Category: girls gone strong

Dynamic Daughters: Ascending into Greatness…Glory…Girl Power!

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, 
Creator of Heaven and earth; 
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, 
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. 
He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; 
He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
 I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. 
Amen.


The Apostle’s creed is one of the many prayers that reminds me how beautiful I am! Today we celebrate the Ascension  of Christ into Heaven.   As you have any struggles in your life lean on this amazing prayer to remind you that Christ did all He did for us so we too can ascend from the depths of our own sins, fears, weaknesses….and so much more!

Thus I wanted to follow up from last weeks posting about Dysmorphic Disorder.  I wanted to share with all of you why I am so passionate about it!

Dysmorphic Disorder is one of the many things that have molded me to be the WARRIOR WOMAN I am today!

Growing up I always knew my minds eye about my body wasn’t quite right but I trusted and had faith that what I “saw” was not true.   I trusted that God doesn’t make junk.  but….it hasn’t always been easy.   Even with a great faith and great trust and belief…I still would have moments. 

And still do from time to time…the difference is now being 41….the moments are so far and few in-between than what they were when I was 13…15…17….21….25….30….

How have I survived it? 

 I trust…I constantly  rely on my faith.  
 I constantly am digging into my faith and growth to make my armor that much stronger. 
So what does it feel like for a person with dysmorphic disorder?
This is what it always has felt like for me….like I mentioned in previous post every person who has this has a different degree.  I am blessed and fortunate to not have it so severe that it prevents me from wanting to live life to its fullest.   But it does have is beautifully blessed challenges.  
I have always chosen to see the blessing behind it rather than the burden.   I believe it is how I have grown stronger in my faith.  It is truly a huge reason why I committed to never ever speaking negatively about myself or even think negative thoughts about self with having a daughter. Especially with knowing it is something we can pass on.

Some of my youngest/earliest childhood experiences formed my disorder. (Read this post for earliest memory)…
Always being objectified has formed me to be who I am. And I am grateful for it because it has made me committed to teaching young girls to be strong…love themselves…to guard themselves…to learn about the true freedom of chastity and modestly….and the beautiful freedom we obtain when we learn theology of the body. 
What does dysmorphia look like for me:
Knowing that I am beautiful…I am healthy…yet having moments of not feeling just right. 
Moments come on even stronger when someone gives my body attention that I find especially objectifying rather than being looked as a daughter of Christ.  There is a difference between a chaste compliment and feeling like a porter steak.  
I remember when I was in the military not enjoying the attention my curves would attract.  I lived in an area that the curvier you were the better.   Women could truly feel comfortable in their own skin yet the attention made me want to have the least amount of curves possible.  
I actually never felt uncomfortable in my skin when I was really having problems with my hormones (my pcos) and I was at my heaviest.  When I looked in the mirror I saw a daughter of Christ.  But I also know that I had 7 solid years of strengthening my spiritual armor and living a true love of self for my beautiful little growing girl.  
Then I figured out some health stuff through a spiritual journey and lost 30-32 pounds.  I started to receive lots of attention for it that made me very uncomfortable.  Yet I still felt strong in my faith.  I still felt strong in my self worth and body image. 
Then I had my miscarriage. Between healing from that mentally physically, spiritually I started to throw myself into my passion of research and biohacking my health, nutritionally and physically. (More on biohacking in the future).  The problem  is as I got excited about each biohack and personal challenge the more I wasn’t guarding my self love as well.  I found myself starting to compare again and find value in the mirror and scale.  I pushed myself hard on my runs because it was a great mental and spiritual escape to heal from my loss. But it was also an easy way for me to unconsciously want to widdle away to nothing… to become that hanger for clothing.

As people would comment about how thin I was the more self conscious I became.  The more I wanted not be noticed.  After my hysterectomy I probably pushed myself my hardest  because after all if I couldn’t have any more children what did it matter what I looked like.  I became so lean that I could have been in some of those competitions Maddy Moon did and talks about….but it wasn’t what my body wanted to naturally be.  I may have looked “good”…but I wasn’t healthy…Mind, Body, or Soul!!!

