Why are we say such hateful things about our bodies?

After a recent hoop class I was in the change room with a student. Who asked me if hooping would give her good abs? I said yes but then she went on to tell me how terrible hers were and even lifted her top to show me......the tiniest tummy I have ever seen! Really it was toned and everything nothing wrong with those abs. Why do women always criticise their own bodies? We should be embarrassed that we would be so cruel to ourselves. If you talked to a friend like that you wouldn’t have many! So why do we do it to ourselves.

When I was a teenager I read an article in Cleo that said ‘if you don’t point out your flaws chances are men won’t notice them’. For some reason this one article stuck with me for life and I rarely speak badly of myself in front of men. I do remember slipping up one time and showing my cellulite to a long term boyfriend (clearly I was getting to comfortable). He took one look at me and said ‘don’t ever do that again’ and I never will. The thing is he didn’t know it was there till I told him!

I wish I had this same attitude when I am surrounded by women but for some reason I struggle. I talk about how I’d like thicker hair, browner skin.... I’ll even point out my spots to another woman.

Men and women still have such different attitudes to their bodies. I know men are now facing enormous pressure to look good but it’s still far more frequent to hear women beating themselves up.

I have to say that we are part of the problem! The other night watching TV some glam celebrity came on TV and said ‘I’ve always had a good body, I guess I just have good genes’. My friend said ‘does she have to be so arrogant’, the thing is it’s not feminine to be cocky. We don’t actually like to hear other women talk about how great their bodies are but they are great and we should talk about it!

I love my legs. I think they have just the right amount of shape. Also I’m a bit fascinated (yes I said fascinated) by my arms... I never had muscle there and ever since I started hooping they are so toned... I’ll show you them if you ask, yes the gun show! Get a ticket!

What is your favourite body part?

New Years Resolutions

In March this year I sat on a flight from Perth to London and I wrote two headings: My ideas for what I want my life to be.

What do I need to do to achieve it?

I didn't read it again until yesterday when I was on a flight from Perth to London again. It made me so happy that I was able to look at what I had written and know that I had done everything in my power to achieve my goals.

If you are writing new years resolutions today I suggest you start with those two headings. Often people write long lists and achieve one or two of them. What people don’t realise is that will power is a finite recourse. So if you’re being super strict with your diet you’re more likely to buy those shoes. Luckily for us the emotion of love is an infinite resource so base your resolutions around self love.

So don’t write a list that starts with ‘cut out carbs, excercise 7 days a week, drink less’ just write ‘be healthy’ and you’ll treat your body like a temple. Or instead of ‘reduce stress at work, travel to new places, spend time with family’ just put ‘be happy’. And don't make so many that you forget what they were, make it 3 max! Throughout the year the specifics with change but if you make your new years resolution a concept rather than a specific goal you’ll achieve it more easily. Remember small every day changes can really add up.

My resolution last year was to ‘change my life’. To give it meaning I wanted to create something, to be proud of what I was doing with my life and inspire people. With Happy Healthy Hoops I have done this, I’m so proud to tell people I’m a professional hula hooper (even if I still want to giggle every time I say it) and every class I teach gives me so much motivation to go on and inspire more people to pick up the hoop!!

This year my resolution is to ‘bite off way more than I can chew, then chew away’. I read this in my star signs yesterday during my flight. I don’t normally read my horoscopes but this one just fit so perfectly, so for me this year is not just about dreaming big but doing it. Taking big monstrous steps towards my goals and being fearless!

What are your new year’s resolutions??