Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Strong is the new skinny

Really, it is.  How many times have you wished to be skinny like so-and-so, only to discover that so-and-so's skinny arms can't lift a bag of groceries, or her skinny legs can't run up a hill?  Think about it, people.  Does looking like a toothpick that could be snapped in half really sound enticing?  Not to me.  I used to think so, but obviously I wasn't born with that DNA and now I'm honestly kinda glad.  I do wish that I didn't have to work so hard to keep weight off and stay fit, but it's worth the effort in the end.  After 36 years, it hit me tonight, like a ton of bricks, that I have my daddy's DNA.  My dad, my sister and I are all built exactly the same.  Short, with short limbs, and nothing long, lithe or skinny about us, but we can build muscle.  A lot of muscle, if we try, and we don't even have to try super hard.  I looked in the mirror tonight while I was lifting weights at the Y and saw something that impressed me: to my right was a pimply faced teenage boy, texting on his phone in between sets.  (No, that was NOT what impressed me.)  In front of me was me, lifting more weight than said teenage boy, muscles firing and and looking kinda awesome.  I was really proud of what I saw.  So proud, in fact, that I had someone snap a few pics.  Stupid and embarrassing, I know, but I'd rather be embarrassed while asking someone to snap a pic of something I'm actually proud of then having someone snap a pic of me in a not-so-proud moment.  Here you go.

The pics, taken on my cell phone, don't really do my back, arms and shoulders justice.  They help me every single day when it comes to picking up my 30-something pound son or holding the downward facing dog pose just a little longer.  They help me do push ups - the real ones, not on my knees, and they help my 4 foot 10 inch frame lift and carry things that normal sized people can do, no problem.  I may have been born with a disadvantage when it comes to height, but I was definitely born with an advantage when it comes to strength.

The other day I was reading a magazine and came across an article about how to dress for your body type.  Under the body type label "Athletic", it said something to the effect of "Downplay broad shoulders with X and minimize athletic legs with Y."  ARE YOU EVEN KIDDING ME?  Why would anyone want to minimize them??  I don't get it.  I have worked hard on my shoulders and my legs, and every part in between, and I would like to proudly display the parts of me that are toned and sculpted and beautiful, thank you very much.  Unbelievable.  Then again, the article proceeded to give highly informative (not) information on how to "enhance" every body type from twig to hourglass.  I wish I could find it and post it here, but I subscribe to 3 fitness magazines and 1 fashion magazine, so that might take awhile.

The bodybuilder/fitness model Jamie Eason posted this on her Facebook page today, and I think she says it best: 
"For the record, someone will ALWAYS say that you are too big, too thin, too lean, too fat, too whatever. In my opinion, they are too conceited to think that their opinion is going to change our behavior. A person with confidence won't be deterred! Keep after it!!"  

Her words are so true and motivating, and I urge you all to look past the standards of what society thinks you SHOULD look like (i.e., skinny), and discover what makes you feel good in your own skin.  Then, work like hell to make that happen.  If you treat your body right, it won't do you wrong.  I promise.

1 comment:

  1. You look awesome Callie! I totally agree--Strong IS the new skinny and strong is sexy! I'm trying to get there myself. I finally am feeling/seeing muscles where I've never seen them before. No longer do I want to be that twig (ok, maybe a twig with muscles--ha ha--but that aint ever gonna happen). Keep up the great work--you look fantastic!

    ReplyDelete