Diet Season

Every year around this time our feeds are bombarded with ads for diet products promising us weight loss. But it's not just weight loss that they're selling. What lays underneath is a promise for happiness, because in our society being thin has been associated with being happy. The truth is that being thin does NOT make you happy. Take it from someone who has been thin on many occasions. There were times I was super skinny and could not have been more miserable. True happiness comes from within and the good news is that it can be achieved at any size. But the marketing strategy of many brands in the new year prays not only on people's insecurities but also on people's unhappiness. It's often masked as empowerment, health driven and other BS but the fact that the strategy shifts so drastically from 'comfort and indulging' in the lead up towards Christmas to 'let's hit the gym and lose those extra pounds' in January, tells you everything you need to know. They're not interested in our happiness, all they want is our money. A few years ago I went through what I call a 'mid life crisis' and in that I asked myself very painful questions and explored many aspects of my life. I focused on my needs and addressed issues I had avoided for years and as part of that process I discovered I used food as a way to shut out and numb pain. I realised that the unhappiness I was feeling had nothing to do with what I looked like, and with the help of friends, my husband and a great therapist I tackled those issues. The result was that food lost it's power but more importantly - my size no longer mattered. We live in a world that places so much importance on our looks it's no surprise we end up believing it's a key factor to our joy. For years my weight held me back (ever said to yourself "I'll do it when I lose some weight?") but the truth is it was never my weight that was stopping me to begin with. In short - there is a world out there waiting for you to explore it. Your life is happening right now, and not when you lose a few pounds. Your happiness does NOT relay on a number, so don't let it stop you! #love #women #newyearnewme #bodyimage #cakeisgenious 🍰