Twenty-four donuts please
"Come up with another word that begins with 'D' to go before donuts," I asked.
"Dinky!"
"A different alliterating adjective for donuts," I dryly insisted, the distinct aroma of donut-y goodness seeping into our hungry nostrils, as we stood underneath the iconic clock tower in the town centre.
Freedom was finally upon us! Lady Lynskey, Munchkin and I had headed into town to celebrate handing in our last piece of third year work (yikes). Even though Munchkin had promised us sunshine, it was cloudy; aka classic British summer time. The donuts smelt glorious - and tasted it too, by the way - but as I inhaled the tantalising smell I couldn't help but feel guilty. I'd already eaten a McDonald's previous (not to mention the day before... and the day before that) so could I afford to indulge in donut deliciousness?
Feeling thoughtful, I wondered how many other women had felt the same way.
It seems silly that I should feel guilty for eating food that enjoy. What on earth should I have to feel guilty about? Having one treat once in a while was hardly going to warrant me putting on a stone in the next 24 hours. (Naturally, as discussed before, if I decided to take up a hearty diet of donuts for the foreseeable future, we'd be back to having kind chats with Dr. Christian about how I'd become donut shaped)
Females are constantly told there is a certain way to look. It can lead to some really awful thoughts. Am I too fat? Am I too thin? Should my thighs look this way? Does everyone else's bum look like that or is it just me? I could diet forever and still be a size 12 - my body shape isn't going to change. Yet I've spent hours agonising over the way my body looks, as I'm sure countless other women have. I'm pretty sure everyone has those days where you spiral completely out of control and suddenly every reflective surface becomes a circus mirror that does your true reflection no justice.
So why does eating crap make us feel so guilty?
Particularly in the run up to summer, there's a huge buzz in the media and other influences around us about achieving a "bikini body" or promoting the latest in leading a healthy lifestyle and this can really make your self-esteem take a hit if you don't fit into that picture perfect category. I don't know about you, but my bikini body is pretty much just my normal every other day body but in a bikini. For some there can be health worries as well and deviating from a strict diet can bring all sorts of extra mental strain. I think the reason that you feel guilty in the first place is that for a lot of people, their diet is something that they can specifically control.
So Sassypanters, I suppose there is a two-fold point to this post:
1. Donuts are delicious. True story.
2. Body image is subjective and self-esteem is precious.
I mean think about all the sassy greats! Beyonce for example - I bet even she has days when she wishes she wasn't so bootylicious. I'm sure even Kate Middleton wakes up some days and isn't pleased with the way she looks. But they have spent a great deal of time investing in themselves to become confident ladies and cultivate their self-esteem.
Project Sassy Pants votes for ladies (and gents!) who are willing to take the time to love themselves.
...
Eat the donuts.
xo
P.S. Worried about yourself or a friend? Find someone trustworthy to talk to, or hop over to the NHS website for some free, friendly advice.
