also have a Walk Fit program listed.
Now before I get all of these comments that I am perpetuating image issues, let me point out that I am doing this as a challenge to myself, NOT for looks. I want the cardiovascular endurance so I can go hiking and backpacking with the end goal being doing both the West Coast Trail and East Coast Trails VERY soon. To be truthful, I am really hoping that by training for a run, I will be more focused on the cardio work that I so desperately need.
We will have our very own blog dedicated to our training, our runs, our hits and misses coming VERY soon! I will try and keep you posted about this as best I can!
and now, we run (I hope someone out there gets this reference!)
XOXO - S


IT'S HERE!!!
The running blog is now up and ready to be loved!!!
http://www.runningwithadream.blogspot.com/

What is sexy?

I was on My Fitness Pal the other day and was reading the forum and ran across a post that a 33 year old guy posted with the subject header "What is sexy". Here is what he wrote:

"I see so many people on here and in everyday life saying they want to lose weight so they can be sexy. Its always funny because many of you/them are already considered by many sexy, even ifyou have a lb or two to lose, or even if you have a lot to lose. On the other hand there are many people not considered sexy that are at "perfect" weights. I suppose then that "sexy" is very subjective, i know for me its really an intangible quality, it has alot to do with attitude even more so than appearance. The way some women carry themselves, their attitudes, etc to me make them sexy. I love a woman who is confident in herself but not conceited, who has a sense of humor, and a sense of humor about herself. A big help is just being nice, there have been many times when a woman was just nice that it overrode any physical "deficiency" she may have had. on the other hand many "gorgeous" women have not been nice and it made them ugly. what do you all consider sexy "

Interesting... since I have NOT seen the same type of topic started by any of the women on the site. Most of the topics relate to health and wellness, but this one really stuck out to me becuse it went beyond the surface to really ask about HOW we are defining ourselves.

So, what do you define sexy as? Is it looking like a magazine? Or is it something from within? Is it a combination of both? Are people going to judge sexy as the same thing?

...things to think about

xoxo -S

... Just a little help for my friends...

So after thinking about the whole "resolution" thing, I decided that maybe a little support for people out there might be in order. With that in mind, I set out to find work sheets, web sites, support groups, whatever I found that I thought could be of help to both me and other people in reaching their goal (hopefully the goal is self acceptance cause that's what I went looking for!). So no, I do not have miracle weight loss cures or money trees or any of that stuff. I am also not trying to sell you anything! I just wanted to share what I found with all of you!

Stress and Anger Relief - I know for me, I get frustrated and angry especially when looking at things I want to change about myself. Figured that if nothing else, it's something to keep in mind
Let's Get Real - It's important that when looking at changes, we know why we want them as well as can make a plan to get there. It's great to want a million dollars, but why do you want it and how are you going to get there.
The Resolution Sheet - past this up maybe everywhere in your house. The more you see it, the more likely you are to stick to it... and odds are Friends will see it and ask about it making for a built in support team!
Resolution Worksheet - WARNING they are trying to sell you stuff... SORRY. But I like the idea of associating an image/colour/word with your resolution so I included it!


This all brings me to something that I want to try starting today. It's called Attitude of Gratitude and it looks at bringing ourselves happiness through really appreciating what we already have. I hope to follow the program and write about it everyday (we will see how that goes since I can't seem to get on here very much!)

Hope to post more soon!!!

xoxo - S

New Year, new...???

...almost a new me? Every year people set out to change themselves with new years resolutions. We set new levels that we want to achieve in the next year. Bad habits, new habits, goals- they are all things we want to change about ourselves. So the question then becomes... why do we do it? Are our resolutions due to something we truly want or is it something that we have been groomed to "want"?
For example, how many people want to lose 10 lbs this year? How many set that same resolution every year? I know I have. But why do I want to lose the 10 lbs? For me this year I realized it's less about the weight and more about other things I want from the loss. I want to do more hiking and I want to be able to do the active things that my boyfriend wants to do. So really, it has nothing to do with the weight. More accurately, I want to be more healthy this year. So then why have I made the resolution to lose weight?
Maybe it has somethign to do with what the media keeps telling me... "Lose that 10lbs of Holiday weight" "Bikini ready in just 6 weeks" and "This year keep those resolutions with this... (fill in the blank with the "great" product here)". Well damn, apparently I am good for nothing if I don't get on this train. Sign me up for it all!
... IT'S GOING TO COST ME HOW MUCH TO CHANGE?!
Well eff that... Maybe it's time to focus more on liking who I am rather than spending all this time changing for other people. I am not saying that I am perfect and do not have things that need to be changed. I am saying that I need to make those changes because I WANT them, not because I am suppose to be a certain way.
Really bringing me back to why I want to "lose weight" this year. I don't, well not really. I want to be able to do things that I used to do. And if as a result to getting prepared (re:in shape) to do those activities I lose weight, then bonus.
My New Years Resolution for 2011 is:
I refuse to let other people tell me what I need to do to be happy. I resolve to find that out for my self!
xoxo - S

