Eighty three percent of Americans dislike their appearance. Large or small and everywhere in between, most of us want to look better.
As small children we watched Disney movies and read fairy tales. In such stories, the likeable characters were very attractive. The females had tiny waists and slightly rounded hips. They had ample bosoms, and long, flowing, thick hair. They all had big doe eyes, and long lashes. They were all good and pure and everything we wanted to be. The male characters had wide shoulders, thin waists, washboard abs, and all of them were tall and handsome enough to make the female lead fall in love with them without a word. The antagonist characters were typically overweight and shared features that most of us would deem ugly.
Childhood stories are just one example of how we are bombarded with messages about appearance. These start at birth and continue through the entire lifecycle. Barbie dolls, GI Joe dolls, diet commercials, anti wrinkle creams, the obsession with crossfit and Paleo dieting, having to wear the “right” clothing, male models, Instagram, photoshop, Facebook. They all have one thing in common. They tend to make us feel bad about the way we look.
I encourage you to make a conscious effort to notice the messages that we receive about our appearances. Get angry! Fight back! Refuse to read magazines with an airbrushed model across the cover. Write letters to companies with marketing that makes you feel bad. Most importantly, question where your definition of attractiveness really came from, and create a new, more realistic one.
At Blossom Bariatrics, we’re not only passionate about helping you achieve your happiest, healthiest weight, we’re also passionate about helping you achieve a happy, healthy body image. Because the former, combined with the latter, will help ensure your happiness and success on your journey to a new, happier, healthier you!
If you feel you could benefit from some personalized, one-on-one, therapeutic care, please feel free to contact either me (Krista), or Bobby.
We are both licensed therapists with years of experience helping individuals who have had bariatric surgery. We are intimately acquainted with your unique situation, challenge and needs.
Here’s to helping you build a better body image!
Copyright: 123RF Stock Photo
