Good morning Healthy Apron fans! I am excited to announce the kick off of Operation Beautiful week here on my site! If you have followed me through the Your BEST Self series, you should know that I am on board with the “love yourself” theme! I think we all needed to take better care of ourselves and believe in our own beauty! Each day this week, I hope these guest bloggers will inspire you to FEEL beautiful, just the way you are!
What better way to kick off the week than with a post from none other than the OB lady herself! Caitlin from The Healthy Tipping Point wanted to share this message with you!
Operation Beautiful is a self-help website designed at helping women gain a more positive body image. Operation Beautiful encourages women to post positive messages in public places for other women to find. One day at night class (I take courses at community college), I was inspired to write “You are beautiful” on a post it and stick it to a mirror in the bathroom. I took a picture and posted it on my personal food and fitness blog, www.HealthyTippingPoint.com. I asked my readers to participate and within a few days, my inbox was flooded with similar pictures. I knew right away I had something special on my hands and launched www.OperationBeautiful.com within two days of posted my first note.
I began Operation Beautiful because I really believe that “Fat Talk” is detrimental to your personal happiness, you health, and your relationships. It’s a bad habit that we need to stop as society – I don’t want my future daughter to grow up thinking she’s unworthy just because she doesn’t look like an unattainable ideal in a magazine. I think that by posting notes, we’re spreading positive self-image. Also, I think the posters are really writing the notes to themselves, and it gives them a boost of confidence, too!
Thanks everyone for blogging for Erin and supporting the OB movement at the same time.
I posted this Operation Beautiful note on the window of a random car. Most people who park their cars here use it as a staging area to bike around the surrounding neighborhood. I could tell by the gear in the car that it was a woman’s car, and that she probably did cycling events or triathlon. I actually had a terrible run and felt a little down on myself for struggling so much. I left this note for the stranger because I really wanted someone, somewhere to hear. To know that you are strong and capable can be so helpful when you’re struggling through a hard workout.. or just life. I hope she enjoyed the note!
This is such a great idea, and when I read about this last year I was so inspired. I get so angry when I read magazines and see false advertising for stupid products that I’m sure little girls will grow up THINKING they NEED. I try not to read these magazines (and at least I NEVER pay money for them) but sometimes they grab my attention, like many others. I think it’s great that you are highlighting Operation Beautiful this week, and I will try to do some things of my own!! I love the random note on a car idea.
This is such an important and wonderful message! I so admire Caitlin and the work that she is doing. Your blog is definitely helping me to appreciate the beauty in me and in others. Thank you for this reminder!
I love the Operation Beautiful movement! Thanks for this post and I’m looking forward to the rest for this week.
Wow! What a great effort! I love this idea!
I adore Caitlin and the whole message…my sister in law was just asking me last night to borrow her book after I did a post on OB…she LOVES the site and wants to leave a note in a fitness magazine, but has been too nervous…I can’t wait for her to do it and send it in! It’s such an amazing movement and SO cool that she guest posted on your site!! Whoo Hoo!!!
After seeing Caitlin in action at the Healthy Living Summit I have even more admiration for her efforts.
Who doesn’t love a surprise message about being amazing, I love sprinkling post-its all over.