(Due to thoughtful and lengthy responses, this facebook post seemed worthy to move into a blog conversation).

"Returning from a book group of girls ranging from their 20's to 80's.  Today's topic began with fasting and moved into food, body-image, eating disorders, the birth of television and internet. .. Absolutely fascinating, and complex, to piece together change in the past decades.  And to consider restoration in the decades to come! Out of curiousity, if you could say one thing about food or body to the generation below you, what would it be?"

An energetic speaker and writer, Arlene Pellicane has been featured on The Hour of Power, The 700 Club, and Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah. Her new book, 31 Days to a Younger You: No Surgery, No Diets, No Kidding, has just been published by Harvest House. In it Arlene offers practical solutions to look and feel younger, especially if you want to have more energy, be happier and healthier, and prevent illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

"All this and more is possible when you take an honest look in the mirror, both at your body and your soul, and allow God to touch your life," writes Arlene. Many women have already found value in Arlene's beauty and health tips, along with her biblical encouragement to "grow more beautiful from the inside out." 

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In the past few weeks, there have been two media stories dealing with weight issues. swirling around the blogosphere.  The first was the uproar over a Marie Claire blog post, in which a staff blogger wrote openly about her disgust with overweight people on a new television sitcom. 

Sensitively titled “Should Fatties Get a Room?”, the author states:

So anyway, yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room — just like I'd find it distressing if I saw a very drunk person stumbling across a bar or a heroine addict slumping in a chair.

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"What gives you hope?" It was the question that started it all. Last Thursday I spoke at a venue to women and men who had a passion for working with young adults. I talked about the retreats and workshops I lead, but mainly about creating safe spaces for women to heal from a culture of unrealistic expectations of perfection. By introducing different self-care and contemplative tools, women have awakened to the grace and hope inside of them.  Fueled by the Holy Spirit a revolution is beginning in their souls.

 The gentleman who asked the question sincerely continued, "I mean this problem is so epidemic. If you talk to any woman you meet -- it's everywhere." As I weighed this question in my heart, I began to tear up.  Very slowly I started to talk about how it would be so much easier for me to stop talking about the disease of perfection, have a kid, go on a diet and meet the culture's and church's expectations of me as a married woman of four and a half years. My hope is not in the fact that I could live a "nice" life. (Not saying that people who choose that life are bad, that is just not what I am called to). I wanted to explain my story so I was careful to choose my words about my husband's and my choice to question whether or not we want kids. That's our life. I don't force or project this agenda on anyone. So it caught me off guard when a 50-something white male raised his hand in my pausing after I had just started explaining where my hope lies and said, "I have a thought."

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The good Christian answer is that inner beauty is all that matters, but if you pay attention to society, some Christians might be fooling themselves.  Actions speak louder than words in this case.  Looks have become everything and I'm not even talking about body image -- I'm talking about our relationship with food.  Food has taken center stage lately with documentaries like King Corn, Killer at Large, and Food, Inc. courting the topic like a celebrity. Food has been around much longer than the age of celebrity, but since WWII it has taken a similar detrimental route. Just like the pin-up girls in war times were lusted over and pined after (and now has become a multi-billion dollar industry) so can a person lust, want, crave, indulge, and become addicted to food.

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I just watched this and had to share it with you all - unbelievable!!  

Bathing suit season is almost over. Women everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief.  They are letting their stomaches out again while stuffing their latest 2 piece in a drawer until next year.  The crock pots, slow cookers, and stews are about to make their annual appearance next to the pumpkin spice latte.  

 There is a feeling of change in the air: New year of school, new season, new you.  It is very "in" right now to be exploring yourself and your identity (I'm all for it). Part of that is to try out new ways of healthy living. What amazes me as I reflect on what I've heard this summer during my travels is how the church is responding.  More and more churches are adding "Biggest Loser" type programs complete with weigh-ins and dieting plans. I'm all for the church encouraging healthy habits, but is this it? 

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Yes, that’s right, the girdle and it’s selling remarkably well.  A company named Ardyss is selling these strapping items all over the United States and where can you find one?  Well at your neighbor’s Ardyss party of course.  In a Mary Kay type style, women and men alike can sell this company’s undergarments and raise up other leaders to sell them as well.  In a time of recession, what an amazing opportunity to make your own money, live the dream and breathe a sigh of relief… if only these women could breathe.

People who sell and wear the girdle claim that they put it on and magically lose weight. As quoted in a CNN article one woman said that, “she has seen results but wonders whether it's because she can barely eat when she wears it.” Is this really what we’ve returned to in an age of reexamining our values and desires?  I still hope this recession will call out greater passion in people than sucking in their stomachs and opening their wallets for another way to hold women back.