Exhorting Obese People to Eat Less and Exercise More Doesn’t Work

In Gary Taubes’ article “The New Obesity Campaigns Have it All Wrong” in the May 14, 2012 issue of Newsweek, he points out some refreshing facts that help shed light on our country’s obsession with thinking that obesity is caused from “gluttony and sloth” or an imbalance of energy / food intake.  He cites Hilda [...]

Is It Too Late to Apologize?

This Guest Post graciously submitted by Rachel Simmons. Hi Rachel, I started college last year and met my friend who quickly became a best friend. The problem is that later on in the year a third friend popped up to make a threesome and I didn’t handle the situation as gracefully as I could have. [...]

Vogue Magazine … Pact to Pledge.

On May 3, 2012, Vogue Magazine announced its health initiative … a pact between the 19 international editors of Vogue to encourage a healthier approach to body image.  The international issues of Vogue jointly pledge – among other things – to “work with models who, in our view, are healthy and help to promote a [...]

Are You Photoshop-ing your life?

Your reaction to this film clip was probably similar to mine – rage and a feeling of disbelief that women are STILL being portrayed this way, and that things have gotten even worse. And again, if you’re like me, you immediately went into blame – blame of the advertising industry, the magazine editors and perhaps [...]

Can We Force Someone to Be Healthy?

M. Hudnall Blast-from-the-past originally posted 11/2009 on WATRD. Self-efficacy is a big word.  Okay, two words.  It’s about our belief in ourselves, essentially that we are in charge of our thoughts and actions. The concept pops up in my mind every time I hear someone say it’s a person’s duty to live a healthy lifestyle.  [...]

Why Weight Loss Is The Wrong Goal

A Marsha Hudnall blast-from-the-past, originally posted September 11, 2009. I own and direct a women’s healthy weight loss retreat.  But I wish women would stop trying to lose weight. No, I don’t want to put myself out of business.  I’d just rather help women set and achieve goals that will really take them where they [...]

Mother May I?

Perhaps it is a coincidence, perhaps it is because I called my mother, Ma, but the first two letters of the month reminds me that MAy brings us Mother’s Day.  Despite the fact that some folks tout this as a shameless commercial “Hallmark” opportunity for selling cards and gifts, others experience it as a more [...]

Today Show’s Comments about Jessica Simpson: “She’s Pretty Fat”

This guest post graciously submitted by Sarah Biskobing, RD.  It seems as though once again, Jessica Simpson is under the microscope when it comes to her weight. This time, she is being criticized for being too heavy while being pregnant. Apparently, Jessica has gained around 40 pounds so far during her pregnancy. Dr. Nancy Snyderman [...]

If I Don’t Like Me, Can I Take Care of Me?

Originally posted October, 2009 when Marsha Hudnall, RD, MS first joined the WeAreTheRealDeal site. Marsha has taught hundreds of women how to live the HAES (Health At Any Size) lifestyle through her decades of work at Green Mountain at Fox Run, a women’s retreat where she serves as owner and director. Read Marsha’s blog at [...]

Constant Comments

 I am not clear how this came about…but about…it certainly came. There seems to be an unspoken rule that it is perfectly okay for people to comment on other people’s bodies. And I am not referring just to the behind the back conspiratorial comments frequently accompanied by a wink wink nudge nudge to a nearby [...]

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