ABS-solutely Hypocritical

A while ago, I wrote a post on body image emphasizing my belief that we shouldn't discuss women's (or men's) bodies and beauty standards. We shouldn't talk about big bodies, skinny bodies, different bodies, changing bodies, real bodies, fake bodies, etc.

We shouldn't fuel the fire, so to speak, of negative self-image by writing and reading about things that make us rethink how we look. For example, you could be having a great day, a wonderful, feel-good, happy-thoughts day, and you stumble upon an article that says, "WHY MEN PREFER TONED, NOT BUFF, WOMEN."

Immediately, you're triggered. "Am I considered 'buff?' I've been strength training more... I've been seeing more definition in my arms... Am I not appealing now?"

That, my friends, is what I mean by shutting up. That is what I think should stop. And I know what I'm about to dive into might seem a little hypocritical, but...

I guess what I'm trying to say is this is about me, not you. This is something I wanted to share about my own personal journey of self-acceptance. Maybe I'm fueling the fire, but if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Or rather, click that X in the corner. 

I have been on a five year quest for a six pack. 

For half a decade, I have longed for two rows of three tiny mounds to protrude from my stomach. (Ew, it sounds really gross when stated like that).

I constantly ask myself why? If I'm not in a bikini, I'm not showing off my midsection. No one sees this part of me on a daily basis, so why is it so important that it look like that?

Do I want a six pack as a fitness trophy? Well, that leads to more questions. Do I think that girls with firm, cut tummies are the only ones who are fit? 

theBERRY

Occasionally, I'll look in the mirror in the mornings and see a four pack (those last two are elusive little jerks), but this usually only occurs on mornings after I have an early, light dinner. Then they are gone the MINUTE I drink water or eat breakfast. My abs are so fleeting, why chase them?

Chasing abs is like solving a problem like Maria.

Your core is an amazing area. It holds you all together and drives your strength. It deserves to be loved and appreciated for however it looks. It changes hourly with food intake, dehydration, stress, and other factors, and you know what? It's going to change hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly with life factors. Can you say child birth?

Again, I apologize if this comes across hypocritical, but if you've made it this far down the post, you've stuck with me. Thanks for listening.

No questions, no more fueling. You look pretty today! 

BODY IMAGE

Oy. Okay. This is a touchy subject, I know, and this has been sitting in my drafts for a while (a while? I've had this blog for like a week), but here goes the "publish."

Body image is big in media these days. Magazines, online articles, and commercials are ripping the issue to shreds.

We read all about THIS WORKOUT THAT WILL GIVE YOU THE MAX CALORIE BURN. And why do we care about calorie burn? To lose weight. Why do we want to lose weight? To look "better."

We also read all about LOVE YOURSELF FOR WHO YOU ARE, CELLULITE AND ALL. Because who wants to constantly look at themselves in the mirror and hate what they see?

And then we see things like REAL WOMEN POSED FOR THIS AD, COME LOOK! So if you're not a string bean, you're real? So if you are a string bean, you're not real?

I have a question - a question that may get backlash, but I'm putting it out there - why do we read about anything at all? Why do we bother talking about women's bodies (or men's bodies... I'm looking at you, Dad Bod fad) at all? Why does it have to be a topic?

This blade of grass is greener. And that one is slightly bent. The one over there is more oval than rectangular. But does it matter? All the blades together make up a beautiful meadow, right? If they were all the same, wouldn't it be like walking over a toothbrush? Ew. (Also, this conversation is making me think of my first post).

I'm saying let's all just shut up. Yes, I know that by writing this post in the first place, I'm doing the opposite, but really, can we just stop? If we talk about beauty standards, then there will be beauty standards.

Let good looks be like Oprah's car giveaway.

"YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL! AND YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL! AND YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL!"

Can I get an "Amen?"