Let me start with a disclaimer, because in this day and age where people are easily offended, and quick to hate or blame it seems necessary.
DISCLAIMER:
This post is for me, about me. An affirmation of the thoughts I have, written (verbalized) communication of my personal conviction to my friends and family who know me, understand how I think and feel and still love me.
This is for those people.
This is not a post to make someone struggling with body confidence feel inferior, or someone who does not know me question who I think I am. I know who I am. There is no PHD in my title so don't question the validity of my opinion. It's an opinion. Mine, about me; which is the only one that matters in my head.
I'm going to start by saying your opinion is irrelevant. Now before you go getting all upset and annoyed at me please, let me clarify. Your opinion is irrelevant in the matters of my life, how I think/feel/act and how I perceive myself.
When I get up in the morning and decide to wear those blue and turquoise pants with the flowers my first thought isn't to seek your approval. I don't consider that in my choice.
When I decide what I'm going to eat for breakfast I don't think to myself, would you approve of this choice. You are not accountable for me.
So why would you give your accountability to me. Why would you give your freedom of thought and self worth to me.
Want to know what I'm talking about? The interesting backlash I've seen some women experience by sharing pictures they are proud of online. Pictures of pregnant women working out. Pictures of a mother of three in shape with the tagline "What's your excuse" causing an uproar. But why?
Why do we allow ourselves to feel either significant or insignificant when someone WE DON'T EVEN KNOW posts an article or picture online.
Since my big ol' lifestyle change a few months ago, I've been following a lot of random fitness people on instagram. I follow those individuals because as I move towards a healthier lifestyle and seek to make changes in the way I eat and food that entices me, it's good to see that others are working through the same thing. It helps motivate me or give me different ideas. With that being said, I don't know them. Following someone doesn't give me permission to tell them what they should and should not do, nor does it give them persmission or ownership of my opinion of myself.
I say this because as I read some of the comments people put on other people's pictures or shared stories I'm disheartened by the hate.
Example: Maria Kang shared some pictures of a body she worked hard to tone and tighten after having 3 kids with the caption "What's your excuse" and was met with hate. Women, what is wrong with us !?! Why do we do this to each other?
Another Example: A number of pregnant women posting pictures OF THEMSELVES, ON THEIR PROFILE PAGE in a number of social media forums. The backlash is crazy! Comments that these women are selfish and obsessed with being skinny .. since when did you have insight into the minds of other women? Women you don't even know? I don't know what they're thinking, how do you?
Unless you're a doctor, midwife or someone who is educated on what a pregnant women can and cannot do, you're just noise. My sister had a funnier way of putting it, she said if someone tried to come at her with negativity while pregnant her question would be "DO YOU KNOW MY CERVIX". I'll take that a little bit further and ask if you know her medical history and since it's my little sister I'd probably call you ugly and tell you to go away.
If I ever get to a point in my life where I have abs you could ACTUALLY see, like I am legitimately rocking a 6-pack in the abdominal area, you better believe I'm going to post a picture of that. Stretch marks and all. The work it would take to get to that point for me is unbelievably hard. If you try to tell me it's genetics, I'll cut you with a spoon.
If I get pregnant again and my doctor approves, and I have the energy to do so, you better believe I'm going to work out. And when I do, I'll be taking pictures of that and posting them. I do that now because I'm stoked with the progress I've been making in crossfit, why would that change?
And if you have an opinion on those pictures that spews hate, I'll delete it so you understand "your opinion of me is irrelevant".
That's what I meant. Now you can get upset.
I'm going to start by saying your opinion is irrelevant. Now before you go getting all upset and annoyed at me please, let me clarify. Your opinion is irrelevant in the matters of my life, how I think/feel/act and how I perceive myself.
When I get up in the morning and decide to wear those blue and turquoise pants with the flowers my first thought isn't to seek your approval. I don't consider that in my choice.
When I decide what I'm going to eat for breakfast I don't think to myself, would you approve of this choice. You are not accountable for me.
So why would you give your accountability to me. Why would you give your freedom of thought and self worth to me.
Want to know what I'm talking about? The interesting backlash I've seen some women experience by sharing pictures they are proud of online. Pictures of pregnant women working out. Pictures of a mother of three in shape with the tagline "What's your excuse" causing an uproar. But why?
Why do we allow ourselves to feel either significant or insignificant when someone WE DON'T EVEN KNOW posts an article or picture online.
Since my big ol' lifestyle change a few months ago, I've been following a lot of random fitness people on instagram. I follow those individuals because as I move towards a healthier lifestyle and seek to make changes in the way I eat and food that entices me, it's good to see that others are working through the same thing. It helps motivate me or give me different ideas. With that being said, I don't know them. Following someone doesn't give me permission to tell them what they should and should not do, nor does it give them persmission or ownership of my opinion of myself.
I say this because as I read some of the comments people put on other people's pictures or shared stories I'm disheartened by the hate.
Example: Maria Kang shared some pictures of a body she worked hard to tone and tighten after having 3 kids with the caption "What's your excuse" and was met with hate. Women, what is wrong with us !?! Why do we do this to each other?
Another Example: A number of pregnant women posting pictures OF THEMSELVES, ON THEIR PROFILE PAGE in a number of social media forums. The backlash is crazy! Comments that these women are selfish and obsessed with being skinny .. since when did you have insight into the minds of other women? Women you don't even know? I don't know what they're thinking, how do you?
Unless you're a doctor, midwife or someone who is educated on what a pregnant women can and cannot do, you're just noise. My sister had a funnier way of putting it, she said if someone tried to come at her with negativity while pregnant her question would be "DO YOU KNOW MY CERVIX". I'll take that a little bit further and ask if you know her medical history and since it's my little sister I'd probably call you ugly and tell you to go away.
If I ever get to a point in my life where I have abs you could ACTUALLY see, like I am legitimately rocking a 6-pack in the abdominal area, you better believe I'm going to post a picture of that. Stretch marks and all. The work it would take to get to that point for me is unbelievably hard. If you try to tell me it's genetics, I'll cut you with a spoon.
If I get pregnant again and my doctor approves, and I have the energy to do so, you better believe I'm going to work out. And when I do, I'll be taking pictures of that and posting them. I do that now because I'm stoked with the progress I've been making in crossfit, why would that change?
And if you have an opinion on those pictures that spews hate, I'll delete it so you understand "your opinion of me is irrelevant".
That's what I meant. Now you can get upset.
