Guiltless Recommends: Body Image Advent Calender

Ah tis the season! Time to put the holiday decorations up, reconvene with family and friends, and for some of us, feel a lot of guilt about who we are/aren't seeing and what we are/aren't eating.

Which is why I was so thrilled to see this Body Image "Advent Calender" Starting on December 1st Nick and Sarah-two body image actists in Britain started a tumblr where they will be talking about different body image topics from now to Christmas. They are hitting the streets to get videos of the public’s opinion as well as taking submissions on their blogs. The videos so far have been excellent. Nick is one of the people behind Men Get Eating Disorders Too, the only charity worldwide representing men and eating disorders. Sarah works for Body Gossip, a campaign that we have recommended in the past.

Want a sneak preview of the topics we have to look forward to? Look no further and join in the converation!

• 5th A girl’s perspective
• 6th Fad diets, would you?
• 7th Fat Talk- how does it affect you?
• 8th How does fashion fit into body image?
• 9th Your body growing up- what was it like in school?
• 10th Pregnancy
• 11th Your perception of eating disorders
• 12th Scars? an eyesore or a story?
• 13th Older people, do you think about your body image?
• 14th Plastic surgery- are you for or against?
• 15th How would you define beauty?
• 16th Bad Hair Day! How important is your hair to you?
• 17th Sport- is there more pressure?
• 18th Piercing and tattoo’s- love, hate or regret the day? Would you have them?
• 19th Advertising- is it too much?
• 20th Ethnicity- different ideals?
• 21st Disability- how does it change your outlook on beauty?
• 22nd Teens- Body image hell, or learning to love it?
• 23rd All I want for Christmas… If you could see one thing changed what would it be?
• 24th Nick and Sarah talk about their December adventure!

For what better gift can you give yourself this holiday season than a positive body image? Join in the conversation at Body Image Advent Calender

What sites would you recommend to us? What do you think of a body image advent calender?

PS. If you liked Friday's post about bodyheart and want to learn more-Amber is offering a fantastic holiday gift package-pay what you want to recieve gifts from inspirational women including Amber's Holiday THRIVAL package. Find out more here

Bodyheart

Today's guest post comes from Amber Krzys-founder of bodyheart, whom is a coach, speaker, dog lover & bodyhearter. Her mission is help create a world where women love and embrace not only their bodies, but SHINE in their lives. We are thrilled to have her words embrace the pages of Guitless!

I was tired . . .

Tired of the endless struggle to have a perfect body.
Tired of constantly thinking about how I could lose weight.
Tired of planning every meal.
Tired of comparing myself to other ‘better’ women.
Tired of always coming up short.

I was tired of being in an abusive relationship with my body.

So, I decided to do something about it. I set out to see if I could actually love, accept and appreciate the body I had?

Could I love this body at the 130 lbs she wanted to be, instead of the 113 lbs I was trying to force her to be? Could I love the dimples (aka cellulite) on my butt and thighs? Could I love the furrowed brow? The large pores? The small breasts?

I didn’t know if those things were possible, but one thing I knew for sure was that I couldn’t continue living the way I was. It was killing me.

The journey I went on took some time, exploration and A LOT of tears. BUT, I’m happy to share that all the angst was worth it. See, I got there . . . I got to a place of love, acceptance & appreciation for MY body. For the amazing body I have been blessed with in this life.

This new way of being completely changed the course of my life and work. I don’t know if you’ve ever felt a calling in your life, but that is definitely how I would describe what happened to me next.

Because I knew the torture and torment that so many woman go through, I couldn’t keep my experience a secret. I had something to share. Something that could change their lives. And I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. I wanted to free women all over the world from their self-punishment cage.

This calling led me to a change in careers. I went from a somewhat successful acting career to being an entrepreneur. Had you told me five years ago that I would be working with women, guiding them to a greater love of their bodies, I would’ve thought you were crazy. But, that’s the thing about a calling. A deep desire to share something you’ve experienced. It doesn’t let you go.

So, I formed my own company called bodyheart. An organization devoted to liberating women from their body-punishment prison. Our mission is to change not only women, but the world.

I believe the world will be a better place when women are free to shine and one area where we continue to oppress ourselves is through our relationship with our bodies. How we feel inside our bodies and what we think about our bodies affects EVERYTHING we do. So, when we can define our own standards of beauty and celebrate all we have, then we are FREE.
This is what bodyheart offers. Our courses are geared towards helping women find CONFIDENCE and FREEDOM within themselves, especially in relationship to their bodies. You can actually experience some of our work for free on our homepage.

Our campaign is a statement of how worthy and gorgeous we already are. I wanted to show the current media that un-retouched images can be stunning! I wanted women to witness REAL Beauty - their own real beauty - and let that affect how they think about their bodies. I also wanted women to start thinking about the parts of their bodies that they love, instead of what they hate.

This campaign has taken on a life of it’s own, and it is available to you should you choose to be a part of it. We accept submissions from women all over the world. You can find out more about it here.

To you, reading this post, I believe you are already on this path of greater acceptance, love & freedom or you wouldn’t be on this page right now. And, I want to say thank you for lighting the way. Thank you for leading by example and cracking open the beauty oppression we’ve bought into for so long.

Change begins with one. And soon that one allows another to take a step onto the new path and then another and another . . . and that is how paradigm shifts are created.
Way to be a part of the change.

