Be Body Positive

Introduction

As a child, I was fat, although I didn't realise it until I started getting called names at school. My mum always gave me lots to eat, but I still played football, went on mentally long walks and rode my bike to school (a couple of miles), so it's not like I was lazy though I did read a lot. My brother did the same and was thin as a rake, so go figure that.

In the nineties, I tried losing weight but so many people just said I was too fat because I ate and drank too much and would never lose any weight.

The millennium turned and I got hit for a second time with ITP (you can read about that at the end of this), that time I was treated with steroids rather than a blood transfusion and my Type 2 Diabetes kicked in with a vengeance, Eventually, I was put on insulin but they never told me how that would work and my weight rocketed to 125Kg (20 stone).

I read up more and spoke to my GP changed my diet and started walking a lot, and now am just under 90Kg (14 stone) although looking at "recommendations" I should be 70Kg (11 stone) but that is ridiculous and won't happen, but the BMI (Body Mass Index) calculation is something that is often used to body shame people and has been used to try and shame me into losing weight.

You Have To Look Perfect

We are told we should not be overweight, we should be fit, we should go to the gym, our skin should have no flaws, and we should look good in an advertisement. Women are treated far more viciously than men by the mainstream media.

Cellulite, stretchmarks from birth or weight loss, scars and more are scorned by the mainstream media and that flows over to the population. How many times to you hear "She's overweight", "She's too thin" , "He's ugly and fat", "She should/shouldn't be wearing make-up" and many many more derogatory phrases.

I don't think anyone would thank me for displaying my body complete with scars and fat, but I feel absolutely fine in my skin and, have said before that I wear clothes for convenience, to keep warm and to have pockets to put things in but I am fine with nudity, mine and others.

Another problem is the media's constant sexualisation of the female form, so that any exposed flesh is consdered pornography (unless it's a man's naked torso). I can see beauty in everyone's physical form without seeing it as sexual. If you go to classical art Michaelangelo's "David" and Boticelli's "Birth Of Venus" are both beatiful.

We see women told to cover up when they are breast feeding, but that is the physical function of women's breast, to feed their babies.

Two Beacons Of Body Positivity

I first met my friend Hildy whe she was researching a project at my friends Jess and Asher's Wildflower Vegan cafe. We often run into each other on buses and Newcastle station and love chatting with her when we meet.

She runs many classes and workshops, as well as being a performer and singer, she has an impressive repertoire and promoting body positivity is a big part of her work. It shows how powerful the mainstrem media effect is, when I am worried about saying she is big or plus-size, but I have said it now, but to me she is my brilliant friend Hildy and her body is just an empatic part of who she is.

Check out her work at the end of this article, and maybe give her a follow to see what I mean, we need more Hildys.

Then there is Jade Beall's wonderfully positive photagraphy featuring men and women of all body types beatifully photographed and videoed, and getting people to be comfortable to be publicly photographed.

I often comment on her impressive work and she always answers.

Again check out her work on the link below and give her a follow.

These are just two shining examples of wonderful people who make us feel comfortable in our own bodies while the media bombards with disgusting patriarchal attitudes.

Conclusion

Be comfortable in your own body, you are wonderful, and you are the best person in the world at just being you.

These are a couple of friends and sites that I follow that stand up and care for everyone while the mainstream media tells us how (especially female) bodies should look.

There is also my piece on ITP.

Music is "The Look" by Roxette because everyone looks good when they are loved and respected.

This is just about my ITP