I was talking to one of my clients and she mentioned something to me that disturbed me a little.
As she was reading a magazine one day that said a good way to test if you were skinny enough was to see if you had "the thigh gap".
I looked at her stunned. She let out a fake-ish laugh and looked at me with curious eyes. I told her to never ever believe that. Whoever said that is full of it. All of our bodies are made different; some people have broad shoulders, others have super long legs, while some have an overbite. Everyone is made differently, and that is a wonderful thing! Otherwise we would all look like robots.....
I personally like to be unique.
Kind of half laughing, I told her that I used to think the same thing (which sadly, is true). Back in high school I felt the need to have the "thigh gap" Being a dancer and a teenage girl in high school, there was a lot of pressure to be TINY, and every time I looked at the girls who seemed to be in perfect shape; dainty, skinnny, tall, and tan, the little green monster inside of me would grow. Feeding off my feelings of vanity for what others had, that monster convinced me to take drastic measures to look like the "perfects". I don't want to get into it, but let's just say I was miserable. After high school, as I researched and studied human anatomy, nutrition, and kinesiology, I realized that my body will never have the thigh gap. It's just the way my hips were made. Just like I will never have my middle splits completely because of my hips.
As I explained this to her, a look of relief washed over her. I could see hope in her eyes. She smiled.
Just like I once was, (and occasionally still am) she is very concerned about her body image, and losing weight. I tell her every time I see her that it's not about getting your body to look like those on the Victoria's Secret windows, but to become HEALTHY.
Healthy is a complete lifestyle change. It doesn't happen over night, and it's a constant mental battle.
Because of this conversation, I decided to change the name of my Facebook page, and blog. I want people to know that I am not perfect, nor have I ever been when it comes to fitness and health, but I do my best. I know that my body will never be like the girl my 16 year old self thought I had to be, and I'm perfectly ok with that. :)
Love yourself, love your body, and NEVER compare yourself to others.
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