Body Image

I wanted to touch on a topic that seems to be a huge issue for most any woman I know. Body image issues. I can remember the first time I ever questioned my body and felt inadequate. It started in middle school as I’m sure it does for most people. I was the skinny, tall awkward girl with pink glasses and no boobs. Kids would call me “flatty two backs”, make comments about how I must not even need a bra, so on and so forth. Kids can be cruel. But you know what? It doesn’t stop at middle school. I’m 33 years old and it hasn’t stopped. Adults can be just as cruel as kids. So why do we do this to ourselves and each other? How do we stop doing this to ourselves and others?

If you look at any of the images of women you see on television or magazines you’ll see an impossibly skinny woman with huge boobs, long flowing hair and perfect skin. How many actual, REAL women do you know that look that in your everyday life? I would venture to say none. I know I don’t and I have beautiful friends! So, why are we comparing ourselves to them?

 

 

Let’s take a look at the men you see in the media. Some are muscular and chiseled but I see more men on television that look like actual men. I know my husband doesn’t strive to be muscular, chiseled perfection. In fact, I doubt the images of the men he sees that look like that don’t even register to him! Maybe men don’t feel the pressure as much as women. Maybe men see more realistic role models than women. Or maybe men just don’t put that much pressure on themselves. Whatever the reason, there is a disparity between men’s body image and women’s.

 

I’ve always been fairly thin. I could eat whatever I want and it never mattered. I never had to work out, either. Then I met my husband and so began the decline of my amazing metabolism. Beer, deep dish pizza, those little pretzel bits with peanut butter inside, wine, cheese (lots of cheese!), fast food on road trips, you get the picture. In short, I ended up gaining around 23 pounds all in my stomach, butt, hips and thighs. I found myself at 153 pounds. I know that isn’t a lot on a 5’7” but I didn’t like what I saw and felt uncomfortable. Shopping wasn’t fun anymore. I found myself constantly comparing myself to other women which just made things worse. I was just miserable and ended up taking it out on those around me. I finally got to the point where I realized I needed to stop making myself miserable and take action. I started working out and went on a diet. Normally, I don’t advocate for diets but this was more of a healthy choices diet. Never once did I feel like I was starving myself or not live my life.

I ended up losing the 20 pounds but during that journey I realized something. I don’t give a rip what other people think of me! I started becoming more comfortable with myself. I stopped putting on makeup every time I left the house. I stopped comparing myself to women around me. I started realizing the images I had been presented with my whole life weren’t attainable or sustainable. I had friends, family and a husband that love me not for what I weigh or look like but for whom I am as a person. To me, that is all that should matter. I know I’m never going to have a flat stomach and guess what? I’m okay with that! I’d rather live my life doing the things I enjoy with the people I enjoy than spending time obsessing over a number on a scale. Do I still work out and try to watch what I eat? Sure. However, if I feel like a piece of pizza I eat it. If I don’t feeling like doing cardio for one day, I don’t do it. It doesn’t run my life. I do. That’s my wish for anyone reading this post. Have a lovely weekend, friends.