Sue Loncaric can be found at Sizzling Towards Sixty where she shares stories about aging with sizzle. Read on to find out more about how she’s learning to embrace a positive body image at this stage of her life.
Body Image Movement Global Ambassador
As I shared recently, I’ve become a Body Image Movement Global Ambassador. This is a role I am really excited about.
Being an Ambassador is something I need to be in more than name only. I need to be passionate about the cause and to do this I needed to actually see the story and learn more about the woman behind this positive body image movement.
I attended a screening of Embrace, hosted by another BIMGA, Louise Bambury. Embrace is the movie which started it all and I would encourage not only women but men to attend a screening if there is one in your area.
Taryn Brumfitt, the founder of BIM is mother of three who decided after her third child to do something about her post baby body which she was unhappy with.
Society’s Pressures
The pressure from society and the media paints an almost impossible image of how women should look and new mothers are often faced with the challenge of trying to cope with a new baby AND look like a model at the same time.
However, this pressure is not just for new mums, children, teenagers, young women and young men, older women – we all feel the pressure of looking good.
Taryn trained hard, ate healthy and pushed herself to the limit to gain the body that she thought would maker her feel great about herself. With the help of a personal trainer, Taryn achieved that goal, competing in a body sculpting competition and ultimately realizing HER FABULOUS NEW BODY DID NOT MAKE HER HAPPY!
Embrace
Embrace, the movie, is a thought-provoking and inspirational insight into how women view themselves and their bodies. Body image appears to be the most important thing that concerns women – even the so-called ‘perfect bodied’ models.
How can it not be when the media continually feeds us with images of women who are supposed to be ‘normal’ but are impossibly perfect?
However, it is also a story of hope and courage as women are taking control of their lives and learning to love who they are first and foremost. It takes courage to look in the mirror and accept yourself – flaws and all. If you don’t love the person you are inside then it doesn’t really matter what you look like does it?
I came away from the movie with mixed emotions. I felt sad that many women feel so depressed about their appearance but also hopeful that the Body Image Movement is helping to change perceptions not only in women but men and the media.
We need to be free of the pressures of trying to be something that is just not us.
Accept Yourself
As a woman who has been dissatisfied with her body for most of her 50 odd years and now also coping with an aging body I was inspired and reminded why I wanted to be a Body Image Movement Global Ambassador.
It has taken me years to accept myself for who I am but also to realise that I want to exercise and make healthier food choices because it makes my body feel great inside. I want to be fit and active to play with my grandchildren and also hopefully live to see them grow to adulthood.
What is one thing you love about YOU, the person? Look in the mirror and really see the beautiful person that you are.
We can all be ambassadors for a more positive body image by being a role model for our children and grandchildren.
Let’s Keep Sizzling!
