10/31/14

Ordering Food: A Body Positive Guide

Hello my angels!

If you've followed this blog for the past 2 and a half years, first of all, you deserve some sort of trophy, because those early typo-filled rants I used to post are painful for me to even look at.

But in all seriousness, if you've been around for a while, you know that, although I consider myself recovered from my ED, ordering food still brings me a lot of anxiety.
What will the waiter/McDonalds employee think of me? 
Will he think I'm fat for ordering this meal?
Will he think I'm fat for ordering anything at all? (a legit thought that has crossed my mind one too many times.

I did some research (Tumblr, mostly) and found that I am not alone in this ordeal.

So although I'm still trying to get better, I have accumulated some wisdom that I would like to share with you all today. Here are my 3 thoughts regarding ordering food to help you order without panicking and ordering a tall glass of water:

1. You Legitimately Don't Matter 

Harsh, I know, but true. Waiters wait several tables at a time for several hours. It's almost funny for us to think that they would remember our order to the tee. At the end of their long day, said waiter will not lay down on his bed and think to him/herself: "man that boy/girl on table 9 ordered a lot of bread sticks". If he/she does, it's probably because he thinks you're cute, so good on you!

2. Fuck That Waiter

Maybe he/she will remember how many breadsticks you ordered. Fine. Round of applause for this idddic memory kid. But there are several possible ways this could go:
a) you never go to that restaurant again, and never see this person ever again.
b) you go back to that restaurant because, yes, those breadsticks were life, and get a different waiter.
c) you get the same waiter and he/she doesn't remember you.
d) he/she does remember your cute face, and makes a comment about those breadsticks.
e) punch him/her in the face

Kidding, of course. But think about it. The odds that option d) would occur are hella slim. And besides, these people live off of tips: do you really think they would be audacious enough to criticize your food choices? Money makes the world go round, loves, so sit back, relax, and enjoy your damn breadsticks.

3. Self Love > This Waiter

Here's the thing: regardless of whether this waiter remembers you, your order, and thinks you are fat/unhealthy/a bad person, it shouldn't matter.
You cannot live your life according to what others may or may not think of you.

There's always someone who's going to think you're cute, just like someone's going to think you're not. Someone will think you're too thin, too fat, too pale, too dark, too smart, too dumb.
It sucks, don't get me wrong, but it's life.

What will make you or break you in this world is whether or not you accept that not everyone will think you're perfect

So next time you walk into your favorite diner, accept that this waiter may or may not judge the nutritious value of your order, and that's okay. Once you've come to terms with the fact that you can't control what he/she thinks, I promise, those breadsticks will taste a hell of a lot better.

xoxo

Gabby





10/25/14

6 Tips For a Body Positive Halloween

Hello my angels!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!...
Well, almost, it's not Christmas quite yet, but Halloween is pretty bomb too.
However, if you let it get out of hand, it can also be pretty catastrophic.

Girls showing off their beautiful bodies
+
Snickers bars everywhere
can =
Insecurity, and lots of it.

But fear not! Gabby is here to remind of 10 foolproof tips to keep you safe, happy, and slut-shame free during this awesome holiday:

6. Eat!

Free food, people, free delicious, diabetes-ridden food everywhere! You can't pass that up! Have some candy, have some chocolate, have some chips; one day will not, I repeat, will not make you gain 15 pounds, blow up like a blowfish and explode.

5. Or Be Careful

I know many of my readers are still in ED recovery (hello, beautifuls!) and Halloween can be a very stressful time. It can be incredibly hard not to binge, and then purge/restrict. Like I said earlier, there's free food everywhere, which can be some people's dream (me) or worst nightmare (me 2 years ago).

So be smart about it. Bring a small bag to fill with your favorite treats. Once it's full, that is your cue to stop. You have enough control over the portion of sweets you'll be eating so that you don't feel you've gone too far, but you also get to enjoy this holiday without completely restricting your fun!

4. Safety In Numbers

Halloween is amazing and all, but it's also a perfect playground for assault. While sexual assault is never, ever, ever the victim's fault (uh hum Bill O'Reilly. Although to be frank, he's probably not reading this. Does he know about the internet yet?), you can always try to increase safety by never leaving you or your friend(s) alone.

Watch your girlfriend's punch, choose a designated driver, and don't trust guys in masks. That's not 100% about safety, they just creep me out.

3. Dress to Impress

"I can't pull that costume off"
"I'm too fat"
"I don't have the body for it"

...
These are legitimate things my peers have said to me. Needless to say, they received a justified smack aside the head.
There is no such thing as "pulling off" or "having the body for an outfit, let alone a costume!
If you can squeeze your butt into it, you have the body for it. Done.

Halloween is about having fun, being someone else for a night, so if you're not necessarily the most confident fudgie out there, Halloween night is the perfect night to transform yourself into someone who is!

Scared of being shamed? Stick around for the next tip.

2. A Slut Shaming Free Zone

Listen up, slut shamers!
If you don't want to wear a revealing costume for Halloween, that is a-okay, because it is your body, right?

Well that girl who's wearing a crop top and some spandex shorts? It's also her body.
If she respects you for dressing as you are dressed, the curtesy must be reciprocated.

It's not 1976 anymore. Calling her a whore or a slut does not make you look cool.
It makes you look jealous.

1. Don't Be Afraid To Look Ugly

It's tempting to go as a sexy cat, or a sexy nurse, or a sexy pillow.
And don't get me wrong, those costumes are valid, cute, and worlds of fun!
But there was a time when we didn't care about looking hot, we just wanted the sickest costume out there!

So why not do a bit of both?
How about a zombie nurse? Or an undead cat (any Poe fans)?

You don't have to prove to anyone tonight that you are hot. We already know that from the 364 other days of the year. Just have fun! Be creative! Be yourself (or not, I guess?).

And never be afraid to look ugly. Because there are not enough fake eyeballs dripping out of your mouth that can take away from the confident man/woman that you are.

Have an awesome time, my darlings!

xoxo

Gabby