Peace & Pleasure,

Amber

Dear Myself...

Every day is a new beginning. And maybe today, there is something very important happening in your life that requires special attention. If you had a good friend who was about to embark on some kind of journey - whether with career, family, or another aspect of life - you would greet him/her with encouraging words perhaps over the phone or via email/text/Facebook. So why not do the same for yourself? It's time to be our own best friend. Follow this letter template, and write yourself an encouraging letter. After you write it, read it out loud. You will feel positive, empowered, and ready to take on whatever may come your way!



Dear -Name-,

I am proud of you because ___________. It was a brilliant idea when you decided to ___________. You will rock the -insert next life event- , because you are able, enthusiastic, and __________. Today is going to be a great day, because _______. Enjoy everything it has to offer. Be yourself, and don't let anyone drag you down. You are strong because you_________. And if you need anything at all, you can always reach out to me.

Love you!
-Name-


------

We would love to hear how you filled in the blanks!

The Weight of Words

Words have amazing weight. They can be used to tear down, break, hurt (sticks and stones may break bones, but words DO hurt me). They can also be used to lift up, inspire, strike hope and motivate.

Words are like mental food that we feed on. So just as important as it is to eat food that nourishes our bodies, it is important to use words that help not harm us.
That means not telling yourself or others that you are stupid, not worth others' time, ugly, unmotivated, lazy, poor, or fat.

It means using words like grace, hope, inspiration, love, beautiful, strong.

This week be mindful of words that can weigh you down. Memories or thoughts that bring a heavy weight to your heart. Try to replace some of them with words that lighten your load-that make you feel light, free, and inspired.

What is a word you could get rid of in your life?

One Size Doesn't Fit All

So wear the life that fits YOU!

Happy Friday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This Thanksgiving, set your table without a side of guilt. On a holiday that focuses mostly on food, it's especially easy to feel pressured to restrict yourself, which we all know leads to bad behavior and guilty feelings. But you really don't have to go into this holiday with a set of rules and restrictions for yourself. You can actually take care of yourself AND indulge at the same time!

Photo Source

Ditch the Guilt this Thanksgiving with these simple tips:

1. Eat Breakfast! Many people make the mistake of "saving calories" for the main event on Thanskgiving by skipping breakfast. But if you do this, you'll show up to the party absolutely starving and the need to eat will be urgent! Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner the way you always would, and your choices will be the ones that make you happiest.

2. Get Moving! The exercise will leave you feeling energized and full of mood-enhancing endorphins which will fuel great conversation with your loved ones and keep you feeling good all day. And it's a holiday, so treat yourself to your favorite activity to work up a Thanksgiving morning sweat.

3. Enjoy Yourself! Eat healthfully and thankfully, and enjoy an array of nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat and fat-free dairy. But most importantly, don't hold out on the dessert! Thanksgiving is truly a day to give thanks to yourself. Take a look at the dessert table, decide what your all-time, cannot-live-without favorite is, and be happy about your choice. Savor each bite, and enjoy a very Guiltless Thanksgiving.

How will you celebrate Guiltlessly on Thursday?

Guiltless Gives Thanks:

We are thankful for YOU. Our readers and our dear friends.

Eating Meditation

Everyday we eat. Sometimes we think about it. Sometimes we don't. Sometimes we savor, sometimes we tune it all out in front of the TV or computer. Like breathing or walking, this is an activity that can be brought to a new level by a simple meditation. As a holiday that centers around food, as well as family & friends, approaches, I thought today would be a great day to share a simple eating meditation. Pick one of your next meals, probably one you eat alone for your first try, and see what new feelings and clarity comes through!

• To start eating meditation, place your food in front of you and sit quietly.
• Reflect on the source of the food and recite any simple prayer of gratitude that comes naturally. It can be as simple as "I am thankful for this meal in front of me." Then be still for a few moments.
• Look carefully at the food. Be aware of your body and feelings of hunger, how your feel about putting this particular food into your body at this moment.
• Notice the smell of the food and any pleasant feeling associated with it.
  
• Initially chew more slowly than usual. Notice the burst of flavor that comes after you take the first bite. Keep chewing slowly. What happens to the taste sensations as you keep chewing?
• Be aware of the intention to swallow the food. Also, notice if there is an intention to take more food even though you might still have some in your mouth.
• Notice if you feel hurried and try not to even load your fork or chopsticks until you are done swallowing the last bite.
• Stay aware of the taste and what happens to it as you keep chewing. You can label the sensations as salty, sweet, sour, hot, and so on.
• Also, notice if there is any difference in the intensity of the taste depending upon whether you are breathing in or breathing out. You don't have to remember all that, mainly remember 1) chew well, 2) taste, 3) notice swallowing 4) and remember to Pause 5) and Breathe for a moment before the next bite. Continue with this same mindful attention to everything you eat until you come to the end.
• As you near the end, pay attention to the signals from your stomach and your tongue & eyes as you approach the point of being full. Notice how these signals can be at odds with each other. Stomach may say you are full while the tongue and eyes want more.
• Finally, after your last bite, slide your plate a few inches away and just sit very still for 5 to 10 minutes. Notice your breath going in and out your nostrils. Feel the energy or subtle vibrations in your stomach, head, arms or hands. Now you should be able to really feel how that food makes you feel short term.
  

Take in any emotions, learn from them, and carry on with your day. Happy eating!

Have you ever done an eating meditation?