The Wrong Message

It's no secret that we have become a society obsessed with image.  I am also guilty of it.  I have been obsessed with my body image for years.  I always wanted to be skinnier to fit into the tiny clothes and have people comment on how skinny I am.

Thank goodness my thoughts have changed and I'm no longer wishing for a skinnier body. I am now okay with not being in a certain size but I'd rather be healthy and have a stronger body.  I am always amazed at the things that I have been able to do with some hard work and determination.

It's sad that many people will go to any length to be that shape or size that they believe is perfect.

There is no perfect, folks. Every size is beautiful. 

No, society and some companies won't tell you that but it's true.  We need to change the way we think.  We need to start telling our young daughters that it's okay if you aren't wearing a size 2.  It's okay if you are wearing a size 12. The bottom line is, you need to be healthy. It's true that as your weight or size increases, you are more likely to have health problems which is why health and fitness is important.  The scale is not.

Go to a mirror and really look at yourself. Find the things about your image that you like.  Go on, do it. There is so much about you that is great and beautiful.  Inside and out.

Your image does not define you. You are more than your size.

I have noticed that some people who are working for "health and fitness" companies are trying to find customers in prom goers.  They are advertising to teen girls to "be skinny and beautiful for your big night."  NO!  That is the last thing that teenage girls need to hear.  When they put on their gowns or dresses and have their hair and makeup done, they are enhancing the beauty they already have.  They don't need a magic lotion, gel or wrap to be beautiful.  It's the wrong message. Every single time I see the ads, it infuriates me. We cannot send this message to kids that being skinny equals being perfect or beautiful.

Of course I workout daily.  Of course I want to be as fit as I can be.  Am I trying to be perfect?  Nope.  There is no perfect.  Even the skinniest girls, the most beautiful girls have problems.  We are human.  We are imperfect in many ways but that's okay.

I hate to see companies that are perpetuating an image of perfection appeal to young girls.  Instead, these girls need a positive image to follow. One that encourages healthy eating, daily exercise (even if only for 30 minutes a day) and a big smile on their face.

MAMAVATION MONDAY: Finding myself

I realize that not everyone is like me.  I know that I am one of a kind....in many ways ha!  I realize that not everyone wants to hear about my running, my workouts, my health and fitness posts, etc. 

I came across a Facebook status of someone on my friends list and she said,

"I am so sick and tired of seeing people post about their workouts on here.  We get that you are going to the gym and working out, nobody cares!" 

Then, one of those funny e-cards that said,

"Unless you fell and smacked your face on the treadmill, I don't want to hear about it!"
 

A few people then commented on the post about how stupid people share about everything they do, whether it is running to the store or sleeping 8 hours.  I thought the e-card was funny (it did make me laugh a bit) but it also sort of rubbed me the wrong way.  I understand that there are a lot of people who are not into running or working out and I get that they don't always want to hear about it.  However, isn't that what social media is?!  Aren't these sites a way for us to connect to others, to share what is going on in our lives?  This is a huge part of my life right now.  I am trying to get healthy, I am trying to reach some goals and I am trying to improve myself. 

In the short time since I began running, I have felt my body change, I have felt my attitude about myself change and become just a bit more positive.  I can't help but feel the urge to share that.  Some people on the social media sites are my family and this is the only way we have contact so there are some who may want to know what I'm doing.  It's not like I am sharing any of my bathroom habits or anything. 

I have gotten ridiculed by our friends for the fact that I share stuff on Facebook but I have been in social media circles far longer than Facebook has been popular so I probably have a different way of doing things.  I don't ever say anything to them about it, I just laugh or shrug it off but who cares what I say on there?!  Why does it really matter to them? 

I am on a personal journey.  I am reaching goals, I am feeling confident and I am changing my life and maybe even my family's life by doing the things I am doing.  I am not ashamed of that.  I am not going to stop posting my accomplishments simply because someone is tired of seeing posts about people working out. 

In the past, I probably would have stopped posting my workouts or runs because I would have wanted people to like me and I wouldn't have wanted anyone talking about me but you know what? I don't care anymore.  I am at a point in my life where I don't have the time to worry about what so-and-so are saying about me or if they unfriend me. 

I have a choice to either workout or not workout, to run or not to run.  I have a choice to share these accomplishments or not share them. When I post these things....people have a choice to read them or keep on scrolling, to unfriend me or not unfriend me. I am making the choice to better myself and workout.  I am making the choice to share my accomplishments with the world because I am proud of myself for it! I am also choosing to be unapologetic about it, because I am me.