What Will You Lose?

I always have a problem with the slew of weight-loss and exercise advertisements slung at us in January.  This year, I've let the "Special-K" commercials stew in my mind a little too long.  So, I hereby dedicate this blog post to body awareness and appreciation.

The "Special-K" ads glorify and glamorize dieting and body-envy.  At first glance, the advertising techniques employed trick you into thinking that losing weight will free you from your problems, stress, etc.  But then you have to step back and think, "what is wrong with my life?"  But, as the famous children's book goes, "If you give a mouse a cookie..." or in this case, "If you give a woman a TV ad on weight loss, she's going to question her body and then she'll envy the 'feel-good' messages of 'a few pounds here' and 'a tummy tuck there.'"  Not to mention that all the women who step on the scale in these commercials are beautiful, average sized, if not less-than average-sized, women.  What is wrong with this picture?!  Their slogan, "What will you gain?" is a slap in the face to women.  Why is feeling good about yourself and appreciating who you are, tied to your weight?  That is not what life is about.

The last week of February into the beginning of March each year is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.  It's no secret at this point that I struggled with anorexia, but this year I'm taking my awareness to a whole new level.  I will be speaking at Reflections, a comprehensive eating disorders treatment facility in Falls Church, VA, to provide inspiration to patients and family members as they embark on the journey of recovery.  As I have been thinking about what I could possible say to sum up my 10-year struggles and my change from resisting treatment to thirsting for life, I had somewhat of an epiphany.  I realized that when I began to understand I had far more to gain from living than from dying, my thought processes and attitude began to transform from that of a sick, dying, starved patient, into that of a survivor.

So, I want to ask you, first what you will lose from associating your self-worth with your weight or appearance?  Then, what will you gain from living?

There is so much more to life than focusing on a goal weight or size that you know will never actually get you what you need.  I promise that as you focus on what you're missing in life, it won't be attached to a number.