Your Body Style Is Great

"I need to lose these saddle bags."

"I'm doing 200 crunches a day, but I still have this gut."

"I hate my ass." "I hate my belly." "I hate my arms."

"My boobs are too small." "My boobs are too saggy."

"I know I need to exercise, but I don't have time."

screeeeeeeeeeech. STOP. Just hold on.

[shaking my head to clear the echoes of all those statements up there]

I'm going to clarify some truths and untruths for you. Because I am so, so tired of collectively listening to (and taking part in) women beating themselves up and tearing themselves down.

Body Type

First and foremost: Know your body type. Are you pear shaped? Well, guess what, I don't care how much exercise you do, how tiny you get, you will always be pear shaped. Learn to embrace it. And know that carrying weight in your butt and thighs is the most common body type among women. That makes you NORMAL. Same goes for apples, sticks, blocks and other body types - embrace it. You are what you are, and you are so much more than a body shape.

Please realize that the only reason you think there is something wrong with your body type is that American media only holds sticks up for "role models". Role model, my ass. (pun intended) There are only a handful of successful models in the world because there are only a handful of people who actually look like that! And they don't actually look like that. They've been airbrushed and buffed and faked out beyond their already unnatural state. I know you know this, so BELIEVE it.

For the love of the power of women, STOP comparing yourself to that. Every time one of us compares ourselves to an unnatural image, we drag us all down collectively. We are better than that. We deserve better than that!

Put your shoulders back, hold your head up high and repeat after me: "My body type is a ______, and I am awesome." There, now doesn't that feel better?


Belly

Ready to hear it? Abs are made in the kitchen, not in the gym. I know, you'd rather do 200 crunches a day than give up the Doritos, muffins, cookies, mac & cheese, etc. We all would. Too bad. Your body will store that layer of adipose (fat) over your abs because that is what it is designed to do. If you really are overweight or need to lose weight, have an apple or a hard boiled egg instead of a processed snack. No matter what the commercials say, a Snickers bar is not a healthy, energy boost snack.

Now if you have some fitness goals, which include an 8-pack, that is awesome. But you still have to be smart in the kitchen, or you will just undermine yourself and have built up ab muscles hiding under the adipose layer. If you don't plan to lift your shirt to show off your abs anytime soon, guess what? A thin layer of adipose on your belly is normal and healthy. Your body should have some fat stores, within a healthy range. Notice I said thin layer. We all know that excess fat can harm our health in many ways. I'm not lecturing on that. Not today, anyway. Either way, if you are trying or want to lose excess pounds carried in your belly or elsewhere - be smart in the kitchen!

If you have a c-section scar, that's created a belly that will never go away, listen to me now: I am standing up applauding you. You gave birth to a child. You went through hell to bring a life safely into this world when a vaginal delivery wouldn't work. You had major surgery to make sure that baby was safe, and then you took care of that newborn while your body was trying to heal. That is a battle scar, my friend. Wear it with pride, because when you watch that child hit their first home run, walk across the stage to get their diploma, or walk down the aisle, nobody, including you, will give a shit what your belly looks like. Seriously, go to RockStar Love and buy a shirt that says Scars R Sexy! (No, this isn't sponsored, but they followed me on twitter after this post went live and I think their stuff is cool.) Same goes for stretch marks, people, battle scars!

Stop believing, or pretending to believe, all the crap we hear about ways to get rid of body fat. You cannot spot reduce. You cannot twist back and forth on a platform for 3 minutes a day in your living room while watching tv, then slide the contraption under the bed and get a body like a fitness model. Not gonna happen and that company has been sued for claiming otherwise. And repeat after me, "There is no magic pill to make me lose fat. Period."

Time

{{sigh}} I wish I had more of it. My husband and I always say we wish we didn't have to work so we could go to the gym and take naps every day. I spent years saying I didn't have time to work out. No one has time to work out. But nearly everyone can make some time. (I said "nearly" - I know there are a few exceptions. A very small few.) This one is for those who really do want to lose some weight or get more fit. Small kids? Put them on the floor with you and dance. Let them do it with you. They think it's play! Put them in the stroller and walk - really walk, don't stroll. And it's those first few steps that are the hardest anyway. Once you are out there, it's not so bad. Older kids? Have them walk with you, or ride their bikes. Want to boost it up a bit? If you have healthy joints, throw in a jog between the next two light poles, fire hydrants, whatever. Stuck inside? Here's some workouts for you: Zuzana Light. These workouts are between 10-20 minutes long. That's it. If you do it, you will sweat, you will think your lungs are going to explode, and then it will be all over! You will be done! It's quick and gets the job done. I'm sure there are plenty more like them out there. Come on, you know you can find 15 minutes! Don't read my blog if it will clear up the time you need - I'd rather you be healthy! Sit down with your significant other, your kids (or yourself) and tell them this is important to you. With a heart to heart, chances are you can find 20 minutes a day/five of the days of the week for you to exercise. Work hard for those short 15 or 20 minutes, don't just go through the motions or you'll spin your wheels.

"I really regret that workout," said no one, ever. I promise you will never regret getting a quick workout in. But you might regret watching Survivor while eating Doritos.

Most important: no matter your size, no matter your shape, you are great. Say it to yourself. Say it now. "I am great. I am awesome."


I won't be ridiculous enough to tell you that any of the above is easy. It should be but we've all grown up in a society that has pounded us to make it hard and a food industry that undermines us at every turn.

But don't you think we're worth it to embrace our shapes? To embrace our awesomeness? I do. I am worth it. You are worth it. We are worth it.

***Ally
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