If you're a plus size gal struggling with excess weight and a negative body image, you're not alone. And help is on the way. As part of the growing "Self Acceptance-Love Your Body" movement to encourage women to expand their definition of beauty, feel better about themselves and embrace their bodies, there has been a flood of media attention aimed at empowering women. Lifetime's reality TV show, "How to Look Good Naked" hosted by Carson Kressley focuses on helping women rediscover their confidence and find self love by giving them the tool set. It was a constant reassurance that I was okay and I was worthy and valuable. It really hit me and I know that for some of the women on the show, a few of them have gone back to their ways. But it's different for me. It lasted for me because I am happy. I feel, I don't ever want to feel that way again. I don't want to go back to that again. I have embraced who I am now. Yes I am a size 14. Yes, I wear FF bra and that is who I am now. My mind is just totally made up and ready for this journey. The journey did not stop after the show. It really started after the show.
Kelly, what's up next for you?
I'm so excited to be able to take the experience that I've had and put this into an opportunity to teach young girls and women and empower them to recognize the importance of loving their bodies exactly as they are. Since I've done a lot of improv acting and some stand up comedy, I've decided to take my story and do a show to help people to build their self-esteem so that they can learn how to love themselves more by laughing about all the stuff that I went through. I think the road is wide open for mebecause I'm a gal on a mission.
Makeup Set
What advice would you give to other women struggling with their own bad feelings about their bodies?
Before I became pregnant and my body went through so many changes, I used to always listen to a little voice inside of me. She sounds like all of the women who have gone before me and I love her very much. And now I listen. Now I listen. But right after I had my daughter, I noticed that the voice was weakening and sometimes it was a battle. That little voice would scream out and I would push it down and I would ignore it. But when she finally came back, it came back like a whisper. It wasn't a scream. So I had to listen really close and now I pride myself on that.
But something moved me and I listen to her often and she tells me, "You know what? Do something nice for your husband today. You know what? Go buy those sexy panties. You know what, Kelly. Go on and get your hair done, girl. Now I'm a great listener because of all this. Sometimes the gifts like really tiny, really quiet little voices. You know?
You got to find that place in you to let that little tiny seed grow, cause it's just there and it's waiting. And talk about it, communicate with people. Don't be afraid to tell your story. Help comes in many different forms, but you've got to open your mouth. You've got to be willing to receive the help that you get. It comes in a lot of different ways, not in a diet pill. It might come from a girlfriend who says, "My God, I'm going through the same thing."
For you, it came from your little girl. It came fromSidney.
Andrea, Kelly (in unison): Out of the mouths of babes
Kelly: It came from a child, so I'm living proof. It came from my child. So I learned to just take it easy. Don't be hard on yourself and please don't waste any more time. You have no more time. You were given a gift and that gift is life. You have to do it. You have to do it. You have to do it. Just take it easy. Don't be so hard on yourself and please don't waste any more time. You have no more time. You were given a gift and that gift is life. You have to do it. You have to do it. You have to do it.
What did you learn that has helped you to keep that little voice in you singing loud and proud?
Every morning I get up, no matter what, if I'm feeling good, or feeling bad, and I go into the mirror and I explain how beautiful I am, how strong, how worthy, how wonderful and how courageous, and I get that voice back over and over again every day. Speak for me, voice. Let me hear that birdie in my head again. Every day I get up and I promise myself, and I promised Carson that every day I would get up and do that. And I thought it was corny at first but I thought, "That doesn't work." And it does. And that voice keeps coming back and it starts my day, like I'm putting fresh oil in the car.
And then on those days when I'm feeling schlumpy, my voice says, You know what? This is what life is. You've lived long enough to know. You know how to deal with this. You're strong enough, girl. Keep on keeping on. Something positive from this will happen. Just keep on keeping on. Don't even sweat it.
Wow! What a great place to close the interview. Keep on keeping on, Kelly, girl, and don't even sweat it.
Kelly: That's right.
Plus Size Body Love Acceptance: Inspirational Interview With Kelly Park of How to Look Good Naked Interested This:
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