A letter to my daughter...
- Louise Juniper
- Jan 6, 2016
- 2 min read
I remember the first time I went on a diet, I was 16 and my Mother was on the Cabbage Soup Diet. I have a vague recollection of her explaining the the large amounts of weight she would lose. Like many of us, she was trying the latest fad diet that promised amazing results fast. I can't remember if I thought I needed to lose weight, but I certainly remember being allured by the promise of being skinny quickly. And so began my long cycle of yo-yo dieting. 100 diets later and with a daughter of my own, I know it wasn't this one event that lead to my own struggle with food. Obviously, the media, fashion mags, etc all contributed. But I am trying to be more mindful about how I talk about my own body around my daughter. I don't want her to feel ashamed or disappointed in the way she looks.
So I've written her a letter that I'm hoping will give her confiedence, encourage a healthy relationship with food, and, as much as possible, protect her from the pursuit of skinny.
"I love my body. Every curve, every stretch mark, every dimple makes up this beautiful machine that enabled me to have you. I can run, jump, carry four bags of groceries and cuddle. Sometimes, all at once. It's the only body I have, and I do my best to respect and take care of it.
Food is amazing. It’s what gives you the energy to climb trees, chase your brothers, jump in puddles and dance. Trust your gut. Eat when you’re hungry. Stop when you’re satisfied. Treat yourself. Eat mindfully, but know there’s no such thing as good or bad, just too much or not enough.
Take care of your feelings without using food. Anger, sadness, disappointment, rejection. They're all emotions we go throuh in life. Food won't fix them. Find ways to nurture and comfort yourself without turning to the fridge or cupboard. You won't find the answers there.
Move your body. Exercise is good for body but what it does for the mind is even better. You may find it is the one thing that keeps you from going insane.
Reject the "diet" mentality. What you see on TV isn’t real. What you see in the mirror is. And it is beautiful. But what’s on the inside, your inner beauty, is the most wonderful thing in the world and my wish for you is to embrace it, protect it and nurture it."
Louise x
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