Investigating the Line Between Fit and Foolish


If you’ve been around the blog a bit, you know that I love to keep in shape.  You also know that I use fitspo to motivate myself and attempt to make healthy choices whenever I can.  I recently starting posting updates on my 2014 fitness plans, mainly as an aid for myself, but hopefully to encourage others out there who have the same goals as I do.  I even hope to get in well enough shape to wear one of these skimpy swimwear designs with no shame come summer.  That being said, I recently searched “fitspo” on Pinterest for some fresh motivation and this is one of the first pictures that came up....



W.T.H.

Is this a joke?  Are people seriously, honestly pinning this to their health and fitness boards??  Do they believe this to be an ideal, even achievable body image for themselves??  

It was at this moment that I began to question myself.  Am I going too far?  Am I endorsing bodies and fitness goals that are pretty much unattainable to any person including myself?  As I’ve said many times I am not a “fitness” girl and do not aspire to be one.  What I do aspire to be is healthy.  The dilemma I have is... where is the line between being healthy and being extreme?  With clean eating and fierce fitness regimens being all the rage these days, it’s hard to tell sometimes.  So, I’d like to take a moment to “discuss, and discard” (what movie? what movie? ;)) some of the  ideas you may have about me and my purpose for exercise.  

Let me be clear. The above photo, to me, is not an acceptable form of motivation.  I realize that some people are born naturally skinny and may even be trying to gain weight.  I am not picking on those people.  But for 99% of the population, I would say that this is an unhealthy, never to be achieved ideal.  Some of the fitspo that I do share may be toward the extreme end of the fitness spectrum, but that does not mean that I logically expect to look like it.  I only strive for it... the 5 foot, short legged, eats every one the food groups version of it.  

While we can control the choices we make, we will never control our natural body types and shapes.  And there are soooooo many shapes that are absolutely stunning.  Perhaps that’s why I’ve always seen Kim Kardashian and Britney Spears as 2 of my absolute icons.  They are beyond beautiful and have both been sex symbols in society, yet neither of them have a body which I consider to be unattainable.  To me they look like real people who exercise, but also focus on other areas of their lives, like spending time with the people who are close to them.  To me, that is admirable.  



If you are a hard core fitness person, also know that I am not targeting you either.  It is a great goal to have and a lifestyle that certainly requires a ton of personal discipline.  (Though even you can agree that the aforementioned photo is completely wack.)  I am just completely sick of society looking at girls that are genuinely healthy and super fit and not giving them the credit they deserve simply because they are built like women!   

So, let this be the start of celebrating some beautiful FIT girls of all shapes and sizes!  Leaving you today with a few more reasons why EVERYONE IS BEAUTIFUL!  





*Really wish I knew who the people were in these random Pinterest and Instagram photos.  If this is you, please contact me and I will be glad to tag your beautiful self! 

The Hump Day Blog Hop
Dateless in Dallas


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9 comments

  1. i agree, some of the images i see on the internet under "inspiration" is downright scary. i think all people should love themselves regardless of what shape or size you are. we are too focused on the outside and people often mistake skinny for healthy but forget what's going on *inside* your body! your organs - not your pants size - is what keeps you alive! that's what we need to try to remember...that staying healthy is what counts, not how skinny we are.

    kathy
    Vodka and Soda

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    1. Amen! I try to tell myself that all the time when I'm envisioning what I want to look like, and then remember that I just want to be overall healthy!

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  2. I think you hit the nail on the head on this because it's true, people need to focus on health rather than trying to look like a stick to be like a model. I'm glad you have a good head on your shoulders and know that what those pinners are pinning is so unreal! Kudos to those girls who look amazing, I like the picture in the middle. She is too cute.

    Thanks for linkin' up!

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    1. I know right! And those are usually the girls that when I see them I am thinking to myself "Dang! They look good!"

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  3. People take things way too far. If you're naturally that thin, okay. But to make people feel like they're "fat" if they aren't... NOT okay!!! Ugh. Society.

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    1. I know right. Such a judgmental world we live in :(

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  4. That image up there is scary. There are so many ways to be in shape and love your body. Fit doesn't have to mean a young 20-something. There are so many amazing women out there that have rockin bodies at all different ages.

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    1. Absolutely. I saw it, realized that people were serious about it, and thought... ok, this HAS to be discussed! There are so many girls I know that don't appear super skinny but can absolutely kick my butt in a race! Fit girls come in all sizes!

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