Every year I vow to myself to "get in the best shape ever", but I think I've finally started to realize that my best shape ever doesn't necessarily equal this:
Let's face it, I'm not six feet tall with a long torso and legs that go on for miles. I'm a shorter girl who happens to have hips and more muscular legs. I've told myself over the years that I could be a shorter version of that ideal, that I could have skinny legs and amazing abs like that, but the truth is I can be in shape and I can be toned, but my body is never going to look like hers.
You know what though? I'm finally starting to be ok with that. I want to be muscular, I want to look fit and toned, but I don't want to look sickly and I don't want to starve myself or cut out amazing things that I love to eat (in moderation) just so I can try to be a size 6. I think I look good at a size 10 or 12 and even when I lost 20 lbs, I still was in a size 10/12. Evidently that's just my body.
I see this floating around Pinterest all the time:
And I think it's a load of crap. I can think of lots of things that taste better than skinny would feel. Potato casserole, cheese enchiladas, chips and salsa, and a cold Dr. Pepper are just a few. Obviously I believe that you should eat and drink those things in moderation, but I'm not going to cut them completely out of my life. I mean, in the end of my life, am I going to look back and care whether I ever was a size 6? Are my children going to care if I ever made my goal weight or only gained 10 lbs when I was pregnant with them? No, I think not. And because I don't think it really matters, I'm not going to worry about it anymore. I'm going to worry about making myself healthy and getting into shape. Not trying to look like some ridiculous idea of what people think "in-shape" is.
I'm sure this new thought process is going to take some time for me to switch over to, but I'll try to update you with how this new process goes.
Chocolate milkshakes, mashed potatoes and gravy, buttery popcorn, and fried pickles taste better than skinny, too.
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I am not built to be a VS model either, I'll never have washboard abs, and Reeces PB cups taste a heck of a lot better than skinny feels!
ReplyDeleteAMEN AMEN AMEN!!! i freaking love this post because i agree so much! Girl Scout Cookies!!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more! I struggle with my weight SO much and I've been hoping and praying that I'll fit back into my size 7 jeans from HS for a few years now and you know what? That may not be my body anymore. I may need to be happy with a 9 or a 10. And that's OKAY! I just need to make myself remember that last part more often.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree! I've told Rob the same thing...my hips and ass are big, and I'll never have huge knockers. My body type is my body type. And food is f*cking awesome, so...
ReplyDeletePreach it, girl!
ReplyDeleteExactly what I needed to read today, seriously. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteit's a tough switch but the peace of mind is totally worth it! (and i will NEVER give up candy! lol)
ReplyDeleteLots of wisdom in this post. Changing your attitude about this area of your life will create tons of positive changes in your whole life, it made me smile so big to read this. :)
ReplyDeleteNothing has helped me love my body more than taking on and accomplishing physical challenges. I have always had this thing with having big upper arms -- I wanted little stick arms because I thought that "looked better". Now that I've worked hard so that my arms can do pullups, I am so much less concerned about their size because I have pride in their strength.
You are strong, healthy and gorgeous, inside and out. <3
I hope you can stick with these thoughts and continue to feel good about your body. I have the same struggle! Last year I lost 27lbs. and sometimes I feel like I need to lose 10 more instead of being proud of myself for what I've accomplished. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to let you know that your post inspired me so much that I am mentioning it in my post tomorrow. I hope you don't mind. :)
ReplyDeleteI feel like I could have written this! After I lost an initial 35-40 pounds, I'm still 5'10" and wear a 10-12, SOMETIMES an 8 but not very often. I'm finally starting to feel good about my body and its curves. I'm content (most of the time) because I do get to enjoy those things in moderation (esp. Dr. Pepper!) but I am also fit and healthy per bloodwork and long distance running. I feel like the older I get, the more I'm happy with my body. Loved this post! :) And by the way I think you're gorgeous and I LOVE your hair.
ReplyDelete~Elizabeth
I feel the same exact way. I used to be a gymnast so my thighs are HUGE, but not because I like to scarf down a bag of chips (although I am known to do that on occasion) but because of the muscle.
ReplyDeleteI've been working out a lot but when I look at pictures I can't help but think..."Am I eating too much?"
I agree though, a Dr.Pepper DOES taste better then skinny, you only live once, why waste it starving yourself?
Exactly! My doctor says I am a black girl in a white girl's body from the waist down. (My doc is black so there was no disrespect of me or her when she said it.) I did gymnastics, cheerleading and roller skating when I was *much* younger. I have big thighs, junk in my trunk and hips. If I had boobs I would be shaped like the "old Hollywood" women were. Stick thin will never be as sexy as curvy is!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. The thing is though, no matter what size we are, we're never happy! I weigh less now than I did when I got pregnant with Han Solo (damn those delicious chocolate croissants!) and in a size 8, but still, it's not enough. I have a drawer full of 6's I want to get back into. When I wore them though, I was still not happy. My legs weren't toned enough. My abs weren't flat enough. My arms wobbled. Blah, blah, blah. I blame it on the unrealistic expectations shown on TV, in movies and magazines.
ReplyDeleteBTW, chocolate croissants taste WAY better than being thin feels. Way better.