The stresses of the last 5 years are what led me on my journey of adrenal fatigue and on this… journey of being even stronger mind body and soul than I ever have been in my life.  
When I started doing exercises body weight training to specifically start rebuilding my bone density and muscle growth/strength I would have moments of not liking what I was seeing.  After all I got use to an unrealistic 97 pounds for my body.  I was born to lift heavy.  I was born to be strong.  I was born to be me…I was born to love myself in all sizes all shapes…all seasons of life.

This is where GIRLS GONE STRONG has been amazing for me!  Reminding me how beautiful we all are.  Reminding me to walk the walk I talk!

So what does my dysmorphic look like for me today at 41?
I look in the mirror and smile!   I ignore whatever chemical imbalance is trying to lie to me…If a negative image is conjured from a past hurt or comment I say I forgive and pray the Lord’s Prayer with great compassion….
I think age and my spiritual life has given me a great gift to realize and know I am more than the sum on that scale or that distorted clown mirror that sometimes likes to rear its ugly head!   I am more!!!
With adrenal fatigue I have had to really learn how to nurture and love myself even more.  I have had to really tap into understanding that my mind body soul health is more important than looking as ripped as I possibly can.  That I am judging myself when no one else around me is.  It is truly in my head and I have let it go.  
As my beautiful daughter is budding into a young lady I am so grateful for God and His continual work on me.  

He shows me how to grow, learn, and heal.  

Therefore giving me the opportunity to be the best example to my daughter of what it means to be a wonderful warrior woman.  
ARMOR YOUR DYNAMIC DAUGHTER WITH FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE….TO FEED HER MIND, BODY, AND SOUL….TO BECOME THE WONDERFUL WARRIOR WOMAN….SHE IS DESTINED TO BE!

hugs, prayers, and lots of blessings,
~Kelly 😉
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Dynamic Daughters: Understanding Dysmorphic Disorder

Dys-what?

Okay so here is a summary of all I have learned….and I am going to highlight specific aspects and explain why….but if you want to understand this disorder even more there are lots of great resources out there.  And I will give you the the whole MIND, BODY, SOUL….connects at the end of this post.  But for now…..

Dysmorphic Disorder:

(follow the above link to get the full details….but below is a summary)

A type of chronic mental illness.  The individual has a perceived flaw that is either minor or totally imagined.  The point is they obsess over it.  They obsess over appearance and body image for hours a day.  This obsession impacts daily decisions.  There is never a satisfaction with their body.  They seek procedures: minor or major, to “fix” these flaws.  They may lean on excessive exercise.

Just some of the symptoms…

preoccupied by appearance
extreme self-consciousness
frequent examination of self in mirror or avoid mirrors
believe others notice you in a negative way
avoid social situations
excessive grooming
compares self to others
don’t want to be in pictures
obsess over specific body parts: face, hair, skin, breasts, muscles…etc

Causes:
Brain differences (structure or neuro-chemistry)
Genes – more common in a person who has a family member who has this condition.
Environment – life experiences, culture

Risk Factors:
This is just a short, very slimmed down explanation….
Some of the factors that increase risk of developing or triggering condition include:

relatives with disorder
life experiences: childhood teasing, trauma
personality traits
societal pressures or expectations
having another mental disorder such as anxiety or depression.

***Dysmorphia usually starts in adolescents and it affects men and women.

Why does this all matter to me?

I see more and more young women being bombarded by social media’s imagery of what a woman “looks like”….and how we “should” look like!

Even though we KNOW that there is airbrushing involved…there is some extreme things that are done…..and that the magazines, movies, shows, commercials….represent a very small percentage of the population….we are talking like less than 10%.

I recently read/heard that genetically speaking…there is only 1% of women who come by thigh gap naturally….born with it.

YET WE ARE OBSESSED WITH IT….all others who obtain in….do it at great costs…..

And further it is destroying the self-esteem and self-image in our young girls!

Which brings me back to Dysmorphic Disorder!

It is real…it has ranges, just like many other mental disorders.  Just like a person who may manage many other mental disorders, or a person who compensates with other mental “handicaps” of sorts….

Thus a person can have more severe cases than others….some may not have bouts come on all the time or infrequent.  Yet it is always there in the background.  It is how a young girl nurtures herself, and manages her daily stresses, daily influences that will make all the difference in my opinion.

Things that can help a young lady is to be in tuned with herself and admit when she needs help.

She needs to ask herself: how can I help myself?  Do I need to seek treatment? Or is this something I can manage with the help of a great confidant or support system?

