Mother Jones recently flagged another instance of what we are up against when it comes to attempting to accept ourselves as we are:

Jezebel Takes On Self's Self-Hating Photoshop Policies

www.motherjones.com/riff
/2009/08/jezebel-takes-sel
fs-self-hating-photoshop-policies

"For their latest cover—sell line: Slim Down *Your* Way—the editors of Self basically created a new (and of course, much thinner) body for Kelly Clarkson. (That was their way.) Called to the carpet by Jezebel (and for god's sake, Entertainment Tonight), the Self editors then issued the most disgusting, enraging explanation possible, namely that covers shouldn't reflect reality, but "inspire women to want to be their best." At which point, Jezebel issued a seriously awesome and funny takedown. Read it."

jezebel.com/5335022/self
-editors-explain-covers-ar
ent-supposed-to-look-realistic

This is a terrific example of how skewed our media can be toward thin-ness to the point of justifying Photoshop-ing pics into unnaturally thin images...supposedly to "inspire women to want to be their best"...! How outrageous is THAT?!?

My takeaway message from all of this is that all of us looking to reclaim our health and wellness, to re-build acceptance of our bodies as imperfectly *perfect*, we are swimming against some powerful forces out there!

Adding this to our own internal forces such as old bad habits, negative self-talk, negative self-image...I just want to highlight what a MIRACULOUS and STUNNING ACHIEVEMENT for all of us to pull ahead of ALL of this and exercise, make healthy food choices and FIND OUR SPARK!

Everyone keep up your WONDERFUL efforts and when you look in the mirror be *kind* to yourself: we are all imperfectly PERFECT!

Don

PS: There are so many interesting articles out there that illustrate what we are all battling against re: societal / corporate pressures. Here's a few links to check out if you wish:

www.motherjones.com/envi
ronment/2009/07/sugar-vs-c
orn-syrup

www.alternet.org/healthw
ellness/141776/how_we_beca
me_a_society_of_gluttonous
_junk_food_addicts/

www.alternet.org/story/1
41870/13_secret_toxins_lur
king_in_your_food%2C_and_h
ow_to_avoid_them/

www.alternet.org/environ
ment/141072/michael_pollan
%3A_we_are_headed_toward_a
_breakdown_in_our_food_system/

www.truthout.org/040309J

www.alternet.org/healthw
ellness/141469/do_grown-up
s_really_need_to_drink_milk/

www.care2.com/greenlivin
g/drop-milk.html
www.alternet.org/healthw
ellness/141498/gonzo_gastr
onomy:_how_the_food_indust
ry_has_made_bacon_a_weapon
_of_mass_destruction/