I think I'm developing a mild girl-crush on Nigela Lawson. It's not over her food--although that don't hurt--but over the fact that, while gorgeous, she looks like she actually eats her own cooking. One thing that bugs me about the women of Food Network (namely Rachel Ray and Giada Whatserbighead--Sandra Lee's more about arts & crafts (and cocktail hour) than actual cooking, and we'd all be skinny if we ate Ellie Krieger's cooking) is how they can't possibly eat the fat-loaded stuff that they cook and be that thin, at least not without spending hours and hours at the gym, and then where does that leave time to cook anything? I call foul. I still drool over their cooking, but... eat a sandwich, Giada.
Nigela, on the other hand, clearly enjoys her food, and I'm not saying that in a mean way. She has curves, and she doesn't appear to have a problem with that, nor should she, because she looks fabulous. This is why I've decided she's my new role model.
New Year's Resolution the first: lighten up on myself.
I'm a curvy gal. I'm not obese, or even technically overweight according to my BMI; but I'm not a single-digit dress size, either. And I've decided to spend 2007 learning how to be cool with that.
My husband's cool with it. He thinks I'm a hottie. I'm still not quite to a place where I believe that, but I believe that he believes it, and that should be enough. As long as I'm healthy and the love of my life thinks I'm beautiful, then why the hell should it matter to me what Hollywood or the fashion industry or the Nutri-System commercials or the hot personal trainers at the gym think about the way I look? It shouldn't. Period.
NYR the second: stop buying into the BS.
I like to cook, and so does my husband. Even more, we love to eat. We're well on our way to becoming serious foodies, what with our willingness (and oft' discussed plans) to one day travel across three states just to try a certain hot dog place. I'm tired of feeling guilty about that. I hate that I can't enjoy a great meal without hating myself afterwards. I hate that I have to have a long and hard talk with myself whenever I'm offered a cookie at work. It's stupid, and it's such a waste.
I'm not talking about letting myself go. I'm still going to practice healthy eating habits, for the most part. I've been back in the Zone for four days now, and I feel better than I've felt in... well, than I've felt since before the endless parade of all-inclusive food that was our honeymoon. I actually enjoy eating healthy, and the challenge of making healthier versions of recipes. I enjoy going to the gym, too, once I make myself go. Working out keeps me from stressing out. It improves my mental focus and my attitude and my entire disposition. These are the reasons I'll keep it up. If I lose some weight in the process, bonus! But that won't be the point.
I'm not going to berate myself for the occasional splurge. I'm not going to deprive myself when we go out to a nice restaurant, and I'm not going to feel guilty about it the next morning. I'm not going to turn my nose up every time somebody offers me baked goods at the office. I'm going to accept that it's okay that I look like exactly what I am--somebody who knows how to enjoy a cookie. Because someone who can enjoy a cookie is someone who can enjoy life. Just look at Cookie Monster. That guy's never depressed.
NYR the third: stop comparing myself to other women.
I'm going to learn how to separate my sense of self-worth from the size of my waistband. I'm going to stop hurrying to get out of the gym locker room whenever it starts filling up with skinny girls because I don't feel worthy to take up so much of their space.
I'm going to remember that the only person making me miserable about my weight is me, and there's no good reason for it, and I need to knock it off. There is no law, written or otherwise, that says I'm not allowed to be happy until I lose fifteen more pounds.
NYR the last: give myself permission to be a contented average-sized woman. Stop obsessing about my weight and start focusing on all of the things that make my life terrific, and all of the reasons I'm worthy of such a life.
Do you have any new years goals or resolutions? Let's hear them in the comment trail.
Happy New Year, readers.
Love,
Jean
8 comments:
NYR sound very intelligent. Then, you can take all the energy you used for berating yourself and apply it to things that really matter.
Haven't decided on mine yet.
Hating myself does use up a lot of energy. I'm sure there are better ways I can spend it.
Happy new year, bojo! Whatever your resolutions, good luck making them stick.
My father, a wise man, says, "It's not what you do once in a while, but what you do everyday that matters."
Driving three states to eat a hotdog? Not an everyday thing. Do it! Own it! Photodocumentation is a must! Working out? Not a once in a while thing. Same principle applies.
I wish you a healthy, happy, FUN and prosperous New Year!!
Your father gives very sage and sensible advice.
Matt's more the one with the hot dog fetish, but it's become a mutual goal to one of these days drive up to Chicago and make a trip to Superdawg drive-in. Of course, we want to see other stuff and do other things, too, but the hot dogs and the deep dish pizza will be our main priorities.
I have three resolutions. They are quite similar to my resolutions from last year, which is not good.
1) go to Tae Kwon Do at least twice a week. I slacked off big time last year, so now it's time to get back in the game.
2) keep my office neat and organized. Mom spent 3 days helping me paint and reorganize my office - I need to keep it looking good. She's already threatened spot checks.
3) write at least an hour a day Monday to Friday.
Good resolutions all. I could (and maybe should) resolve to keep my desk tidier at work and stay on top of all my filing, but I know neither of those would last long. On the home front, I figure any organization-related resolutions I would have made this year will get taken care of when we move, so I didn't bother.
My resolution is to speak up instead of being quiet and passive. Also, I'm going to exercise. Not because I hate my body, but because I want to have a long, healthy life.
Love your NYR.
Not that you're overbearing or anything, but you've never struck me as quiet and passive, either. When we've hung out you've always been pretty assertive. Cutely so.
Even so, those are good resolutions to have.
Post a Comment