The Weight Issue

I have recently had discussions with many of my close friends about the pressures of being thin and having a positive self image. So many of my friends are suffering from eating disorders and it pains me to watch. They are all gorgeous girls and the least of their worries should be about the number on the scale. I feel like so many girls suffer from a negative self image and the centre of that is their weight and their eating habits. Its an issue that is discussed over and over. Yet so many girls are haunted by this demon. Who is it that we are trying to be super skinny for? Our friends? Our families? Boys? Ourselves? What is the ideal body weight?

I personally have never suffered from problems with my weight or have felt any pressure to be thin. That's not to say I don't have my "fat" days or the days when I am like wow I should probably eat some fruit or something seeing as I can't remember the last time I had an apple. But for the most part I have always been content with my body. When my one friend told me that she was recently suffering from issues with how she looked and wasn't eating I was shocked. I have know her for a number of years and she has always been around the same weight and has always been skinny.

Dear Friend*,

You are a beautiful person inside and out. You are a wonderful, caring, thoughtful person and an amazing friend. You are unique and special in your own way and have made my life better and more positive for so many reasons. Even if you can't believe it yourself know that I believe that you are gorgeous just the way you are right now. I do not need to you change in anyway. I love you just the way you are. Do not let anyone make you feel bad about yourself. They are not worth your time or energy. You place so much emphasis on what you feel is "bad" but forget all the good. If you need it I can come up with a list of reasons of what makes you beautiful and special. I believe in you and I want you to get better. I am here for you.

I love you,

belle

*I have a lot of this to many of my friends who are suffering from eating disorders and thought I would share it here with you all.

First Year

The past few weeks have been crazy. With midterms left and right I never left the study room on the floor and then midterms ended and less then favourable results from those midterms started to come back. Then panic sunk in finals are only 2 weeks away and I am in no way shape or form ready for them. Nor am I ready to leave this place in 5 short weeks. This past year has flown by and I worry that I did not get everything that I wanted to out of it and I worry that somewhere along the line I began to lose the person I was when I started here. What happened to the girl who was involved in everything and who was constantly busy, always on the move. The girl so strong in her values and morals, who knew what she wanted from life. Where did that girl go? First year university is an eye opener. You move away from home and are completely on your own away from your parents for the first time. You learn so much about yourself. For the most part I am happy with the person I am becoming but there are things from my past that I feel are slipping away which I would like to hold onto. I miss being the girl who got the grades, who had it all. When did I lose that? I feel like meeting all these new people being away from my family and friends I somehow started to mould myself into this new person who I am not sure I am 100% comfortable being.

Things did not work out with the boy across the hall. People warn you about floorcest for a reason. I should have known better and yet I do not regret putting myself out there. Perhaps we really could of had something. Who knows. I have met so many amazing new people and hopefully some life long friends. I would not change one thing about my first year experience, expect perhaps being more involved in clubs within the university. But these are things that I can work on next year, not all is lost. My floor is an amazing group of people and changing even one person would make it completely different. I have 5 weeks left here and its not too late to pull up my socks and get the grades I know I am capable of. To have fun at the last few parties of the year and to just hang out, watch movies and laugh with my floormates. I am sad that this year is coming to an end, it is one I wish would last longer. This chapter of my life is just starting but man the pages turning fast.

Confession: I am obsessed with the

Its a slight problem that I have. I cannot seem to get enough of the Food Network. From Everyday Italian to Iron Chef to Ace of Cakes. I love it all. I watch them all.

Chopped, The Cupcake Challenge, Dinners Drive-in and Dives.

But my favourite has to be the Food Network Challenges. Making cakes

for every occasion and amazing sugar sculptures. How can you not fall in love with this channel?

One day I would love to go on a road trip and eat at some of the places that Guy visits on Dinner, Drive-ins and Dives. Honestly this is not a show you should watch while hungry.

Iron chef brings on a whole other group of issues. My mouth waters for foods that I know for a fact I hate and I sit there and judge based on platting and originality. I may or may not have a slight crush on Bobby Flay.

So now I have the urge to go to my kitchen and create some wonderful dish... or perhaps I'll just watch some more Food Network. We'll see.

Love,

Belle