Recently, a picture (of a beautiful woman, who is also naked, so you will not see it pictured here) has been floating around facebook with this story underneath:
"A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and beautiful woman. The caption was "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"
The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way:
"Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness. They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia. They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.
Mermaids do not exist. But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish? They would have no sex life and could not bear children. Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad. And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?
Without a doubt, I'd rather be a whale.
At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends. We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn't enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies. We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated. Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: "How amazing am I ?! "
(The girl on the picture is French model Tara Lynn) Feel free to tag yourselves :)"
Ummmm....what if I am a mer-whale?
I realize that there is a severely perverse body image problem in the world and this letter makes a very good argument at what appears to be a very insensitive advertisement, but I don't feel like I can condone being a "whale." As shows like The Biggest Loser, Heavy, Dance Your A** Off, and other shows continue to have great popularity week after week, it brings to light all of the problems that obesity brings. I know that we should not be forcing girls into the unhealthy image that we all need to skinny and look like a stick bug, but I don't feel like we should be complacent and just let women increase their risk of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and stroke while decreasing their life expentency, and in quite a few cases, their ability to conceive children.
Most of you (friends and facebook "creepers" alike) have been keeping up with me on my wieght loss journey over the past 9 months. I started out weighing 213.5 lb on January 1st, 2011 and this morning, when I stepped on the scale it said 174.8. I've lost an average of 4.5 lbs a month and (not to sound self righteous) I'm not starving myself. I'm not working out 40 hours a week. I'm just doing things the best way I know how. I food journal as I am able, I exercize 3-5 times a week, and I cheat every now and again (sorry, but anyone who can give up Coke, chocolate, french fies and delivery pizza all at the same time is not living) I know that I will never be skinny girl but that does not I am given a free pass to let myself be unhealthy. I feel like I am nearing the point where I don't have a whole lot left to lose, but that doesn't mean that I should revert back to my old habits of burgers and ice cream. If I have learned one thing over the course of my wieght struggles, it's that pills, shakes, diets, cleanses, and the like are just temporary (and sometimes dangerous) fixes that never last. A healthy lifestyle isn't supposed to last 2 weeks or 90 days. A lifestyle is supposed to last your whole life!
When I started this whole journey, it was about a game. It was about a 12 week challenge to try and drop as much weight as possible and win a few prizes from our local radio station. Now its about staying healthy, eating food that is good for me, and living a life with my husband that I once never thought possible. I'm sure most of you know this, but I'll inform you anyway. I think my husband is a hunk. He's tall and strong looking with broad shoulders and legs that show off his 20 year soccer career. When Sam and I first started dating, I felt like other girls looked at us and thought "What is he doing with her?" Now, when I walk into a room with the love of my life, I feel like people think "Wow. What a beautiful couple." After getting married, I spent many a conversation with close friends about my fear of fertility problems. Now, after dropping several points off of my BMI, I have increased my ability to concieve, while decreasing my risk of infertility, anovulation (a period without an egg), miscarraige, and polycistic ovarian syndrome.
Weight and size aren't everything, but loving your body is. Treating it with respect is. Living life to the fullest and appreciating the beautiful structure that God gave me to live in is.
This isn't a blog to scare women into being thin. This isn't a blog disrepecting my body or any of the bodies of my friends who are all beautiful and wonderful creations of the Father that loves us so very much. This blog is a call to the end of complacently because you think things can't change. They can. This blog is to promote awareness that you can be overwieght and still healthy (I out-Zumbaed a lot of "skinny-chicks" in my certification class and I can run and stretch a lot better as a size 12 than some of the size 2 people that I know).
What this blog is about is respecting yourself, forgetting the number on the scale or inside your waistsband, and remembering what it felt like as a child to ride your bike around the block without getting winded. To learn what your body feels like after a yummy and healthy meal. And to experience the crazy glow after a good workout.
Don't let the proverbial "man" get you down about your wieght or your size, but don't be afraid to take that first step towards a healthy life. Taking a walk isn't giving in to society's strange rules on body image, it's giving you a way to make yourself healthier.
Women are crazy strong creatures who also have the amazing ability to comfort and uplift each other. So talk to me, talk to a friend, a counselor, a personal trainer, and start your lifestyle today.
So, whether you are a "mermaid or a whale," a 2 or a 22, get healthy. Grow in God and learn to love yourself where ever you are on your journey and don't be afraid to take that first step.
Love,
Your dear friend and constant encourager
