Well the Royal Wedding is over, a lovely ceremony with a lovely bride and a handsome prince .... every girl's fairytale right?   Maybe.  But in watching it one thing struck me immediately.   Kate was almost impossibly thin.  I had heard and read that she went on a diet before the wedding.... ridiculous I thought, tabloid nonsense, she was already very thin.   I dismissed that as media exploitation to sell papers.  However, seeing her today with what can only be described as a "wasp waist", I thought maybe sometimes the tabloids get it right.  It had been reported that she lost 40 pounds ..... yes ..... 40 pounds!!!!  From where?????   I don't know if that is true but she is certainly much thinner than she was and she did NOT need to be; she was very thin to begin with.  It is disappointing to me that she felt the need to do so.  I had such great hopes for Kate and Will, the new Monarchy, the two young people who could bring the Royal Family into touch with the 21st century, a new young leadership that would become strong role models not just in England, but everywhere.  For her to feel like she needed to be thinner, for whatever reason, the TV coverage, the photos, whatever.... that is so much the wrong message.  I am disappointed in her and in those around her that encouraged this nonsense.

I once suffered terribly from an eating disorder.  I have not shared this before but I think it is important to now.  For many years I was bulimic, starting when I was about 13 and began modeling until I became pregnant with my  eldest son at age 26.  I know the devastation that becoming consumed with weight can bring about in your life, not just your health, but your mental well being.  Everyone here is here for the right reasons, I have not found one person here that I would suspect of having an eating disorder and trying this diet to lose even more weight.  We are all trying to become healthy, to shake off the mantle of obesity, lose the risk of diabetes and heart disease and reach our goal of true well being.   I myself am not here to get back to my all time low of 120 pounds - that would be crazy!  It was at the time, but I thought it was wonderful then ... a good start.  Can you imagine?  

I am 5'9" with a large frame, wide shoulders, wide hips, long legs and arms .... I want to be about 160 which would put me at a dress size of about 6 in the USA and 8 in Canada.  That would be amazing.  However, if I get to a Canadian 10 (US 8) and get stuck and can't lose more, you know what, that would be fine too.  Already I know I am no longer clinicly obese, my risk of diabetes and heart disease has dropped dramatically and will continue to do so.  That is what is important.  I will live longer and love my family longer.

Princess Diana suffered with eating disorders for most of her royal life, short as that was.  The pressure of public life became too much for her, and she paid dearly.  I pray that Kate can overcome this pressure, I pray that this was a one time thing that many brides go through.  I would hate to see such a lovely young women who had such confidence, such brilliance in business and in life succumb to the mundane pressures of the unrealistic expectations  of the media.  She is a beautiful young woman in love with a handsome prince.   Let us all allow her to be human, one of us.  I hope that if we all announce that we want the new "People's Princess" to be just that, ours.   We can do that collectively with our marketing power .... that means NOT buying papers that denouce her if she gains a few pounds or wears a dress that makes her look "fat".  Don't even look at them in the grocery line up.  They are utter nonsense and we should not give one penny to promote that garbage.  Together we can rein in this strident tabloid presence that is making Kate, all of the female stars in Hollywood  and all of us feel "less than".  Enough is enough.

Love, Lisa