Body Image...

Hey guys! Hope your week was great and the weekend ahead is filled with fun.  This is a bit of a follow-up post to last one.  It's something that's been pin-balling around my brain since I saw this magazine cover while standing in line at the grocery store...

Have you seen it?  I'm sure most of you have at least glanced at it in line at the store.  I have to admit that looking at these women just makes me incredibly sad.  We have become a society that is so obsessed with "being thin" that we don't even know what normal is.
As difficult as it was for me to post pictures of myself in a bikini, it was a huge step toward accepting my body as it is...imperfections and all.  I have cellulite, stretch marks and loose skin, most of us do.  Some of my problem areas I can work on and improve, some not so much.  I'm okay with that.
I wrote out a mission statement for myself a few weeks ago.  I put it in my workout binder along with a couple motivational pictures of healthy strong women.  My mission statement goes something like this...

My mission is to sculpt and tone my body so I can rock my size 4 "goal jeans".  I want to feel confident and svelte in a swimsuit this summer.  With consistency, discipline and determination I will transform the good body I have into a smaller, tighter version and take it to the next level of fitness. 

Notice everything in there is positive... nothing negative.  Goals to work toward that are concrete and realistic, for me.
My point in all of this is that I think we need to stop obsessing about being thin (I'm talking unhealthy here people).  Many times we have these unrealistic ideas of what we "should" look like.  Every magazine that's out there shows us women that are airbrushed and photoshopped.  They've done crazy things to get ready for their photo shoots.  There are some women that are gifted with great genes, but for the majority of us this is not true.  It takes an inordinate amount of time, money, energy and deprivation for many of these women to look "perfect". Have you ever read what VS models do for weeks before a runway???  It's disturbing.
I'm willing to deal with imperfections as a tradeoff to having a life.  I am not defined by the number on the scale.  I'm willing to work hard, but not to the point that I cannot enjoy living.
So, work hard to give yourself the best body you can have.  Confidence doesn't come from having the  "perfect" body.  Confidence comes from knowing you're beautiful in whatever shape or size you are.  I'm not saying to settle, I'm saying to love yourself through the process and do your best to have a healthy body image that is accepting of flaws.
I also want to stop and say thank you to the ladies who commented on the last post.  Your words helped me to get over the anxiety I was feeling over posting the photos.

Okay folks, time for you to weigh in...I'd love to here your thoughts on the subject of body image, perfection/imperfection and confidence. Ready, set, GO!