New Year's Resolutions: Silence the Hungry Heart

My relationship with food caused the metaphor "didn't fit in" to become my literal truth, pushing me to the outskirts of certain social circles, including fashion circles. Food became my knee-jerk reaction to everything: celebration, sorrow, boredom and friendship. Each new January, for more than I care to count, I would resolve to lose weight...and falter within days (if not hours).

I'm not sure what I was afraid of - life or living it plus size - I thought dieting was the answer to everything. Then life dealt me three awakenings and I learned the only thing I had feared was fear itself.

A diet was not the answer for me. I decided to make fashion fun and to make its accoutrements work for me. I decided to stop the pity party and launch a pretty party. I identified one area in particular that detracted from my overall appearance and turned it into my star-quality signature. I'll reveal that and my three awakenings to you in time, as we get to know each other better.

I've learned that there is no enemy. Today my New Year's resolutions focus on nurturing those I love and me as well.

I'd love to hear your New Year's resolutions especially those that nurture and encourage. Please share them. Girlfriends, the days of starving to fit in are over!

Babe

Talking it U.P.

Join Babe Hope as we launch our new community site - Talking it U.P. Talking it U.P. is more than a blog it's a community of women encouraging each other to be their personal best. We will discuss topics of interest to you. We'll share videos of inspirational women and some great fashion advice. Babe Hope will moderate and she has a passion for fashion with compassion. We'll turn the pity party into a pretty party with fun along the way.

We look forward to you joining us and hearing from you. We know you'll be glad you did.

Who Is Babe Hope?

I'm Babe Hope, the author of Pretty Plus: How To Look Sexy, Sensational and Successful No Matter What You Weigh. I'm also a stylist and personal shopper for women of all ages and shapes. My goal is to help women look their personal best. I love to empower women with tools to help turn their pity party into a pretty party! This is the message of "Talking It U.P." which I am so very happy to assume the helm of today!

A big problem women who wear plus sizes have is that much of the available fashion advice comes from fashion editors who live on tofu and lettuce leaves and therefore can't understand the angst and challenge of being a large woman. I get it because I face the same mirror you do, daily. I am a large, beautiful woman.

It wasn't always that simple for me. I haven't always felt beautiful. I weighed over 200 pounds when I graduated from high school. I've been on every diet. Decades later, I'm disappointed that I invested my energy and resources in diets instead of self-acceptance and in the sheer joy of a plus size pretty party. The opportunity was there, but I couldn't embrace it. Yet it is precisely that journey that led me to where I am today.

I'm excited to start this new year with you and Talking It U.P. Stick with me and I'll share all the secrets I've learned along the way.

A New Year's toast then to us, Girlfriends...The pity party was yesterday. Today we launch the pretty party!

Babe