Nike Women

This might make me ONLY buy nike products... BRILLIANT marketing and self esteem boosting.

... and I'm back...

So I haven't posted in a while... I have been busy searching the world for things for you!
First of all, you all need to check out the Body Shop's Soft Hands, Kind Heart cream. Proceeds from the product go to ECPAT who are working towards ending child prostitution and child pornography. While you're buying the cream, throw in and buy the re-usable bag for $5 which also supports ECPAT. Also click the link and sign the petition.
It's that time of year where Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is happening all over the world. The event is to raise awareness around women's issues, specifically domestic violence. The website lists all the walks that you can participate in and how to get involved. The Calgary event is hosted by the YWCA every year and is on September 20th this year. I urge all of you to get your dads, brothers, partners and friends to participate. It is an awesome party that supports a very important cause.
And since I am selling y'all stuff this post, I might as well continue with Women for Women. It's a website that makes it possible to buy products made by women in areas of poverty, conflict and oppression. The website is divided into 4 separate shops for your shopping ease. There are some amazing products ranging from bath and body products to jewelry and clothing. And let me tell you, there are some very cute bags available as well.
Sorry for selling you guys stuff this week, but remember it's all for a good cause. So get involved, spread the word and we will chat again later!
XOXO
Sarah

A (mini) Breakthrough!!!

Who knew a moment of breakthrough would come while on the internet!?!
I think I have found my new favorite site. Adios Barbie looks at body image and it's impact on society. There is an article posted there about the effect dieting has on self-esteem. The article looks at how the diet industry makes their money by telling you that you are only healthy if you are slim. Interestingly, the methods the diet industry use do not focus on actually making people healthy, just allowing them to lose a small amount of weight for a short period of time. Often this weight is gained back causing the term "yo-yo" dieting. Gaining and losing weight consistently is not healthy and puts stress on the body. However, since "skinny" is considered to equate with healthy, the diet industry has us convinced to buy into weight loss at any cost.
With this in mind, I encourage everyone to visit Health at Every Size (HAES). You can take their pledge to live in a healthy way and search their resources. I encourage this for a few reasons, but the biggest is to remind yourself that beauty is on the inside and that health is a life long goal, not just to lose those last 10 lbs.
Consider this next time you are beating yourself up for what you don't look like: How many industries rely on you wanting to change to keep them in business? The diet industry not only WANTS you to fail, but NEEDS you to fail to keep it afloat. They also need you to continually feel bad about yourself so you buy into whatever it is they are selling. So really, the entire diet empire needs you to not succeed and they have set it up to ensure that. Think about how many ads you see in a day for the weight loss industry. How many have testimonials from people who it "worked" for... now think about how many have tiny little disclaimers at the bottom saying "results not typical" and "result will vary". The fitness would is no better saying that you will look like this by using our product. Unfortunately, not every body is created the same and thus, once again "results may vary".
I think that what I want to remind you as well and constantly remind myself, is to look at everything with a critical eye. Why am I not happy with my body? Is it because I am told I shouldn't? Because I want to look like everyone else? Because media tells me it's "easy"? Or is it because of health reasons? Is there something I am prevented from doing?
Perhaps this will have to be a breakthrough that I have to keep coming to, asking myself "why". Looking at: each purchase, thing I read, ads I see with a critical eye to ensure that I am not putting myself down because "they" need me to. I need to be looking out for number 1... and that sure as hell isn't some CEO who is rubbing his hands with glee.
XOXO
Sarah

Openning my eyes...

