I don’t have to tell you what a terrible obsession and struggle most of us have in accepting our own beautiful bodies.

We grew up with — and continue to be bombarded by — so many harmful messages.  I’m sure you can remember a time (or many) when you were told or became aware of or compared yourself in some way that you didn’t quite measure up to the ideal body, weight, shape or size.

Here I am with Dr. Robyn Silverman at a recent Women on Fire Tea Party where we celebrated the publication of her important new book. (Shannon McCaffery Photo)

Today I look at pictures of myself when I was in my 20s and 30s and I am stunned how slim and trim I was.  I remember feeling and believing I was fat.  I know many of you can relate.

Thanks to a recent plethora of books addressing weight and body image issues we can now help to change for the girls in our lives the anguish and pain so many of us have endured with feeling “fat,” “ugly” and “less than.”

Whether you are a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, teacher, neighbor, babysitter, you have the power,  strategies and resources now to help build a girl’s self-esteem and strengthen her beliefs about her beautiful, powerful, amazing body.

It should be no surprise that one of our own Women on Fire — Dr. Robyn Silverman — is the author of the book I am recommending as the #1 most useful and practical book (and I have read them ALL) on this subject.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zllTH8Et-IE

I know you will find this book a tremendous resource.  I also know that it is not only girls and women who are affected by these negative messages (check out Dr. Silverman’s insight on Body Bullying) and this book can help our boys, too.

For more information and to order Good Girls Don’t Get Fat, go to Amazon or to www.drrobynsilverman.com.

Now that Daylight Savings Time has given you an extra hour this week, have a great one.

I’m off to New York City to attend the Ladies Who Launch event “Dream It! Launch It! Live It!” as the guest of Founder Victoria Colligan.  Tuesday I’m having lunch with Oprah Magazine columnist Martha Beck.  I’ll also attend events with Woman on Fire and World Pulse Founder Jensine Larsen.

Jamie Eslinger is traveling with me and we’ll keep you posted on anything we learn this week that will help you to live your own dreams and a richer, more inspired life!

As always, we would love to hear your thoughts. Please let us know in the comments section below.

Much love,