While we all set on our warpaths to achieve our spring break bods, are we really paying attention to the bigger picture? What will losing a few pounds really have us gain in retrospect to our overall experience on spring break? While looking good and feeling good is one thing, some can take the obsession with looking good on the beach too far. With all of the social constraints on men and women, people tend to feel an overwhelming pressure to look like the cast of Baywatch. Running in slow motion may look sexy on TV, but guaranteed, it’s never as graceful or cellulite-free in reality. By pushing ourselves everyday, creating these undeniably high expectations at the gym while trying to be good students, we will undoubtedly lose our minds. And for the record, I'm guilty as charged.
I love to eat, and who doesn’t? But because of the fact that spring break is just around the corner, everyone I know is making a drastic effort to work harder than ever at the gym. I understand the appeal of being healthy and trying to tone up, but this constant obsession has turned me into a crazy person. Considering the environment of people obsessing over what they eat, how much they eat, the frequency of trips to and the amount of calories burned at the gym, it’s become almost impossible to know what’s healthy for my body and my lifestyle.
I would typically work out a few times a week, feeling good about myself leaving the gym, thinking that I put in a good amount of effort. But after I came to Purdue and socially immersed myself into the Greek system, I’ve let other people’s expectations overpower my own. Now when I leave the gym, I have people ask me, “Hey, did you just get finished swimming?” No … thought, I just got done running. The response was typically one of disgust and horror. Even yesterday, I had to bring an extra shirt to the Co-Rec because I knew I would sweat through the first one. Knowing that if I wanted to have a normal conversation with someone downstairs when I go to do a lift, I probably do not want to look like I just finished up swimming a few laps. This mentality could seem okay, maybe a little much, to our own community. But if you take a step back to look at how this goal can become a burden, you need to re-evaluate what’s obsessing over your figure and what's just being healthy.
As we go our separate ways to whatever adventures spring break may hold, consider the dangerous path the appeal of a perfect physique can lead you on. In my opinion, the sexiest thing a person can have is confidence. The whispers and ideals of other people should never alter your thoughts and opinions of yourself. Eat what you want. Know your body. And know what physical expectations are logical and healthy for you. The magnetic pull the spring break bod seems to have can turn us into people that constantly deny cheesy bread after a night out, and who in the right mind would want to do that?
