The following is an excerpt from the July 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine. This was written for male supervisors of women in the work force during World War II. (Thanks to Tuck Self, The Rebel Belle, for discovering this).
Eleven Tips on Getting …

I’d love for you to post this response over at the Rebel Belle facebook group!!

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=10377403774&topic=4968

I especially love #2 because it makes me realize that ‘cantankerous and fussy’ can be a wonderful thing. Self expression is good for the soul!

I guess for far too long, like so many other women, I was buying into the old paradigm of being a “good girl” trying so hard not to step on anyone’s toes or break any egg shells. Now I know that was the reason why I’ve struggled with my weight for the majority of my life until I learned the value of being a Juicy Woman and breaking free of the “good girl” in me.

Now, hell it’s so much fun being sassy and loud and leaving my footprints all over the place, I can’t imagine ever living life any other way.

From what I’ve learned on this subject, it all comes down to how much self esteem we have and how we value and think about ourselves. Our self esteem affects all of our relationships, internal and external. It runs our lives, our choices and our bodies.

As a woman who’s leading a perceptual revolution and learning and teaching others how to make peace with their bodies and stop fearing food, I’ve discovered the path to self love and acceptance comes by choice rather than default.

Most women think that they can’t possibly love their bodies. They focus on the flaws and the imperfections, the bumps, lumps and dings and can’t see beyond them. I used to think the same way. Then I learned some valuable lessons that I now share with other women.

You don’t have to wait until you lose weight to love yourself . That’’s all backwards, straight out of 1943. Then we didn’t understand the body/mind connection. Now in 2008, we do. Your thoughts shape your reality.

You first start by loving and accepting yourself and then you get thinner. First you take care of yourself, nurture your body, then as a result of doing that your self esteem goes up. When self esteem is raised, your appetite and weight go down naturally. What a mind blowing lesson!

I also love #3 because it reminds me that women who are also shaped like me, who are “husky” (as the magazine puts it) are supposed to be more ‘even tempered and efficient’.

Yowie! What a load of bull! The sad news is as I’ve learned after taking big steps to break free of my life long struggle with dieting and hating my body; without coping directly with your stress and dealing with your bugaboos, and learning how to make peace with and trust yourself around food, you’ll always be stuck living in a skin that you won’t want to love, because you’ll resent the fact that you feel inhibited. Give yourself permission to say whatever is on your mind, whenever you want to. One of my mentors, Dr. Nancy Bonus, the creator of The Beyond Dieting Program says, “Say it or stuff it.” “Express it or wear it.” How many times do we want to tell someone off and instead we reach for a packet of oreos to sit and stuff our emotions?

It’s no wonder those ‘husky girls’ mentioned in the magazine are husky. If only they would be a bit more cantankerous and fussy, that would quickly change. At least that’s what I’ve learned the hard way. Great article, Rebel Belle!

Much love,
Andrea