“Plus Sized”?

By now, everyone knows that Whitney, the “plus sized model”, won America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 10, competition. It’s amazing to me that someone who is a size 8, maybe a 10, is considered “plus size.” Anywhere in the sane (not-modeling) world, “plus size” doesn’t even start until - what? a size 14, or higher?  I don’t have any idea.

I hope this helps all the girls and women out there to realize that just because you’re not what the modeling world deems as “thin” doesn’t mean you’re not as, or more, beautiful than the models in the magazines and advertisements we get bombarded with. I like the word “Model Idealism” that Eat A Cheeseburger came up with:

Model Idealism: The idea or belief that models are the norm and true or ideal standard of beauty. All beauty is therefore correlated to how close one appears to the model figure. In model idealism, too thin does not exist. The thinner the better. Therefore words like “plus” insinuate that something extra is being added to the norm.

I’m glad I don’t have to live in the “model idealism” world, even though I have to remember not to compare myself to them every once in awhile. I’m happy where I am - where being fit, being strong, and having a little curve.

Congrats again to Whitney for being the winner of ANTM’s Cycle 10!

Sometimes we’re more alike than we think.

This video doesn’t have a whole lot to do with health and fitness, but I think it’s a good reminder that we ALL, as people, have very similar experiences and struggles.  You’re not alone with struggling with your weight, or self-image.  You’re not alone if you’ve been picked on because of the way you look.

I think, even though I’m not one yet, as parents, we should remember what it was like back in high-school.  For a lot of people, it wasn’t a great experience, and even those that did probably didn’t come out of it unscathed without having been made fun of.  I think it’s okay to let kids know that you struggled (or maybe still do) with how you are, but that you do your best not to let the harsh words of others destroy your sense of worth.  Check out the video below, I don’t know about you, but it touched me to see these teenagers realize that they weren’t alone.

(WordPress seems to be having issues with uploading videos - so for now you’ll just have to click on the link below).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2AJ7Vcxk3w&feature=PlayList&p=8678682FE7749536&index=0

Action Figures

Want to read inspiring stories about women who are making a difference in their world?  (And staying fit doing so?)  Check out Women’s Health online page on Action Figures.  (They also cover one woman in each of their print magazine.)

One of my favorites is Amy Purdy, she lost her legs to bacterial meningitis, but didn’t let that hold her back.  She founded Adaptive Action Sports, a nonprofit that runs training camps for disabled athletes.

Kudos to every woman out there making a difference; if it’s starting an organization to help others, or just keeping your kids active, and bonding with them, by playing tag with them out in the yard.

FM Rule: Not letting pant size determine our self-worth.

Fit Movement Rule: We don’t let the size of our pants control our self-esteem.

Check out a recent post from Eat A Cheeseburger (a very fun blog that I discovered) about how we need to remember NOT to let our jean size define us.  I remember a few years ago going shopping with my sister and some of her friends which resulted in them getting upset because they couldn’t find any jeans that “fit” them.  They had somehow gotten it into their minds that if they couldn’t fit into a size 4 or smaller, they wouldn’t try on any other pants.  Being caught with a pant size labeled “6″ or higher would have been like torture to them.  I didn’t get it then, and I don’t get it now.  If we find a pair of pants that makes us feel good about ourselves, why does the number on the label matter?

Another thing we should realize is that pants come in all different sizes - so the number on the label isn’t necessarily accurate.  Check out this article to find out about the Consumer Reports article that found out (no surprises) that there was a difference of up to 2 inches in waist and 1 inch in length in comparing the same style and size in jeans of different brands.  I’m sure we all know by now that many stores “vanity size” their clothes for folks like my sisters friends, who wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a size 8, even if they might fit well in a pair!

Self-worth is determined you, don’t let an arbitrary number influence how you feel about yourself.

Reminder to Self: Stop being so negative!

