Remember the playground game "He loves me. He loves me not"??
My little friends and I would stand outside at recess thinking of cute boys. We would pick a flower and start pulling off the pedals, "He loves me. He loves me not. He loves me. He loves me not"......
Unfortunately this little childhood game describes my thinking for most of my growing up years.
In fact, I spent 35 years of my life going through the same old destructive, self-defeating, negative thought cycle...
When I lost weight, ate the right number of "points", fit into a certain size, I would say, "They love me!".....
And when the scale increased and my pants size went up, I would think, "They love me not!!".
And given that I was a chubby little red-haired girl, most of my life I felt unloved, and my self-destructive life choices reflected that false belief.
Ridiculous, I know, that somehow we would believe the lie that...
Our worth = weight
Our love = our pants size
Our value = how thin we are
Crazy, huh?! :)
Thankfully, after years of self-loathing, binging/purging/, starving myself, Cabbage Soup, over-exercising, striving, starting over on Monday, and yes, even illegal remedies.... I AM FREE!! Hallelujah!! :)
However, my freedom came at a price.....years of "stinkin' thinkin'", hundreds of missed opportunities, thousands & thousands of dollars, and unfortunately it almost cost me my life.
But no more.
That's why I am declaring my life a Fat Talk Free Zone. I refuse to allow the enemy to rob me of any more joy, memories, opportunities or life!
I am committed to doing whatever I can to be a voice of TRUTH, HOPE, and encouragement to any and all who will listen! I will not allow this world to dictate where our joy, worth and value comes any longer!
I mean, have you looked at what the media screams at us???
Commericals like this one where Sara Rue shares she now feels fantastic because she can fit in skinny jeans. Skinny jeans = happiness??? Are you kidding me???
And sorry, friends, if you ask me if you have "back fat" (you know who you are ~ smile!), or tell me how fat you feel, or talk about your "muffin top", I will hand you a bumper sticker, and will remind you that.....
You are loved (period)
Not "you will be loved" when you lose the weight.
Not "you might be loved" when you go down a pants size.
You are not loved more on the days you stay within your WW points, and unloved when you eat the M&M's.
He loves you. He loves you. He loves you. He loves you. He loves you. He loves you!
and NOTHING can separate you from His perfect, unconditional, unfailing love.
LOVED (period)
And that's why I am so grateful for the Reflections Body Image Program. and their commitment to teaching women about the pursuit health, well-being, and true beauty!
If you haven't already, please head over to the Reflections site and join me in signing the Fat Talk Free promise which reads...
"Today I promise to eliminate Fat Talk from conversations with my friends, my family and myself. Starting now, I will strive for a healthy ideal, which I know looks different for every woman, and focuses on health, not weight or size.
I will celebrate the things about myself and the women in my life that have nothing to do with how we look. I decide to end Fat Talk NOW!"
In honor of Fat Talk Free Week, let's practice living Fat Talk Free!
For today's challenge, please call a friend and share something that you love about them that has nothing to do with their outside appearance.
For example (I'll go first) ~ Mom, I love you for many reasons....including your generous heart.
Julie R., I love you for your listening ear, wisdom, and for always point me to Truth!
Jill M., I love you for your joyful, uplifting attitude.
Kristy D., I love you for your sensitive spirit, sparkle in your eye, and love for others.
Jenny O., I love you for your praying, encouraging heart.
Donna W., I love you for your caring heart, amazing way with words, and worshipful heart.
You get the drift?? And if you haven't done so already, please leave me a note sharing what YOU love about YOU!!!!
Let's celebrate who we are (flaws and all!) and END FAT TALK!
Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*!! Have a joy-filled, fat talk free week!!!
P.S.S. Here is the "Fat Talk Free" video. Enjoy!!!
For more information, visit http://www.endfattalk.org or on Facebook at Fat Talk Free Week.
6 comments:
i love you for your smile, your enthusiasm, your love for JESUS and your heart for women. thanks for this post - it was a part of a very quiet, beautiful sunday morning for me.
I can do it. I can do it. I can go a week without "fat talk". I can believe that He loves me.
Cindy, I love your encouraging words and faithful heart. You are always pointing up, even in your depths and struggles. Thank you for reminding me of Fat Free Talk Week. In fact, my "evil twin" and I were just talking about this and you this week regarding our own struggles with images. The Spirit must have been listening....:)
I love this!! Yeah!! I love your heart for Jesus and your undying enthusiasm for sharing His love through your own story and His Word!
As for myself, I love my tenacious, truth-telling-in-love personality and the ability to see the details in a situation that might be missed by others.
Encouragement to embrace ourselves, flaws and all...I love it.
Hooray, Hooray, For Fat Talk Free Week! At Eat with Joy we’re all about banishing the fat talk and making room for more enjoyment of life, bodies, and food. Thanks for spreading the word! http://eatwithjoy.org/2011/10/17/its-fat-talk-free-week/
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