Yet another eye opening weekend. Looks like I do my best thinking when I don't have to.
I guess the first thing I realized this weekend is that everything doesn't look so bad when you are feeling good. By this I mean both  physically and mentally. I have been battling a cold for FAR too long now and this weekend I finally started to feel healthy again. I hadn't realized how much the cold had been taking out of me until I wasn't coughing and sniffling. The second thing that really hit home is that when you're mentally feeling good, everything just seems to be a little easier. I have depression and had stopped taking my meds thinking that I did not need them anymore. Turns out I still do need them as the last little bit has been quite a struggle for me. I started taking them again after noticing that I wasn't feeling myself and my boyfriend had noticed a change in me. Shockingly, I feel much better now that I am taking them again. Lesson learned - it's ok to need a little help. I am not invincible.
With the ideas that I am not invincible and it's ok to ask for help in mind, I told my boyfriend how I had been feeling about my body image of late. I told him truthfully that I was struggling with both my weight and how I see myself when I look in a mirror. After telling me that I am beautiful both inside and out, he asked what he could do to help. I told him that I wasn't sure unless he had the ability to either a/ get in my head and change things around or b/ change how people see each other. Hmmm seems that he is unable to do either. Dang...
So what to do from here? I think that's the whole purpose of this thing isn't it! So  had best get to some reading and self-work and I'll let you know how it's going.
XOXO
Sarah

Listen to this!

Oh media, how I love and loath thee...
So I know for me, music has always been VERY important in my life (hence my huge CD collection).
Music is probably not the best place to look for positive words about woman to increase their self-esteem, especially around body image.. However there are a few songs that come to mind. The current Kardinal and Akon song Body Bounce while being about sex, actually has a positive message to women if you can get past the rest of the lyrics. "That's the body of the century, You a little insecure but baby you got plenty, Them stretch marks on your hips is just bungee cords bringin' you back when you dip". It addresses how the girl sees her body and how the guy sees it, and that he LIKES what he sees.
Any list about songs praising women's assets would not be complete without Sir Mix-a-Lots Baby Got Back. Lets be honest here, while he song is quite infectious and the video is something hard to forget, the lyrics actually have a positive message toward women. My personal favorite is that of  Cosmo says you're fat, well I ain't down with that." If he's not down with it, then why do we buy into it? I think the most poignant moment of the song however is the beginning when the girls are tearing each other down "mean, her butt, is just so big. I can't believe it's just so round, it's like, out there, I mean - gross." Good god, it's no wonder that the diet and self-help industries do so well, women perpetuate this ourselves. Think about it honestly for a second, can you actually say you've NEVER torn down another girl based on looks alone? I know I can't.
So what does all of this mean in terms of body image? I mean really, do women have to tear each other down to feel better abut themselves? Why is there a constant need to compare ourselves to each other instead of celebrating our differences? Perfect example, magazines... there are always women on the covers, even on men's magazines. They are photo shopped and have a team of people to make them look that way (check out the Dove Ad just to see how much). So why would people think that  that we should look like that? I know I don't have a team to do me up everyday, and I certainly am not photo shopped and air brushed everywhere I go. So maybe it is up to each of us to realise that beauty is on the inside. The first place we can start is with ourselves and stop trying to define ourselves by others. Easier said then done, I know. So I challenge you today to say something nice to at least 5 different women to see today. I will let you know how I do...
xoxo
Sarah

A few days...

