Goals

I have several apps on my phone that I use on a daily basis (I'll blog about those another day), and I love them! They keep me motivated, accountable, and teach me something new every day. There is one thing I see, however, that I have to admit really kind of bothers me. I blame it on a society that places a heavy emphasis on the way you look. The number of people, especially those that are quite young, that put up a picture with the label "goal body". Why would I dislike this so much? Because I really feel that in some ways it's truly unhealthy to do this. Now before you call me crazy, hear me out. 

     Everyday we are overwhelmed with images of what society thinks the perfect male and female should look like. Both women AND men see these pictures and think that is what they should aspire to, and while aspirating to be in the best shape you can be is a good thing, aiming to look EXACTLY like them can be unhealthy. Why? Because you need to take YOUR body shape and genetics into consideration. Not everyone will have a thigh gap. Not everyone will be able to get to a size 2. Not everyone is going to be able to pack on muscle like a bodybuilder. Then on top of that add photoshop, professional photography that is trained to take pictures from the best angle, and the fact that many pictures (especially of fitness athletes) are taken as they are getting close to compition and at a very low body fat percentage, and it's no wonder body image issues run rampant! Again, don't get me wrong...there is NOTHING WRONG with training hard to try to reach these goals or get as close to them as possible. The problem comes when you end up hating YOUR body because as much as you train and watch your diet it never quite reaches the same shape as your "goal body". 

     I personally deal with the aftermath of distorted body image everyday. I was in high school in the 80s. Everyone was expected to be thin and blond with big curly hair, flat chest, flat butt, size 2....just go watch some classic 80s tv and movies. Well I didn't fit that mold at all. I was short with dark, poker straight hair, weighted over 215lbs when I graduated, wanted to lift weights and be strong....and was the butt of every joke in the book. When my senior class did the "most" list for the yearbook, I was "most noticeable from behind". Those things leave scars. Even now I have days where I see myself as the fat girl. It breaks my heart to see some young people (I'm talking 10, 11, 12) hating their bodies so young! Please, please, PLEASE listen to me when I say your health is so much more important than looking like a picture. Aim to be healthy and strong, not skinny, and be the best version of YOU!

     I want to finish up with saying this really hit home today when my 10 year old looked at me and said "mom, I'm fat. I need to go on a diet. I need some green coffee bean pills to speed up my metabolism." Now mind you she is average weight, is training with Girls on the Run to run a 5k and likes to play outside as much as possible. I was taken aback for a minute. I then looked at her and said "You don't need to diet! You're still growing! You need to make sure you're eating healthy and getting active. Let's choose some healthy recipes to make this week." She seemed happy about that, and so was I, and I certainly don't want to discourage her from trying to be healthy at a young age, but in the back of my mind I can't help but be all kinds of upset about a society that would make someone so young think they need to diet. 

     This week while you are going out and completing your fitness routines I want you to look at yourself and find at LEAST one thing you love about yourself. Focus on being healthy, being strong and becoming the best YOU you can be...because YOU are pretty darn awesome!! Remember that!

Much love, 

The Tiny Tigress