pinterest pictures like this kill me!!
people post them for inspiration, but the realist in me is screaming YEAH RIGHT! because:
a.) no matter how hard i work out my boobs will never be that big
b.) no matter how hard i work out, my waist will never be that long and pretty
c.) i have scoliosis, and no matter how hard i work out, my body will not be symmetrical
& d.) i'm pretty sure every person in pictures like this are sucking in and flexing anyway.
i think it's good that society is going on a fitness fad, don't get me wrong, but i think it's a little bit skewed. working to be fit so that you can look like a sweaty, toned, sex object shouldn't be the reason women work out. and for me, at least, it doesn't work.
gaining weight after getting married came as a bit of a shock to me at first. i don't know if it came on because i'm no longer playing team sports that give me regular exercise, or if it's because my metabolism has slowed down, or if i just started noticing weight gains because there's now someone else who sees me naked every day! whatever it was, it was with displeasure that i started noticing new rolls and pooches on my figure.
earlier this year, i would feel like a failure when i saw pictures like this, or when i would hear friends talk about their recent cross-fit time, how many miles they ran yesterday, or how they haven't had sugar in a month. probably because i haven't done cross fit in months, i ran one mile this whole week, and i just downed a cookie and four pieces of candy. i would try to set goals like these, and then feel depressed and give up because i just couldn't stay motivated to do it. i didn't realize it at the time, but i was constantly talking myself down and focusing on my body's flaws.
i don't know what made me switch gears, but i started focusing less on how my body looks and more on how it feels. i started choosing workouts i enjoy, such as yoga and riding my bike, versus workouts i didn't enjoy like cross-fit and long distance running. i made an effort to exercise in some way every day, but i haven't let myself get discouraged and down on myself for missing a day. on days that i haven't had motivation, i at least go for a walk with my dogs.
pizza, mac n' cheese, hamburgers, milk, and sugar aren't on my "do not eat" list. i don't even have a "do not eat" list and i never plan on it. however, they are foods that i have become more conscious about. i thoroughly enjoy eating junk food, but i have become aware that when i eat it all the time, i feel like crap. so i've made an effort to eat these things less, and an effort to incorporate fruits, vegetables, and vitamins into my diet more. i have also been more aware of how much i do eat in one sitting. eating too much makes me feel sick after, and i don't want to feel sick.
i've stopped staring at the mirror in despair. instead of talking down on my body, i've felt so grateful for it, to be able to be active, walk, take care of myself, work, and be independent. each of our bodies are miracles to be grateful for. after some time has gone by, i have realized even with it being far from picture perfect, i am completely happy with the way my body is, realizing there is ALWAYS room for improvement.
i haven't made any drastic changes in my lifestyle, but these small things i've done have helped me have so much more energy and feel better about myself. i'm not saying my small changes are the best way to be healthy, i'm saying it's what has worked best for me. if you have negative feelings about your body, fitness, and health, i think the best thing to do is change is your attitude and perception. be healthy in a way you can enjoy, a way that works for you. and even if you never look like a pinterest picture, your body is amazing, and how it feels is what truly matters.
-misses lake
