Blogger Caitlin Boyle, 24, slapped a post-it note on a public bathroom mirror that said, “YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!” and that little act of kindness has grown into a movement called Operation Beautiful. MSNBC reports that Boyle has written a book called Operation Beautiful: Transforming the Way You See Yourself One Post-it Note at a Time about “fat talk” and the negative impact we can have on ourselves and others.
Women engage in Fat Talk – criticizing our bodies and obsessing about unrealistic ideals – to “express emotions, seek social reassurance, create an in-group with friends, excuse certain eating behaviors, and manage impressions,” according to Dr. Denise Martz, a clinical psychologist who has spent more than 20 years studying body image, eating disorders and Fat Talk.
It’s a contagious disease. “We tend to follow other people’s leads, particularly those who are close to us,” says Dr. Susan Albers, a psychologist who specializes in relationship and weight issues.
So? Stop talking about being fat. Stop obsessing. It sounds overly simple, but it could make a huge change in your life. Jessica Simpson recently shared similar feelings in Lucky Magazine: “We all obsess over looking like the perfect Barbie type, and that’s not always what’s beautiful,” Jessica said. “It’s about making peace with yourself.”
