Today I am sharing a vulnerable post about my plus-size body and my recent experience about shopping for a mother-of-the groom dress for my son’s upcoming wedding.
I hope it can help to normalize how challenging it can be to fully embrace a peaceful relationship with our bodies at all times!
Challenges like this can come at any stage and age in life too!
I first want to acknowledge the privilege that I hold in many of my identities, including my body size. I am considered a “smaller” plus-size woman and can still navigate the world with relative ease; I am still afforded a certain amount of “thin” privilege. [To learn more about thin privilege and weight stigma, I love all the resources from Lindley Ashline and The Body Love Shop. ]
Okay … now back to the story about my shopping experiences, which have been very stressful!
So, for the past few months, I’ve been dress-shopping for a very joyous occasion, my son’s wedding, but honestly, it’s been anything but joyful!
My body has changed — between the pandemic and getting older, it’s been challenging to remain positive when the stores don’t even have dresses in your size!
Considering the average woman’s dress size is 16, clothing brands and stores need to do a better job with size inclusivity!
Frustrating does not cover what I’ve experienced finding a dress that fits and makes me feel good in my skin!
I share more about my shopping experience in the video below and discuss the importance of self-compassion and kindness towards our bodies and ourselves!
We all struggle with negative self-talk of some type; It’s easy to blame our bodies for any negative feelings during stress. Life is challenging now; we don’t need any more pressure while still trying to manage life in a pandemic; not to mention inflation, hurricanes, and politics (and even shopping for clothes for special occasions) wreak havoc on our lives.
However, we can directly impact our health by changing our thoughts; my dress shopping experiences reminded me of this.
This article, Developing A Positive Body Image Mindset, shares four steps to help you shift your thinking about your body and develop a positive body image mindset. Because no matter where you are in your stage of life or in your journey with food and nutrition… we all need to be kinder to ourselves!
If you or someone in your family struggles with an eating disorder or are tired of fad diets, our team of dietitians and eating disorders specialists will “meet you where you are” and guide you to a better relationship with food and your body.
Erica Leon is a Registered Dietitian and practices from a Health at Every Size (HAES®) lens. She is certified as an eating disorder specialist and is passionate about helping women at midlife, menopause and beyond to make peace with food and body image.
Erica is a highly sensitive nutrition therapist who takes the time to learn where you or your family are in the pursuit of health. Respectful of your individual needs and lifestyle, she will provide an honest assessment of whether or not you are a good fit to work together. Click here to schedule a 15-minute Discovery Call with Erica to let us know about your needs, and to see which of our Dietitians is the best fit for you!
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