First response.

I was out today with a group of friends when the subject of this blog came up. We talked around the Body Confidence project, and subject of how body confidence in the media etc affects young boys and girls. However, when I asked them to say which body parts they were confident about, the first response was this:

"I hate my hair"
"I don't like anything about my body"
"I wish I had a flat stomach"

This, from three beautiful, intelligent, fabulous ladies (of course, they're friends with me!).
Aaaaargh.


So, I asked them again - reminding them not just of the question I'd actually asked but also that their responses could be overheard by those same young people we'd talked about earlier.

To my relief, the second set of responses (with no further prompting) brought a much better list:

"I like my shoulders, and my legs - everything really apart from my tummy" 
"I'm quite pleased with my body actually, it's pretty good for my age - not too saggy!"
"I've got great skin, and hair"
And better still, we went on to list about the things we love about each other... easily!

Lots of funny body stories then followed too, so:

- Today's lessons: 

1. Watch you first response - a young person might be listening.
2. Encourage others to be body confident
3. Focus on what you know to be beautiful.

Keep it positive people!

Denise x

PS: Find out more about the project that's behind #30daysofbodypraise at: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/BodyConfidence and please support us however you can.

Not to be twisted!

Without our ankles allowing the up and down movement of the foot there'd be no ballet, running, jumping, cycling or tip-toeing; and if you've ever twisted your ankle you'll appreciate the great job they do with little or no thanks (most of the time) especially if, like me, you're a high heels kinda girl.

But if just for today - Appreciate your awesome ankles, whether you've got skinny ones or 'cankles', and keep them strong with these tips: http://www.wikihow.com/Strengthen-Your-Ankles

"A slim, graceful ankle is a thing of beauty and many a woman has a pretty ankle to thank for her claim to beauty"...

From "how to be ADORED : A girls guide to Hollywood Glamour" by Caroline Cox

... Got ankles you want to show off? 
Simply draw attention the them with a tattoo, ankle chain or fetching ankle strap shoes!

That's all folks, see you tomorrow!

Denise x

PS: Find out more about the project that's behind #30daysofbodypraise at: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/BodyConfidence and please support us however you can.

Ear, ear! It's #30daysofbodypraise

Listen Up!

We all know the ear is 'the organ that detects sound' but did you know it also aids our balance? So as well as my personal thanks to them because I can hear poetry, music, my son saying 'I love you mummy' and more, my ears also give me a place to hang my earrings and enable me to wear stiletto's! 

... Love 'em!

• How your ears can boost your body confidence: 

Find a fave body confidence song and (a) listen to it with your eyes closed so you can fully appreciate the song and your ears or (b) whilst looking at yourself in the mirror so you fully embrace yourself!

Question: Do you have favourite body confidence song? 

Here are five I'd recommend:

- India Arie: "Video" (So many great lyrics, just listen to the whole song!)
- Jonny Diaz: (The song says: There could never be a...) "More Beautiful You" (Believe it)
- Philippa Hanna: "I Am Amazing" (title says it all, say it to yourself)
- Bruno Mars: "Just the way You are" (listen to the positive commentators, not the haters)
- Prince: "Most Beautiful Girl in the World" (whenever you hear this question, the answer is "Hell yeah"!)


Don't forget to tell me your fave body confidence song!

Denise x

PS: Find out more about the project that's behind #30daysofbodypraise at: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/BodyConfidence and please support us however you can.

Short girl stands tall!

My Super Spine

So far, this series of blogs have focused on external features, but our body appreciation should go deeper than that. And so this blog is in praise of my spine. Not my back, specifically my spine - because, already in preparing for these blogs I've started to look at all the parts of my body in a new way, one of which is not to clump them all together.

Moving on! 
Today's thought is this...

One of the give-aways of a lack of body confidence is, in my opinion, a person's' posture (though of course poor posture is the result of a lot of things). Slouching is often associated with tall women and girls, but it's not just tall girls who slouch. When we want to 'hide', it's something many of us do. But, its widely accepted that if we stand tall we give off the appearance of being comfortable in our own skin - even if we're not.

And here's what I'm thinking - slouching shows our spines no respect: it says my flaws are bigger than you. And how can they be? Our super spines support us.

Image idea thanks to the creative mind of Mary from Mary & Mick Design!

My advice: Do your spine and your confidence a favour... Sit up, and stand as straight as a meerkat! 

My affirmation: Today I salute my super spine, and promise to stand tall in support of it. 
(Note: This is probably the only time tall and me fit in the same sentence! #petiteandproud)

Thanks  for reading!

