I read a lot of blogs. I watch TV. I browse magazines. I see pinned images on Pinterest... and MANY of the images I see in these media outlets feature the same idea of "the ideal body."
In fact, there's no shortage of people out there wanting the perfect body, going on diets, searching for the miracle pill (or more desperate options) and ogling pictures of "thigh gaps," hoping to someday have their own.
What do I see? I see an idolization of tiny, rail-thin bodies, a lack of muscle, protruding bones, plates "filled with food" that don't even top 100 calories, photoshopped photos, and an obsession with the thigh gap and desiring to be perfect.
But what is "perfect?" What is "ideal?"
It's so hard to not be influenced by all this media and to not feel like you need to "make a change"—despite how good you may look or feel. I know I've been caught several times thinking that my body is less than ideal. And I tell you what—that's not right. It's one thing to eat well, live an active lifestyle and seek a healthy body. It's another to obsess about restricting my diet, spend grueling hours in the gym each day, and take drastic measures to achieve that desired body—so I refuse to do any of that. The unrealistic picture that so many girls and women set for themselves needs to stop.
No, I'm not perfect. No, I'm not ideal. But I'm healthy. I go to the gym almost every single day. I don't kill myself there, though. I usually spend 30 minutes doing cardio and then lift weights or do high-intensity exercises for another 15-30 minutes. My total time at the gym every time is less than an hour. And it feels good to work out and sweat a little.
Now ask me again, "What is ideal?" IDEAL is a body you feel comfortable in. Ideal is healthy, active, glowing, beautiful. For me? That's currently 137 pounds... one-hundred and thirty-seven normal, healthy pounds. But to me, that's just a number, because more importantly—my clothes fit (many that I've had since college), I can churn out a 6-minute mile, and if you asked me to go out for pizza—you'd better bet I'm going to join you and have 2-3 slices.
No matter your number or your size, if you are comfortable being you—it may not be perfect—but it sounds pretty ideal to me.
42 comments:
This is great Aunie, thank you so much for posting about this! I've struggled my entire life with body image, to the point where I suffered from an eating disorder in high school. When I became an adult, I thought I'd gotten over my "issues", but you never really do. I wore a bathing suit for the first time in three years last week, and I felt...sexy! And beautiful! It was an amazing feeling, and made me realize that there really is no "perfect" body. We're all perfect, in our own way. And healthy is definitely so much more important than skinny, and I applaud you for that! xoxo
So inspiring! Thanks for this!!
That was a good kick in the pants after my pretty terrible and destructive weekend. Thanks, friend. :)
THANK YOU! Finally someone that agrees with me! I totally live by the mind set that you should be healthy, but you shouldn't be torturing yourself to get there. Life is way too short!!
fiveleveninety.blogspot.com
This spoke to me so much, especially since I've just recently made the effort to get back into shape and start working out at the gym. Yes, like everyone else, I'm there to get in shape and lose some weight - but I don't want to be stick thin. Thank you so much for being a testament to the fact that just because you aren't as skinny as a pole doesn't mean you aren't healthy or comfortable in your own skin.
love this, girl! great post.
http://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com
Thanks so much for sharing this! I really needed to hear this lately. And I agree with you 100%, but sometimes we all get wrapped up in the pins and media.
Very well said! We all have our own version of "ideal" and that's whatever keeps us happy and healthy and allows us to live by our priorities!
I love this Aunie!! I can't believe you shared your weight - that is something I could never do. More than being a healthy example, you are also inspiring an active lifestyle, and I appreciate that!!! xo
This is just what I needed to hear, Aunie! Back in August, I wrote a similar post on the issue of the scale on my blog (http://faithlovestrengthamandajo.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-weight-y-situation.html). As a dietetics student, I am so happy and refreshed to see beautiful bloggers as yourself taking a stand against unhealthy body images. Your posts are so inspiring to women of all ages and I hope you continue to share posts like this.
XO,
Amanda @ Faith Love Strength
http://faithlovestrengthamandajo.blogspot.com/
This is sooo true. I love this. I hate when I tell others that I am "fat" and they stare at me like I stupid. I know I am not 400lbs fat but I am fat for me. I don't feel conformable because I don't feel healthy. I don't mean fat as how big I am but because I know I don't eat right and I don't exercise. Eventually I will blog about these feeling I have to explain it more. But I agree.
I started eating paleo a little over the month ago. I started for 2 reasons: first was because my mom has a lot of food allergies that I think are catching up to be and second because I wanted to see a change in my body. I started working out 6 days a week about 3-4 weeks ago. I don't spend hours in the gym but I do a minimum of 30 minutes or cardio followed by various ab, leg and arm workouts. Some days I'm lazy some I'm more ambitious. In order to keep going, I have come to terms with the fact that I will never, ever be a model. And I'm okay with that (even though some days are harder to admit then others). I'm 5'11 and (the last time I weighed myself) 180lbs. My goal is just to feel better. I know I'm overweight (even though I refuse to weigh myself since I started paleo and working out more) technically but I've been slowing feeling better. I know I'll never have the body that everyone else wants. I just want to look in the mirror and say "I look good today and I feel good." I'm almost 25 and am just learning how to not compare myself to others.
