Lady Gaga posted this picture of herself with the caption “Bulimia and anorexia since I was 15,” hinting toward a new body image project she’ll be working on.
Nothing will start a global frenzy like a pop star gaining a little weight, or disclosing an eating disorder.
“I’m dieting right now, because I gained, like, 25 pounds,” Gaga told radio host Elvis Duran earlier this week. “I really don’t feel bad about it, not even for a second.
Celebrities can at times seem super human with their access to dietitians, chefs, personal trainers, and a rigorous touring schedule, so when news broke about Gaga’s eating disorder body issues, and weight gain, it is almost comforting in a way. It’s like, “Gaga’s human like the rest of us;” we all gain weight and have issues with our bodies at points in our lives. While one is tempted to debate if she should diet, lose weight, stay the same, or gain more weight, let’s take the time to use this story to focus on a more important issue: self acceptance.
Posting a photo of herself in her underwear on her website captioned “Bulimia and anorexia since I was 15,” Gaga is admitting to her own struggles with self acceptance, but is at a place where she wants to help others with her new “Body Revolution 2013” movement.
Despite her own stuggles, what we can learn from Gaga is her “born this way” attitude. While we all won’t go around posting pictures of ourselves in our underwear Gaga-style, flaunt what you’ve got. Approach weight gain or weight issues as you would any situation in life: focus on the positive, not the negative. In that vein, dressing to show off one’s best features is the greatest way to boost confidence.
In “The Weight of Self-Acceptance,” a JENESEQUA article by Margaux Daphne, body image specialist Mehri Moore, M.D., gives this advice: “Choose one great quality about yourself a day and focus on that instead of whatever criticism you may have about your body.”
Often our criticisms stem from comparisons to bodies we admire (Gaga is a good example). It’s important to remember that, no matter the shape or size, we all have issues with our body from time to time — and we all have that unique quality that no one else has. Find yours.
To read “The Weight of Self-Acceptance” by Margaux Daphne in it’s entirety, download the JENESEQUA app in the itunes store, and look for the article in issue eight.
Author: Alexis Sargent Photo: Lady Gaga.
