I’m going to guess we’ve all seen this or heard this somewhere before: 
I think I’m starting to realize that the path to any goal, success or otherwise, is NEVER a straight line. For me, that goal is body acceptance and my path has been all over the map. Continue reading
“Hey! You have a nice butt!”
I was walking to the store on a Friday afternoon, not really paying attention to the people around me.
“You in the purple shirt! Nice butt!”
That caught my attention. I was wearing a purple shirt. I turned towards the voice, expecting some guy to be standing there and was shocked to see a boy. A boy that couldn’t have been more than 12 maybe 13 or 14 if we’re pushing it. He was surrounded by 3 or 4 of his friends and they were all snickering as he gave me a thumbs up and then raced off to do something else.
I didn’t think much of it because sadly, this isn’t the first time that someone, usually a male, has felt the need to audibly comment on some part of my body. But as I walked on I started thinking, “Why is a boy that young talking about my butt?”
Probably a million reasons. His friends were egging him on, he sees it in the media all the time, he’s watched other boys/men do it in real life, he really like butts, he has no filter from his brain to his mouth… The list could go on and on. And it’s a sad list. It’s sad that this is what both women and men have been reduced to.
Body parts.
Think about it. Everything is aimed at certain aspects of a person but never the whole person. Magazines tout the latest workout for sexy abs or the newest diet for lean thighs or what you need to do to get bulging biceps. We look at celebrities and covet certain body parts. I wish I had Jennifer Lopez’s butt or Taylor Swifts abs or Heidi Klum’s legs. If I was as ripped as Chris Evans or Ryan Reynolds, all the ladies would want me.
We, me included, always pick and nag at our “worst” attributes. I want my stomach to be flatter. Everything I do needs to be working towards getting a flatter stomach. We never take the time to look at a body as a whole machine. Something that works together with all the parts to be one awesome mechanism. It’s always about the one part that doesn’t work or look the way we want it to.
Enough.
I am not my butt. I am not my abs. I am not my arms, thighs, or chin. I am Katie, a human person that is so much more than any one part of me. And so are you. Everyone is more than just a body part and all of us need to start seeing that. To look at people as a whole. To drop the nitpicking over our one flaw.
That woman walking down the street is not a giant pair of legs.
That man sitting next to you isn’t a huge abdominal.
They are whole humans and they deserve to be treated that way. So start by treating your own body as a whole being and then spread that idea to the other people you meet. Maybe, we can start making a difference.
If you’re human, you probably stress out about things. A big project due at work, giving a speech in class, or dealing with an illness can all be stressful things. If you’re anything like me, you stress about stupid things. Like wondering if the people walking behind you just saw you stumble over your own two feet. Hint: probably, but they don’t really care.
It can feel like stress is a normal part of life and it really doesn’t have to be. There are certain things that a lot of us worry about that we don’t really need to, especially when it comes to your health. If you read health articles or magazines or watch the news, it feels like there is a new health claim every day that we have to worry about. And more than likely over the years, I have worried about it.
But as I’ve gotten older and learned more about my personal health, I have been able to let go of some of the “health” stress and do what works for me. I haven’t died or gained a billion pounds or detrimentally destroyed some part of my health. I’ve figured out what I like and what works best.
So here is a list of a few things that you DON’T need to worry about when it comes to your health:
#1- Eating superfoods
Kale, acai berries, and quinoa are all delicious and deemed superfoods. But you know what else is a superfood? An apple. Some broccoli. Even the humble clove of garlic is a superfood. Focus on eating real food that you actually enjoy and I promise you’ll be just fine.
#2- Sitting down
Yes, I have actually worried about this. There have been reports and research lately that say sitting too much has a negative effect on our health. Even if you workout, if you spend the majority of your day sitting it’s like you haven’t worked out at all. Cue Katie standing constantly for fear of ruining my metabolism and undoing all the hard work I put into my exercises. Sure, if you sit all day you should probably get up and move more. But you shouldn’t stress about sitting down if you’re tired or need a rest. Find a good balance of sitting and standing throughout your day that works for your body and your schedule.