You go, girl! I love this! I've definitely gone through phases of both ends of the spectrum- being super critical and border-line obsessive about working out, to not really caring and going long streaks without actually doing a work out. And the reality is that both of those are not how I want to be. I think striving for balance and for being healthy is so important- and letting yourself indulge sometimes. Great post!
Great post!! I feel the same way! I struggle with self-esteem, a lot of girls do unfortunately. I wish this perspective was held more.
Yes! I tell people I need to work out more and they say 'you don't need to lose weight'! But for me, I know I'm not healthy right now.
Awesome post! I go by my clothes fitting, too. And that makes me happy. I have found a weight that I can enjoy life but be proud of and that is what is important! So glad you feel the same way!
P.S. You just made me feel WAY better about the fact that I've been in the 130's for the past 2 years. I have a feeling the 110's and 120's were a thing of early 20's past. And for some reason, I always peg EVERYONE around me as being still in the 110's and 120's. Which, really, means nothing, but strength in numbers, right? So glad you wrote this awesome post!
Love this! Totally my focus for the month. It's in today's post. I'm all for being you're own inspiration and kicking out the garb that society portrays as the ideal body. It's nonsense. We are all to beautiful to try and be of one kind.
Well said! We have such a crazy idea of what we're "supposed" to look like because the media primarily only shows us rail-thin women. If someone is naturally thin, that's great, but most of us are not toothpicks and shouldn't try to make ourselves look that way. It took me several years to change my mind from focusing on being "thin" to being "strong", which is WAY more fun anyhow! I eat what I want (though I do make healthy choices most of the time), and as much as I want, and work out, and I feel great--and I look better than I ever have!
Thank you for this Aunie! I really needed to hear this today <3
thank you so much for posting this! took the words out of my mouth. Love this!
you rock- I love that you can run a 6 minute mile AND eat three slices of pizza. thatta girl!
perfectly priya
such a great post. something i struggle with and appreciate your wise perspective!
forlaurenandlauren.blogspot.com
Wonderful post.
I've been on a Healthy Lifestyle change... for about 2 months now... And weight loss has become a part of that.
I am feeling wonderful, and I am looking even MORE wonderful.
Just got to lose that muffin top, and I'll feel 100% accomplished.
Really wonderful post.
www.katerivonstealsnewlife.blogspot.com
lovely post :3 it's definitely important to keep that in mind... I think most of us forget!
Amen, sister! We need to remind ourselves to love what we've got...and take care of it by exercising, eating right, and allowing ourselves to indulge when the mood strikes. Thanks for sharing!
Amen ;)
As someone who is very curvy, I sometimes have a hard time with MY ideal body. But I've begun to realize that embracing my curves is a good thing. My boyfriend seems to love them.
It seems like we're all either too curvy and "fat", or we're too skinny and being told "you need to eat!" Thanks for an awesome, honest post. If only more people focused on health instead of looking like someone else, we'd all be happier.
You are so awesome, or should I say..."sauce-ome"! I think some people get so stuck thinking "I'll never look like that" that they can't even take the initial steps to get healthy. Beautiful is a side-effect of healthy (mind, body, and soul), and you just gave us all a great reminder!
This post made my day! So well written. I struggle with this everyday and have an ongoing series about it called "Finding My Voice" on my blog. Its a constant battle and always will be for me.
"What is ideal?" IDEAL is a body you feel comfortable in. --------- every.single.word. this post makes me feel so free. you're right, ideal should be self defined, not media defined. beauty is in the eye of the beholder. period.
Just curious, how tall are you? I agree- I would definitely have 3 slices of pizza. I won`t even pretend it would be two or three, because it would definitely be three, and a dipping sauce. I used to weigh 215 pounds (I`m 5'8) and now my ideal body weight is about 135-145 pounds. So at least 10 pounds more to be lost. I`m currently not exercising *at all*, and I plan to change that. The most important thing to me is feeling in control, being able to fit in my clothes, and having energy :)
Some Snapshots Blog
Jess
You are awesome. If you only knew! At times I notice how all the photos of super skinny chicks are being "favorited" or pinned all over the web... and it's honestly sad. Because majority of those photos are photoshopped. It's ridiculous. And I am just happy to be alive!!! Ya know!!!
Ps. I am trying to install Disqus... but it's not working right! HELP!!
Love this! Sometimes we all need a good reminder. And a six minute mile? Dammnnnnn girl! In my dreams I can push through an 8 minute mile. Mad props sweet friend. Mad props!
xoxo
readeatcreate.com
Preach it sister-friend! Seriously! xoxo
http://thewhimwhamlife.blogspot.com
Go and see if you can comment from your iPhone pleeeease :)
go to this site, there's a part where you need to add mobile='yes'... http://help.disqus.com/customer/portal/articles/888340-manually-adding-a-disqus-gadget-to-blogger
LOVE this!
I love this - come to New York, we will go shopping, and then eat lots of pizza!!
xx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
Sooooo true!
Jess, thank you so much for this comment. Being in control is huge... and makes us way more confident. You're awesome for being so steadfast with your changes you're making!
Oh, and i'm 5'5" :)
Post a Comment