looking good naked

British to American size conversion: Anna 8/10, Tillie 4/6, Caroline 12/14.

So, I was perusing the spam comments I get, and (as usual) they were all about “(random celebrity) nude!” And it got me thinking… How does one look good naked? I mean, the obvious answer is to just look good, to be in shape, et cetera. Obviously. But I have a ways to go before I meet that critera. I wanted to know how to feel your best naked, without getting drunk. Yup.

Carson’s television show aside, there’s actually a really helpful article up on Wikihow that gives some good, wholesome advice. Suggestion include not stuffing yourself right before you strip, standing up straight, taking good are of your skin and feeling pretty. Check it out.

That;s a good start, but I want to know how I can feel good naked. Saying, “Be confident!” isn’t helpful. When you know what you look like, and it’s not the models in FHM, how do you feel sexy, or even romotely attractive?

Laure Redmond, a self-esteem coach, had this to say:

I mean that it can be really helpful to reconnect to a time when you weren’t always blaming yourself — when you believed in and loved yourself. And for many women, that time will turn out to be back in childhood. [...] Even if your childhood was a total nightmare, the fact is you were a creature with enough gusto to get where you are today. Many women accept the opinions and judgments of others too quickly, which undermines self-esteem and personal power. But women who feel good naked have the ability to tap into their own source of self-love, without depending on the affirmations of others. A woman who feels good naked is a woman who’s discovered her own definition of beauty. She knows that it’s ultimately about personal attitude.

I think that’s good advice. I’ve always been a big fan of nakedness. I walk(ed) around my house naked constantly (not as easy to do, now). I’m happy naked. But I don’t really think of it as anything special. Maybe that what needs to change. Being naked should be an experience, even with a less-than-perfect body. I think I need to focus on the freedom of the act.

Tentative plan: be naked in the new apartment at least once per day! …once I get there.

And moisturise.

things i learned this morning

1. We have a worm/caterpillar/centipede or something similar infestation in our laundry room. Ew.
2. Apparently I haven’t been paying for my gym membership, and now can’t go back without paying for it.
3. Running outside is much, much harder than running on a treadmill.
4. Sometimes blenders explode for no good reason.
5. I really like Green Monster Smoothies.

my ass jiggles with sorrow

Being sad makes you fat, and being fat makes you sad. How unfair! I wish I could be one of those people who expresses frustration through throwing oneself into work (or workouts, as it were). Unfortunately, I’m not. Being sad makes me sedentary.

On the plus side, I have stopped “sadness binging.” This is a good thing. For about a few days after entering Phase 3 of the HcG protocol, I binged and gained. I realised that my grandma wouldn’t want me eating myself into oblivion, but I knew the HcG diet worried her too. So I started eating clean – and I feel so much better! I’ve been staying within the 1000-1200 calorie range, and have dropped back down to my HcG end weight. So, that’s good. The issue now is getting out and moving.

Sulking won’t banish the jiggles, and neither will diet. I need to push myself physically. And I think that will help my emotional state too. After all, sloth breeds discontent.

PS Yes, I am aware that the real saying is “familiarity breeds discontent.” I just like saying “breeds discontent.”

urgh

Dealing with my grandmother’s illness (and now inevitable eventual death) has me self-sabotaging a lot. This happened when my Mor-Mor died, about six years ago, too. I think, I’m a little older now, and I can handle it better, but I do predict a few weeks (at least) of paralysing depression when she does pass…

She was a great woman. I wish more people could remember her.

today i am eating my feelings

My grandmother is very ill. She is in hospital, and I am depressed. Today I am eating my feelings. Every now and again, I feel like it’s ok to get depressed.