Women are hard on each other; and on ourselves. I’m sure there are others like me; women who look in the mirror and have to pick at every little imperfection that we see glaring back at us in the mirror. I’m 28, turning 29 later on this year, and it seems like every time I’ve looked in the mirror since January I see a new line in my face. Seriously, when did I start to get lines around my eyes? How do they just appear like that? In addition to the onset of “laugh lines” I’ve realized I’m not really ever going to get my 23-year old body back. Which is hard, since I have friends who ARE 23, and remind me of that every time I’m around them and their perfectly line-free faces and skinny jeans - and sometimes, it’s just hard to be positive.

I like to fancy myself positive most of the time; but every once-in-awhile I blurt out something negative like I did earlier this week to my husband; our conversation went something like this:

B (my hubby) to me, after seeing the below picture on the cover of my Women’s Health Magazine:  “So baby, are you going to cook with a bikini and little apron on tonight?”

Me:  <sarcastic grunt> “Um, no, not until I’m a size 2.”

B:  “I don’t want a size 2.  I just want all of this.” (He then proceeds to give me a hug and then grab my butt, which he insists is my best feature.) 

Sometimes it’s hard for me to realize that my husband still finds me attractive, especially since I’ve been struggling to lose the few pounds I gained since we got married almost five years ago (15…but whose counting?)  Then, out of the blue, he says something sweet like he did above, without even thinking about what kind of positive impact it has on me.  It really made me realize that I am too hard on myself.  I’m healthy, I’m fit (My trainer doesn’t have any other clients - including her male ones - that can do 85 reps on the weight bench, so take that!) and my husband loves it.  I don’t have to be a tiny pant size in order for him to appreciate what I look like physically.

I think we all should remind ourselves that there are tons of guys out there who don’t want stick-thin girlfriends or wives, and they probably appreciate your body more than even you might.  It’s time for us to start being more accepting, and more forgiving, of our own bodies.

Saltiest Foods in America

MSNBC and “Today” have reported the Top 20 “Saltiest Foods in America.” I’m always surprised at some of the results of these “food reports” and the amount of “bad stuff” that’s in these foods! I guess it just goes to show that eating from home is probably always better for not just your wallet, but your health as well!

The number 1 saltiest dish in America is….

Romano’s Macaroni Grill Chicken Portobello

7,300 mg sodium, 1,020 calories, 66 g fat

With three items on our top 20 list, plus a slew of dishonorable mentions, Macaroni Grill earns its title as America’s saltiest chain restaurant. But what makes this the saltiest dish in America? One word: demi-glace, a fancy French name for the viscous salt slick that blankets this disastrous dish. You would have to eat 32 cups of potassium-rich broccoli to compensate for this sodium avalanche.

Introduction to Fit Movement

Welcome to Fit Movement!

My goal for this blog is to create a blog where readers can come and share their struggles and successes, and be generally uplifted. It’s a hard world out there, and if you’re anything like me, sometimes after seeing all the magazines/tabloids/movies, etc., it’s tough sometimes to feel happy about your body, which then makes it a struggle with your self-image.

At Fit Movement, I want to celebrate everyone who is moving forward with accomplishing any goal that they set (walk more every day, learn how to kayak, get over your fear of playing paintball, lose body fat, etc.). Fit Movement is not about “getting skinny” or being as thin as an Olsen Twin. It’s about being healthy and happy with YOU.

As of now, my additional goals for this blog are to:

• Provide inspiration to others.
• Combat the “airbrushed”/Hollywood Industry that doesn’t promote being “fit”, but “skinny”.
• Give tips on new workouts, or alternative and “fun” ways to get some excercise in to your routine.
• Weekly recipes that are healthy, and easy, for everyone.
• Stories on “Real Women” and how they stay happy, healthy and fit.

If you have any suggestions, please let me know!

Additionally, because having a positive, uplifting blog is my ideal, any comments posted here that *I* decide are the opposite of that, will be deleted. I am a huge believer in the freedom of speech, but I also believe in my right as the owner of this blog to do what I want with it. No “comment wars” here, please, we humans tear each other down enough - let’s be positive here.