#3- Making sure your body looks the same at all times
I think because we are constantly bombarded with images of perfect bodies and rippling muscles, we feel like we have to look like that too at all times. I know I would get frustrated when I would look in the mirror in the morning and at night and I would be looking at two different bodies. Your body shape changes throughout the day due to things like hydration, the foods you eat, and if you’re a woman, your period. The way your body looks doesn’t determine your worth or even how healthy you are. You’re long-term habits do. And remember those pictures of models are just a snapshot of a moment. They don’t look like that all the time.
#4- Eating at the right time
Eat right when you wake up. Fast for 18 hours. Don’t eat after 7 pm. Eat constantly for 6 hours and then don’t eat again for 12 hours. Who thought when you eat could be so confusing? Each one of these options has plenty of studies and research that supports their claims and probably, even more disputing them. You know what you should do? Eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re not. As long as you’re getting adequate fuel throughout the day and can go about your daily tasks with enough energy, it doesn’t really matter when you eat. Do what works best for you.
#5- Thinking only one form of exercise can get you results
This is one that I’m currently working on. If you read my blog regularly, you know that I’m taking a little break from running. It’s mostly because it wasn’t bringing me the same joy that it used too. I was dreading my run instead of being excited. The other part of me taking a break? I had convinced myself that running was the only way I was going to keep weight off. I had it in my mind that if I stopped running I would start gaining weight. My rational brain knew that was silly and wrong, but when do I listen to my rational brain? There are so many ways to move and exercise, no one way is perfect and no one way will get you results. Try new things and do what you love and don’t be afraid if those things change over time.
These are just a few of the things I have stressed about over the years and I’ve learned that they weren’t as big a deal as I was making them out to be. You’re not going to do everything perfectly and that’s ok. The mistakes let you learn what works for you and create habits and a routine that will keep you healthy for the long haul.
I hope you have an awesome Monday and I will see you back here on Wednesday for an all new recipe!
What are some silly health things you have stressed about over the years?
Friday night. The weekend is finally here and I’ve finished dinner and I’m vegging on the couch watching Netflix. I know, I’m pretty much a wild and crazy party animal. I’m not quite ready to go to bed yet, I stay up like an hour past my bedtime on the weekends which is usually 9:30. Again, party animal.
And it happens.
That little nagging voice in the back of my head. You want to eat something, Katie. You want to munch on something salty, crunchy, sweet, whatever you can get your hands on. You want to keep reaching your hand into the bowl or bag or whatever large vessel you can fill. You want to keep eating even though you’re not really hungry, you’re just bored. 
Every weekend is the same routine. I know it’s coming. I know exactly what will happen. I’ll pretend like I can’t hear that annoying little voice, but I know I will eventually give in. Because I don’t have any control over this situation. I have no power here. I’m stuck and always will be.
Right?
Nope. That is so not true. I’ve tricked myself into thinking that I can’t beat this habit. That it is somehow a part of my being, the way I am put together, and there is no fighting it. It is so much easier to stay stuck and feign that I’m weak against that little voice. That voice that is really just me.
I’ve gotten into the habit of telling others that they have the motivation and willpower they need to overcome situations like this when it comes to their health. But I’ve somehow convinced myself it doesn’t apply to me. Pot calling the kettle black much?
I can say no. I have total control over my own thoughts and feelings and emotions. I know this because I have done it before. There are days when I lack the motivation to go for a run or workout just because I’m lazy. But I’m able to power through those roadblocks and do what I know is best for me. So I know this isn’t a problem of not being able to exert control over my bad habits.
It’s me being a whiny baby and not WANTING to change. Some weird part of me finds comfort in those late night binges. It’s a way to be that person I was so many years ago when my whole day was a binge of unhealthy food.
I’ve talked before about how change is scary and hard for me, but it’s something I should embrace. I’ve talked about how motivation is something that has to be renewed every day. Well, it’s time to stop just talking about it and actually do it. Because I’m tired of letting a little voice control a part of me. A bad habit doesn’t get to dictate what I do.
So there it is out in the open. My little secret, my stuck-in-a-rut problem for everyone to see. Sure, it’s a little nerve-wracking to share it with the whole internet, but I know I’m not the only one who struggles with things like this. I’m human and even though health and food and all that is “my thing” I still have setbacks and things to work on. I probably always will, but it’s better to face them with the help and support of others rather than alone late at night.
Maybe this post can spark something in one of you. Maybe it can help change the habit you know is a problem that you’ve told yourself you can’t fix.
You can. Of course you can. I can too.
Ready?
Life Healthfully Lived 