This is something that I really feel passionate about. As a mom of three girls, I am really hyper sensitive at how my girls’ see themselves. I have seen how harsh girls are on their appearances. And I really want my girls’ to know how important it is for women to “Fight Fat Talk,” which is making negative comments about your body or others. We are making one of our New Year’s Resolutions to “Fight Fat Talk.” It doesn’t matter if you’re the kind of person who makes New Year’s Resolutions — I invite you to join us!
I’ve learned that staying positive about myself improves my life — and studies say that a positive attitude about yourself helps you stay focused, achieve your health goals, and enjoy life. It’s taken me a long time, but I have finally learned to love my body as it is. I have learned to appreciate all of the amazing things that it does for me.
This video really touched me and it shows the importance of fighting “fat talk.” The signs in this video are actual social media posts (can you imagine finding these in a real shop?):
How can WE can #FightFatTalk??
- First, don’t join in. When a friend says something negative about themselves, don’t say something negative about yourself and join in the fat talk! Almost 2/3 of us do that (according to a study done for Special K). Instead, we can turn the conversation to something more positive. My daughter Hannah suggested that we instead turn it around and point out her friend’s great points instead to help them feel better about themselves.
- Second, you can actively look for friends who “fat talk,” and you can reach out to counter it! The Special K site has a really cool feature where you can search Facebook and Twitter to see which of your friends “fat talk” … and then you can spread positivity instead!
Take a sec and check it out at social.fightfattalk.com!
- Finally, we can stop ourselves when we start to have these kinds of thoughts and start to say these kinds of things. As Ashton at Something Swanky said in her awesome post, “Somewhere along the way, we’ve been conditioned to think that self-deprecation and having a negative perception of ourselves is some twisted form of humility.” This kind of talk actually hurts us — even if it’s just in our heads. So we can resolve to actively avoid this kind of self-talk in the new year.
One of my daughters’ favorite actresses is Jennifer Lawrence, and she has reinforced the importance of keeping a healthy body image — and in fighting fat talk. Here’s a clip from a recent interview:
I love to see her continuing to take a stand. This type of negativity can do so much damage at any age, and especially in young girls.
Share your ideas on how WE can stop Fat Talk in 2014!
I would love to hear your thoughts!
xoxo
This post was sponsored by Special K. The opinions are all mine. See my disclosures.
I love this campaign. We say things to (and about) ourselves that we would never dream of saying to another person about them! If we did, I’d imagine we wouldn’t have any friends left! This is a great resolution!
Thank you for sharing your concern with this topic. I’m a mother of 5 daughters and like you it’s very personal journey I’m on to try and teach my girls that they are beautiful just the way they are and that they don’t have to conform to media’s lies about beauty. I’m sending you a website address to a fabulous website that is full of information and ways we can fight back. I hope you can use it for good with your daughters and other women you have influence over.
The website is: http://www.beautyredefined.org
This is a great topic!! I’m guilty of this too but will stopping immediately. There is no way I want my daughters growing up with this kind of negativity. We need to make sure our daughters have a positive self image always!
Jen,
What a wonderful reminder, with a daughter myself, I can work even more on this and creating a healthier attitude for her! Thank you!
Love you Cindy!! I agree — I am trying to work on a better attitude so I can be a better example for my daughters too!
xoxo
Wow. I REALLY needed to read that. I have been miserable lately about how much weight I have gained recently. Thank you for this post. I really admire you for many reason, dear friend.
Oh I love you my friend You look awesome. Don’t get down about it. 2014 is going to be a healthy year for us!
xoxo
This is such an important topic to address! Especially as we are all so conscious of the sweet treats we consumed over the holidays and have a tendency to beat ourselves up over them.
Thanks Beth!! It’s so true! We need to enjoy life too, as well as work on keeping our bodies healthy. You have been an inspiration to me this year as you have been working on being healthy.
xoxo
So glad you are addressing this, Jen! I often forget what a gift my body is, such a good reminder.
Thanks Melissa!! It’s so true – our bodies are amazing. I think we forget about all that they do for us when we get caught up in what the media perceives as “perfect”.
xoxoxo
I love that you’re talking about this. So important! Your girls are beautiful. I love Jennifer Lawrence too. Must be a “Jennifer” thing- you all are awesome. xo
Yes! I agree!! Jennifer Lawrence is amazing!
xoxox
Ahhhh… guilty as charged! I’m often surprised at the ones that talk like this about themselves because it’s the last thing I would ever notice about them. Why we do it ourselves, no idea. Great post, great message!
Me too!! I am really trying not to fat talk this year. Thanks for your comment Donna!
xxo
I am so glad to see something like this. When I was young and thin I thought I constantly needed to lose weight. Now that I am over 40 and overweight, I probably feel better about myself than I did back when I was thin.
Anyway, I think this is a great idea and thank you for sharing about it, Jen!
It’s so true!! Thanks for coming over and sharing your thoughts Amanda!!
xxo
I caught myself doing this just yesterday, I said I felt like a moose. But, that’s not the same as actually calling myself a moose, right? Although, as I get older I am placing more value on health rather than appearance. I’ve begun to get rid of the harmful fat and keep the curves 😀
Curves are good!! Yes!! I think it’s so good to keep things in perspective. Our bodies are wonderful!
xox
I love this Jen! I used to be very guilty of that too and I was a chubby kid. Now I understand the importance of speaking life and not death with our tongues–it makes all the difference in the world. Your daughters are just beautiful too!!
Thanks Emily!!
You have made such a difference with your healthy weight loss this year. I think it is so important to show a good example to our girls.
xoxo
Great reminder for a new mind set for the new year, Jen. I’ve seen friends and family struggle with this and it always breaks my heart because the beauty I see in them has nothing to do with weight or appearance.
Yes!! So true!! The beauty is inside. Thanks for your thoughts!!
oxoxo
I love Jen Lawrence so much! Great reminder that we need to be the example for our daughters of how to love and accept ourselves. Embrace and celebrate our uniqueness. We are beautiful!
She is amazing!! I love her message of embracing ourselves. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Sandra.
xoxo
Jen I read your blog every day. I don’t always comment due to time constraints but I have to say this is probably one of the most important posts you have ever written.
For most of my life I was “the string bean” “Olive Oyl”, “Anna Rexia”, and other names that yes, while in reverse, are not ok either.
My daughter, who has health issues has been a pretty curvy girl throughout high school and now her young adult life. I cannot begin to tell you the really mean comments people have said. Even in front of me.
It ALL has to stop. Let’s judge people by the content of their characters and not their weight.
Laura–
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Your daughter sounds like a wonderful young woman. I have had similar things happen with my daughter. I think it is so important to help our daughters’ appreciate and love their bodies. Thanks for taking the time to comment. I really loved hearing your thoughts.
xoxo
Guilty here too 🙁 I’ve been over weight my whole life, and even after I lost 70 lbs. I found it hard to be positive about my body. I too have a small girl and don’t ever want her to face a negative body image and how she feels about her body. Great topic to share, and what a beautiful family you have!
Thanks Virginia!!
And congratulations on losing 70 pounds – that is amazing!! I think it is so awesome that you are thinking of your daughter.
xoxox
I am definitely guilty of this…for basically my entire life. I don’t have children yet but I’ve thought a lot about this topic over the past year and how I want to change my self image so that when I do have children, they have a more positive role model to follow. Great post and great pictures with your girls 🙂 That is so important.
Thanks Melissa!!
I am the same way. I think this is such an important topic and something that we can really change in our lives. Thanks for taking the time to comment!!
xoxo
I am so glad you are talking about this. I know I am guilty of this. P.S. I adore Jennifer Lawrence!