Wow, funny how a few days can provide so much to talk about.
First of all, this weekend I really started to see how much my body image effects what I do. I was subjects o wearing a swimsuit on two separate occasions this weekend. I say subjected as that's how I feel when I have to wear one. But the more importantly this weekend I realised how uncomfortable I am in my skin. First of all, I wouldn't wear my suit without my shorts over top. Then, I tried to stay submerged under the water as much as possible to avoid being seen. I watched other women at the pool and was envious of how they could wear a swimsuit with no concern. There were women of all shapes and sizes who were able to wear only their swim suits and not dart from the change rooms to the water. This is something I need to change. The way I see my body is negatively impacting how I view myself as a person. And that's not ok.
So I need to examine what has gotten to me to this place and what might help change my body image.
Considering this, I thought it was interesting that the Calgary Herald ran an article on Monday about Jessica Simpson's The Price of Beauty. While the reviews have been both positive and negative, I think it is interesting that Simpson has attempted to look what women go through to meet the cultural definition of beauty. However having said that, I think that it is a shame that the person associated with this concept is a celebrity who is arguably the definition of American beauty to do this. Perhaps the reviews for the show would have been different had they chosen someone different. I will let you check it out yourself and make your own opinions to share here.
I thought I would talk about everything that happened this weekend on here, but I think that it might be more prudent to leave something to talk about for the rest of the week. I will however leave you with this awesome website for a feel good kind of day. Daily Affirmations are a great way to take a moment to reflect on what's positive in your life. Wayne Dyer has a new affirmation posted everyday here. If you like the messages he has online, he has also published two perpetual calendars: Inspiration and The Power of Intention. Both are awesome and are available for itunes download so you can take them with you!
xoxo
Sarah

A time for truth...

"Truth is inner harmony" -   Walther Rathenau

How's that for a kick in the behind to get ya going. I said that this would be a look at myself as well as a look at society. And according to god old Walt, I need to have some inner harmony on the subject before I can uncover my truth.  
So where do I start with my self exploration? Well, I am a huge believer in the healing abilities of the arts, specifically visual art. With this in mind, I set out to find some material that would allow me to be active in my search for inner-harmony. I have decided that I am going to use Lucia Cappacchione's The Well Being Journal: Drawing upon Your Inner Power to Heal Yourself for daily work in a journal and to create a vision board to focus in on my long term goal of having a positive view of myself. For the vision board work I am going to be using the guidance of Joyce Schwarz's The Vision Board. I will take pictures of the work and post them here as I go.
However, I also said that I would have some posts about what is going on in the world currently. I didn't have to look very far today. "How I lost 10 lbs Fast" - revenge by revealing her hottest body ever (OK Weekly Magazine (Bachelerette Ali Exclusive Interview and Photos, August 2 2010)). Perfect. How better to show someone that you are over them by starving yourself. The article even states that she was "curvier" after the show. Not fat, not unhealthy, CURVY. So now, girls need to be ashamed of having curves. Yet if you look at the photo layout, she is in a bikini and heels; both of which i consider to be pretty feminine articles. The focus of the article is also on the lbs, not on how she felt physically or mentally. The only statement about her feelings is that "she's lost the weight and is happy". Maybe she's happy because no one is hounding her about what she's eating now that she's not being filmed everyday. Or maybe she's happy because the show is done. I am not saying she may not be happy about losing the weight, but why? Not gonna lie, she looks pretty hot with the 10lbs of curves in the inset photo.
Now before you think "Sarah, these are not magazines people buy because they are intellectual", trust me I know that. But these ARE the magazines that clutter checkouts at pharmacies and grocery stores. Interesting since these two places sell diet supplements and food. Hmmm. Curious, no? And more importantly, people do buy these magazines and are bombarded by these types of articles/photos on each page. I love my fashion mags just as much as the next girl... and maybe that's the problem
Just something to think about next time you're in line at a store...
xoxo
Sarah

A place to start...

Here we are, the beginning... So why a blog? Why now?
Well, I have planned this for a while. A critical examination of how media and society's views on beauty impact me and my self-esteem. I know that this is an area I struggle with and based on the number of magazines I see stating "Lose those last 10 pounds for swimsuit season" and "Get that runway look" I cannot be alone with the struggle. The question is, why? Why do I let myself get into these funks where I focus on the scale and not being "ideal"? At what point did I allow myself to be stuck in a constant string of diets? And again, WHY? I like to think I am smarter than this. However, somehow I have ended up in this cycle that has lead to books upon books on weight loss and self-esteem and self worth.
So where does this leave me?
Well, I am going to examine diets, books, magazines, music, movies, fashion all to figure out what impacts me. Is it external influences or, is it something internal which drives these thoughts. So this will chronicle my everyday struggles and triumphs with who I am. It will examine my efforts to leave behind all those crazy diets and to simply be happy and healthy everyday, no matter what.
So I hope to keep you all entertained and maybe do some soul searching of your own
xoxo
Sarah

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