Body Acceptance

"You have to look in the mirror and see that what you're wearing looks good on the body you have now," she says. "Wearing a larger size is just . . . wearing a larger size." That's especially important for those of us who cling to old clothes that are too small in hopes that we'll someday fit in them again.

--Stacy London of What Not to Wear, on body acceptance and style

Who knew Stacy London was this awesome? I've never thought about it, but she and her co-star Clinton Kelley never comment on a woman's weight or call her fat or roly poly or anything other than curvy. I love her snark on people's wardrobes and I've often fantasized about going on this show and getting the $5000 NYC shopping spree. Let's face it, my style is erratic at best. I just don't have whatever it is that other women have that makes me want to accessorize and pull together fashionable outfits. I almost never wear jewelry and things like belts, scarves, etc. are something I only think of when I realize that what I'm wearing would be better off with them, but I don't own them. I love cute clothes, but hate to shop for them. And I really don't know what I'm doing. I tried for about 5 seconds when I started my job, working in an office full of women, and found some inspiration from my more stylish coworkers. Now I just envy their style and accept my lack of it.

A couple years ago, I decided to throw out my "skinny jeans." In fact, I gave away a whole box of great clothes from my early 20's, as well as clothes that were still in active circulation in my wardrobe, but were literally being pulled apart at the seams from my weight gain. I then went out and bought some new cute clothes that actually fit the body I have. Was I admitting defeat? No. I wasn't. I'm still trying to get on the path to regular exercise and healthy eating. I am not completely satisfied with my current weight. But I also realize that the Skinny Heather of Yore is now a memory, and that is okay. Because the Skinny Heather of Yore had all kinds of other issues. So I'm happy to let go of the Skinny Heather with issues and keep the Zaftig Heather with wisdom.

So, ladies, let's stop beating ourselves up about not looking like teenagers, models and actresses. If you were never 100 pounds and size 0*, then don't expect to be that now. Stop hating yourself! Just do whatever you need to do to feel healthy and accept who you are and what you have to offer the world. You are more than a number on a label, more than your measurements. Screw the media and Hollywood for making us feel inadequate! Take pride in those curves, girl, and enjoy that sandwich!

*Can we talk for a minute about size 0? When I was a teenager, I was super skinny, even before I had some mild eating disorder issues. Even then, the lowest size was a 2/3. Anything below that was the child's section. I get that now there's this whole vanity sizing thing and a size zero is probably more like a 4/5 from back when I was young. But why do we even want a size zero? "Hi, I'm a zero/want to be a zero." Zero is nothing. Do you really want to be nothing? It sounds tragic to me, this striving to be a zero. They have completely erased us, ladies. We have been brainwashed into thinking that being nothing is desirable. So how can we continue to place our self worth on our size, when the "ideal" size is nothing? Does this mean we're worth nothing? I refuse to accept that.