Operation Beautiful: Join the Movement

• 2 out of 5 women would trade 5 years of their life to be thin
• The majority of women overestimate their own waist size by 30 % and their hip size by 16%
• More women are suffering from anorexia or bulimia than are fighting breast cancer
• Most American girls begin to diet when they are just 8 years old
• Why are we are own worst enemies?
• It's time to face the facts: we have a serious body image crisis on our hands.
• facts above taken from this video.

So, what are we going to do about this crisis?

One thing we can do is join Operation Beautiful.

It is a simple thing (post it notes) with poweful results (women feeling better about themselves!).

If you haven't heard the buzz about this wonderful organization, check out the organization's mission below:

The goal of the Operation Beautiful website is to end negative self-talk or “Fat Talk.” If this little blog only does one productive thing, I hope it helps readers realize how truly toxic negative self-talk is — it hurts you emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

Through my own experiences fighting Fat Talk, I’ve realized the power behind an anonymous act such as Operation Beautiful. When I post a note, I’m saying, “I CHOOSE to be positive!”

I began Operation Beautiful by leaving positive messages on the mirrors of public restrooms — at work, at the gym, at the grocery store. I scribble down whatever comes to mind — "You are beautiful!" or "You are amazing just the way you are!" My personal goal is to leave as many Operation Beautiful notes as I can. Maybe some people read them and just smile, but I bet some people are truly touched by the effort of a random stranger.

As if that wasn't fabulous enough, the site has wonderful links to "Change the Way You See."

Another cool thing is this was all started by a young woman (now only 26) named Caitlin.

Her simple idea is now a national movement, appearing on shows like Oprah, The Today Show and many more.


Please join the movement.
Stop the self-hatred and "fat talk."
Buy some post-it notes!
Check out the CofC Chapter on facebook and, get involved so you can, as they say: "Spread the beauty. Feel the love."

And, lastly, remember:
YOU. ARE. BEAUTIFUL!

I Wanna Move to Mauritania: a different view of beauty

fat:

Pronunciation: \ˈfat\

Function: adjective

1 notable for having an unusual amount of fat: a : plump b : obese
2 well filled out : thick, big

This is according to Merriam-Webster Online. 

But if you asked the average American woman, she would probably define "fat" as "ugly."

In America, this is in. Always.

But what if being bigger was seen as beautiful?

It is in a place called Mauritania, located on the northwest coast of Africa.

Believe it or not, thick ankles, plump arms, and a big butt are considered the most beautiful parts of a woman!?! I feel like I could fit right in after all of my exam stress binges (namely on coconut m&ms! SIDE NOTE: try those if you haven't already... they are delicious!!!) ;)

In Mauritania, thin women are thought to be sick and bigger women are thought to be sexy... the men even like stretch marks. I am not making this up!

Many say the more you weigh the better chances you have of finding a husband. Like I said, I wanna move to Mauritania ;)

In all seriousness though, this is actually a problem. The overweight ideal became exaggerated to an unhealthy state and just as the American ideal of thinness lead to health problems in the form of anorexia and bulimia, this country's young girls also suffer from eating disorders.

Theirs, however, is known as gavage, a practice of force feeding. This is the same process used to fatten up animals for slaughter and nourish hospital patients using a tube.

In Mauritania, "some young girls spend hours each day in the stifling heat, forced to stuff themselves with couscous and high-fat camel's milk. Vomiting only leads to another helping of food." (1)

This is so much the ideal that "even in Mauritania's more progressive cities, some women are willing to do anything for a fuller figure, including buying black-market drugs meant for animals." (1)

Not fun, right? This is all done to increase their desirability to a future husband.

Just like American girls starving themselves is not fun and is often not done for themselves but to look desirable in the eyes of men and a society that holds a nearly unattainable beauty ideal. A beauty ideal that is the polar opposite of Mauritania's.

So, as bathing suit season approaches, be encouraged that you are beautiful, even if not by the standards of your own country. Whether you are thinner or bigger, as long as you are healthy, have fun at the beach and don't be afraid to bust out that bikini!

Reference:
(1)The information on Mauritania came from Oprah.com's Beauty Around the World. The slideshow details not only that country but several others and their views of beauty. Check it out...