Stop the Body Hatred!

I wanted to share something that I wrote yesterday on my Facebook page.  I had been commenting on Oscar fashion (just because it's fun!) and several friends of mine were commenting that Kelly Ripa needed to "eat something".  Now, I confess she did look painfully thin.  But one thing I've learned in this journey of loving myself (I have a long way to go) is that saying someone is too thin is the same as saying someone is too fat.  We don't know the reasons behind someone's body shape.  Are they going through a hard time?  Are they actually sick?  Are they just genetically a bigger or smaller person?  That's why I always try to comment on clothes only.  That's the fun of awards shows, to me!  Pretty dresses and the people who wear the wacky fashions on the red carpet!  Here is what I shared and it was generally well taken by my friends.

So, I don’t mean to be a killjoy but I need to have a general rule for my page, I guess. I’m sorry I didn’t do this before. I don’t allow any kind of body bashing on here. When I post pictures about fashion, it is strictly about the fashion. Not someone’s cup size, dress size, or anything relating to size. Last night when I went to the fashion webpages (Huffington Post, E!, CNN) to get pictures of Gabrielle Sidebe and Kelly Ripa (among others) I was VERY disappointed (though not at all surprised) to see that people’s comments were completely full of hate. Eat a sandwich, eat a salad…those are really the only ones I am comfortable typing. As someone who for much of her life has been made fun of for her weight and appearance, I don’t want to have any of those reminders on my Facebook page. I don’t want anyone to think that I would ever tell a thin person that they needed to eat or a larger person to stop eating. I don’t know their story. Fashion is fluffy. Anyone of any size can pick a bad dress! That’s as far as I go with critiquing. Last night I noticed (again…not here, but on another page) that people LOVED that Jennifer Lawrence was eating french fries and a Coke at the Oscars. Yeah, that’s way cool and probably what I would do. But if Gabby was eating…anything…I guarantee it would not be cool. Same with Kelly Ripa. “Thank God she’s eating, blah, bIah, blah…”. “Put down those fries!” I can say from experience that hurtful comments never motivated me to lose weight or be healthier. They only made me believe that I was worthless and eventually that I didn’t deserve to eat at all. Let’s not have any of that on here! This isn’t WebMD or In Touch Weekly. It’s my Facebook page about Basset Hounds and sparkly dresses! Any future NEGATIVE comments about people’s bodies will be deleted. I will continue to comment on how AMAZING we all look. Which we DO! Because honestly…ANYONE CAN LOOK AMAZING and that has surprisingly little to do with size. I will keep preaching that on here for as long as you will listen! Love yourself the way that you are right now. Even if you have plans to change. Work what you’ve got! Thanks, friends. Please don’t take this personally. It’s just a general reminder for everyone!

You would not believe the things I found on other websites.  You can't win no matter what you look like!  Butt too big, boobs too small, too fat, too skinny, eat a sandwich, eat a salad...it never ends.  Let's all make a vow to stop insulting each other to make ourselves feel better.  I've done it!  I had to check myself a make an effort to stop.  I was only perpetuating the lies that media have been telling us for years.  Let's stand up and say that we find beauty in places other than appearance and that we are all valuable the way that we are right now.  Not after losing 10 pounds.  Not after a boob job.  Not if we're on a diet.  RIGHT NOW.  Join me, friends!

Stay Houndy!

Em