Denise x

PS: Find out more about the project that's behind #30daysofbodypraise at: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/BodyConfidence and please support us however you can.

Happy to be Hippy?

Hips are hot, honestly!

I think we all stand a little taller and feel a little more confident when we read Maya Angelou’s poem "Phenomenal Woman". It proves that by consciously celebrating our bodies we become more confident, even if only temporarily.

I had a friend who used to be teased about her childbearing hips (she’s a classic ‘pear’ shape), but Maya told us that these hips are womanly - I agree and so believe we should shake ‘em proudly (in appropriate places only of course!), whatever size.  Just ask Shakira.

Personally, I'm happy with “the span of my hips” as Maya described hers.

Hips are great – many of the worlds’ commonly considered beauties: Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren for example, boast(ed) them. However, if you’re pear shape and don’t want to accentuate your hips my stylist top tips are… Avoid anything that cuts off around that area, draw attention elsewhere and be wary of peplums.

Now, who’ll join me in listening to this homage by poet Lucille Clifton? 
Hands on hips of course! 

(Also available at: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/homage-to-my-hips/comments/page-2/)

Find out more about Lucille Clifton: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucille_Clifton

Thanks for reading and hopefully see you tomorrow!

Denise x

PS: Find out more about the project that's behind #30daysofbodypraise at: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/BodyConfidence and please support us however you can.

Hands Up!

It's not yet 11am and I've already had my hands hard at work starting with pulling the covers off and turning off my alarm to typing this blog, and numerous things in between.

Here are some facts about my hands:

- As a child I had arthritis and as a result my fingers are quite bent.
- As I get older, my hands got more wrinkly.
- My hands have modelled. Yes, it's true.

As seen in the new CMB book: http://www.colourmebeautifulshop.co.uk/product/books/colour-me-beautiful

As with many other parts of my body I've tended to focus on the flaws rather than the fabulous functionality of my hands. And they really are amazing!

Furthermore it seems that others are less bothered about their flaws than I, and when I took part in a photo shoot for CMB earlier this year, my hands were chosen to go in the book.

My point is: how can/do we talk confidently about something we don't really like or appreciate?  And that's what this series of blogs is about - if we can start by appreciating our bodies, I believe we can move closer to loving our bodies and being body confident. So stop focussing on the negative and show some gratitude!...

"Dear Hands,

Thank you for all you do. Sorry that I take you for granted most of the time. I promise to be more considerate in the future, and to pamper* you more.

Love ya,
Denise"

*Pampering my hands may include:
Wearing gloves when washing up, using hand cream more regularly... and massaging them at the same time, getting a professional hand massage, having a manicure.

How will you pamper yours?

Thanks for reading, and if you've used your hands to print out or scroll down don't forget to say thank you!
Denise x

PS - You should also use them to TLC: http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/about-breast-cancer/touch-look-check and support out Body Confidence calendar: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/BodyConfidence

It has to be boobs!

What it's all about... 

Welcome to blog one of my 30 day challenge - #30daysofbodypraise. This is going to be one of the tougher ones for me because I'm not used to praising my bust (which I usually describe as a 'lack of').

To me my breasts don't really serve a purpose (and don't start me on my trials with breastfeeding!), at least not in the way my eyes or legs do but this is probably the most important blog of them all because it's why this series exists.

Our marvellous Maria

A group of CMB consultants including myself are producing a calendar for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, a disease our cover girl Maria Hastings has. Our aim is to raise £50k, raise awareness about the disease (which affects men as well as women), and boost body confidence. 

Many women have a 'problem' with their boobs, and breast reduction and enlargements were still the most common forms of cosmetic surgery in the UK in 2013. (Source: http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2014/feb/03/uk-plastic-surgery-2013-most-popular)

But, whether our boobs are big or small, real or fake, shapely or odd-shaped, if they are causing no medical problems and are cancer free - we should be grateful, truly grateful. However, as is often the case, we don't always appreciate what we've got until it's gone, it's not working properly or it's at risk and that's just not good enough... So, heres my little ditty of thanks for my baby B's:

"Forgive me if you think it's rude, but I'm just gonna touch my boobs*

I need to check that they're healthy, I'm grateful they came for free.

They're not that big, but they are mine. 

So thank you Lord, they'll do just fine!"

*Check out http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/about-breast-cancer/touch-look-check

Thanks for reading and hopefully see you tomorrow!

Denise x

PS: Find out more about our project here: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/BodyConfidence and please support us however you can.