Lifestyle/home remedies that can help:

Taking supplements/herbs that support the serotonin levels.
Learn more about the condition.
Pay attention to warning signs.
Avoid situations, even people that my trigger bad self talk.
Avoid: food, alcohol, drugs….substances that are going not support a nurturing mindset.
BE ACTIVE.  Yoga, walks, sprints, HIIT….are all great ways to keep the mind clear.

Other ways to support yourself/cope:

Write in a journal.
Don’t isolate yourself.
Stay healthy.
Read self-help books.
Join support groups.
Stay focused on goals.
Learn relaxation/stress management.
Don’t make important decisions when feeling despair/distress.

Prevention may not be possible but identifying if you are at risk and learning to truly love yourself early on can help.

Here are some great articles/self help/resources…
 to love self better:

Seriously, Let’s End the War with our Bodies

Understanding Body Types: How our Genes are a factor

A strong/amazing Woman not caring what Society Says she should LOOK LIKE

Remember…
ARMOR YOUR DYNAMIC DAUGHTER WITH FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE….TO FEED HER MIND, BODY, AND SOUL….TO BECOME THE WONDERFUL WARRIOR WOMAN….SHE IS DESTINED TO BE!

hugs, prayers, and lots of blessings,
~Kelly 😉

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Day 10: Pedestal of Pressure!

I feel for the individuals who are in the profession…business…careers of health and wellness; whether it is as a doctor, a personal trainer, a nutritionists, those selling products/services in a store or an at-home business.

The pressure each of these must feel to have that “perfect” look according to the worlds visual standards; it must be overwhelming for some.   After all we are bombarded each day with billboards, ads, movies, and stores to name just a few, of what we “should” look like.  Therefore putting the pressure on these individuals to “look” the part because after all if you look thin then you must be healthy.  After all if you have amazing muscles you must have a great gut.

And what about the pressure those must feel when they don’t “look” the part?  Is that doctor taken serious?  Do we not take into account that the personal trainer is wanting to just relax for awhile and not look competition ready?  What if the nutritionist is dealing with hormonal issues?

There is more important things to think about with our health than just “looking” healthy!  Our health is deeper!!!

There are many women I follow about fitness, nutrition, health….they all advocate how having a healthy attitude…healthy gut…healthy mind…healthy strength….healthy movement….healthy love of self is so much more important than the ascetics.

I am sure they feel like a broken record….I know I do sometimes…..but I am passionate and committed to convince all individuals….especially women and young maturing girls to be HEALTHY in their MIND, BODY AND SOUL!  To not focus on: pride, vanity, and ascetics…..and that should include all those who are in these professions.  After all if they are walking the walk of true health then their presence alone will attract others to them to have a true, real, whole life, wellness attitude and approach to living a full and rewarding life!

And we as patients, consumers, clients, followers…need to not have the bar set so high or expect so much from these individuals that we put them on a pedestal of pressure!

What can you do today to take the pressure off of them…off of yourself to be “perfect”?

What scripture can you lean on that will redirect that focus?

Here are my top 10 women/sites I go to for motivation:

Joyce Meyer
Girls Gone Strong
Real Life At Home
Diane Sanfilippo
Sarah Fragosa
Dr. Sara Gottfried
Liz Wolf
JJ Virgin
Katie – Wellness Mama
Mind Body Green

***I purposely didn’t add their links so you have to do a little bit of leg work yourself to find what fits you best for motivation.  Plus some of the list names have several avenues of following them, therefore rather than limiting you to my pick…you pick!

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WOW on Wednesday!

Empower yourself to learn some amazing ways to take care of yourself as a woman…..and it is free!!!

I don’t know if it is too late to register since it has already started but check try to check out anything you can about the FOR WOMEN ONLY CONFERENCE HERE!!!

I think St. Teresa had to know how important it was to take care of herself in order to do all she did for God.

I have found the better I take care of my physical body, the more I can do for God….and I like that!

So check it out….and also checkout
GIRLS GONE STRONG!  These ladies rock.

I know it’s short today…but I wanted to share some of the great stuff I have been checking out the last couple days and don’t want anyone to miss out on it!

And remember…

Women…you are wonderfully made….you ARE A WARRIOR!

Blessings and hugs!
~K 🙂

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