Wednesday 30 May 2012

Body Image...

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Hey All

 How is your body image? What do you think of..... Well..... You? Poor body image is in epidemic proportions amongst woman.... And maybe guys too.

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see the beauty within or are you critical, focusing on lumps and bumps - real or perceived? Are you happy with the skin you are in? Many woman are not. I have chatted about this before but have lately started to reflect upon my own perceptions.

And my own reality.

And I find it alittle distorted to say the least.

When I was young, I clearly remember going out and not wishing to be looked at. Seeing my flaws as a real focal point to seeing me. I remember feeling awful, positioning myself so to hide and not really interacting or being myself. Too caught up with what was glaringly obvious to me, to be me.

I was 10 kg lighter than I am now.

Okay, okay, my life did work out despite it all. I did meet a man, get married and have children, work in my chosen career and have loads of health. When my daughter was born I was about 5 kg lighter than I am now. I don't remember having any weight issues in my mind then, or at least focusing on anything in particular. Probably because I was busy. As you are when you have young children.

When my son was born I was about the same weight I am now. I wasn't happy with my self. I denied buying clothes until I could be the shape I wanted to be. I was healthy, exercising and busy. I ate a healthy diet, worked and ran after my 2 gorgeous babies. The years past and I still never invested much money in clothes. I had heaps of tops but not many bottoms as I felt I didn't want to waste money until I was happy. I haven't invested money in nice clothes now for ............... 12 years! Sheesh!

The years flew by.

Then, we had lots of changes in our life- moving, building, new jobs, new school, making new friends....... and money stress.

I put on 15kg.

My diet hadn't really changed but I did develop an anxiety state. The Silver Fox was working away all week and came home for weekends only. I went up 2-3 dress sizes. I knew I was bigger but didn't feel r-e-a-l-l-y big. I knew I didn't like it but it was almost like my perception of me had not altered as I had always not been happy with my shape. I still felt the same as when I was 17 although in my head I knew I was definitely not the same.

For 2 years I have been exercising my guts out. I have lost 15kg, have gone down nearly 3 dress sizes.... But still I feel the same. I feel like I did when I was 17.

Why is that? I am relatively intelligent and work in health. I would like to tell my 17 year old self to focus on the positives and that life would be wonderful. Maybe I would try to teach her to dress for her shape and that certain fashions would never work but others would be perfect.

I want to yell at myself to 'get happy' To be grateful for health. I know all that. And I am.

But

There is always a 'but'.

I am not alone. Plenty of woman out there won't wear shorts, or sleeveless tops because of body image issues. My own gorgeous mother has n-e-v-e-r worn shorts even though she would sweat her way through Summer with her make up sliding off her face. Why? "Terrible legs" Apparently. (see here). I see it all the time: tops being adjusted, skirts smoothed down over and over. I see beautiful woman but unhappy woman. I know the media is a great contributor with the "she is back to her size 2 only 2 days after having a baby..." type of stories.

When am I going to get happy with me? Or atleast accept "I is what I is?" These are harsh times folk, economically, and there are much greater issues in the world than body image but I believe it is becoming epidemic.

What do you see when you look in the mirror? 

 

Ciao for now...

 

Wednesday 23 May 2012

Sleeves Up...

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I am sighing. Alot

Role conflict

Again

I am doing 2 full time positions at work at the moment as 1 person has left and they probably won't replace her for quite a while. You know how it is. I have my fingers crossed someone will appear before Christmas

I hate doing two jobs badly rather than 1 job well. My hours have increased too, with the 'load'. She has BIG shoes to fill.

Sigh

Plus the Tweenie/Teenie duo are playing a tag team in being ill. Miss T had 5 days of temperatures, cough, and an upset tummy. Now it is Master T's turn. Poor darlings

Role conflict

I think my darlings have given it to me

So sweet to share

Plus

I need to organise a MONSTER sausage sizzle on the weekend with, about... 50kg sausages and litres of sauce, 20kg onions and 50 loaves of bread. And find 'helpers' to, well... help.

I need to push up my sleeves and just get on with it.

Maybe after a good night's sleep....







Ciao for now...

 

Monday 21 May 2012

Manners Please...

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I like manners.

I like nice table manners.

I believe my everlasting gift to my children is to teach them manners.

What do you think?

I love nice table manners. I am always insistent that the kiddies behave and not take the easy way out just because they think no one is watching, or it is easier.

I believe in taking the time to teach them. Oh, it does get  monotonous for  me as well as them. I advise them to give in as I am very consistent. Just do it. It was my motto before it was Nike's.

But

When you see an adult using their cutlery like they are going to stab someone, what do you think? I think it looks terrible. I think it sends so many messages.

I judge them

I think no one took the time to teach them. I think no one loved them enough

Probably wrong I know, but that is what I think.










 Ciao for now...

 

Saturday 19 May 2012

It's All in the Contract...

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The Teenie/Tweenie's of this family have been a bit beastly this week. Not sure if it was the cruise where they were waited on hand and foot, or if indeed it directly correlated to the cycle of the moon.

Trouble.

With repercussions

Ipods gone and internet access severely restricted, except for school work

Family meeting some time this weekend with formal introduction of chores including dishes, cleaning bedrooms, plus their usual chores...

Trouble

What caused this meltdown?

People managing to play ipods, go on Facebook, Twitter and, Tumblr... but unable to remember keys, shoes, to catch buses (!) or get notes signed. Forgetting to do their chores AND giving lip.

So, Ipods confiscated, passwords changed.. I have a contract with Miss T that allows me to do exactly that. It was in the fine print. But it is also in the "Mummy fineprint' too

For one week

Do I hope that their organisational skills improve?

I do. But I hope they do to

Wish us luck... 






 Ciao for now...


 

Sunday 13 May 2012

just Cruisin'...

Isle of Pines. Look at the colour of that water!
The Jelly Shane family have just returned from a 11 night cruise of the islands including New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Aaah, it was fantastic. Well, after the 75km per hour winds and 4 meter swells settled down. Master T and the Silver Fox were very green about the gills for a couple of days.
Cascade Falls in Villa Vanuatu

It was a great holiday for the children who made friends and were old enough to be trusted with a certain amount of independence. Translation: we hardly saw them during the day except for the compulsory check-ins with us to allay our fears no one had actually gone overboard. No one did which was nice.
The back of the boat

We had 2 birthdays on board and I originally booked it as a bonding time for the family since the Silver Fox was away so much last year. Would I recommend a family cruise? Yes I would. Very cost effective and the food was great. My tip? Take the stairs. Always...

Wala. The beach and a monstrous tree which must have been about 200 years old




 Ciao for now...

 

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Otherwise Engaged...

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The Jelly Shane Family will be otherwise engaged for a little while but will return with stories, photos and more. Take care. I will pop in to check you all out otherwise I will have withdrawals won't I?




 Ciao for now...




 
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