Body Image Issues

I’m sickened. Seriously. I’m ill about this. It’s been on my mind constantly for the last two months, and now this?

First, while my 1-year wedding anniversary had me reflecting on all the great parts of the wedding and marriage planning process, I couldn’t help but remember how horrible my dress shopping experience was. So I posted about it. I wrote about how I wanted to reach back a year and a half ago and remind myself that you can’t see “health” with a look up and down. Health consists more than the number on the scale or the size of your pants.

Then the new plus-sized Nike mannequin was revealed. And there was fat-shaming. And backlash.

Now this. After being pushed out of our first gym, the other trainers I work with and I are being ousted again. And why? Because we don’t “look” the part.

So yes, I’ve been thinking a lot about body image lately.  Granted, I think and talk about body images a lot. It’s part of my job. But lately, I’ve been really thinking about body image. I’ve been trying to decipher why so many people, women especially, have such negative relationships with their bodies. I want to find out where it comes from and when it starts. And I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know the answers to these questions yet. 

Of course, it’s easy to point our fingers at the media, and there is definitely truth in that pointing.  But media evolves from somewhere, and if the media we consume is the media that gives us the same images we complain about… why are we consuming that media?  Why do we gravitate towards magazines and Pinterest posts promoting health that features models that have most likely dieted down for days before their fitness photo shoot? Why do we gravitate towards workout routines that feel like punishment to our bodies, minds, and souls just because we see an image of someone who has had “success” doing that routine? Why do we try diet after diet month after month, giving up after 10 days when we don’t immediately see changes in our bodies? But most of all, why do we have one image, and one image only of what it means to be healthy?

I’ve said it before, and I’ll continue to say it again and again; we have to stop defining health by a specific body-type.  Because guess what?!? Healthy bodies come in many shapes and sizes.

And yet…

Do you find yourself as shocked as me when you see companies promoting products with women who are not 15% body fat?  And if so, what is your initial response? How long does it take for you to begin to appreciate the photos of models that are not overly thin instead of picking them apart? Full discloser, I’m embarrassed by my reaction the first time I saw a promotion done by a healthy, but “thicker” body than I was accustomed to seeing in advertisements. I still mentally chastise myself for that initial reaction, and now actually make an effort to support those companies with my purchases.  Companies like Athleta, Aerie, and ModCloth are just a few of those companies who are showing women in a variety of body shapes… and I love it. I am here for it.

Because yes, our body images and our images of what our bodies should be is shaped by the media we consume.  So I challenge you now to stop filling your brain with images that promote only one ideal body type.  Instead, fill your social media feed with women of all shapes and sizes, un-airbrushed, and unapologetically themselves. Need some inspiration? Try these hashtags: #beautybeyondsize #bodyconfidence #honoryourcurves  #thesecurves (Just a reminder! Unfortunately not everyone on social media is super clean or PG, and sometimes hashtags with words like “curves” can get those type of posts.  However, as a whole, I find that these are good tags to find positive images)

That, and take a moment to appreciate the female (and male) athletes Howard Schatz photographed from 2000-2002. Wow. Even the most elite athletes have bodies in all shapes and sizes and this is proof.

As I write this post I realize I’m leaving you with more questions than answers. (Sorry not sorry.) These are the questions we have to ask if we are going to make a change. These are the questions we have to ask so our daughters, granddaughters, nieces, and yes, the men in our lives too can move in this world without judging themselves or others by the size of their waistband. These are the questions we have to ask if we are going to allow health to be more important that the size of our biceps.

So judge my hip dips and bra fat if you want. I’m fit & strong and getting 1% better every day. And if you keep “doing the things” you are too.

Keep pushing. You are amazing & beautiful.