Happy Summer folks. So we are officially at our peak season of the year. School's out. Those seasonal jobs (concert/outdoor venues, beach, zipline, camp, leisure, and other summer outdoor activities) are hitting its' way. Most of all, it's the peak of tourist season. And might I add, bikini season.
Serving as one of the top popular and important trends of today, staying fit is highly valued upon many individuals such as myself. Whether going to the gym, playing outdoor sports, or doing some beach yoga, staying fit is not only important for your body but also your mental state. Only thing that is a struggle in staying fit is finding the right foods to eat and maintaining that body you want.
So who here values staying in shape? Rather, who here wants and strives to look like that that fancy gorgeous Victoria's Secret or GQ model? Or how about those pretty, skinny, tan, and fit Pinterest or Sports Illustrated models? Don't lie, you probably have a mental image or list of your ideal "body goals" (most of them consist of being buff and proud) placed on your fridge or desktop.
This week, I'll be discussing the topic of body image. This topic remains a common and sensitive issue for many individuals such as myself. Stereotypically, it's been a fact that women commonly struggle more with body image than men. In reality though, men have issues with body image just as much as women do. Especially in terms of the influence of today's mainstream media.
Living in the rich birth of the Internet era, today's mainstream media plays a big part on today's, and future, generation. Through social media, the press, TV ads, commercials, and magazines, we are constantly influenced by the media. This includes our physical appearance.
Whether one is super stick-thin, buff like Arnold Schwarzenegger, tan and blonde like Barbie, or just a naturally healthy and fit individual, society (i.e. today's mainstream media and cultural ideals) is constantly placing immeasurable and unrealistic appearance standards towards women and men. Those commonly being: "not pretty enough," "get more muscle." "do this not that, "eat this, not that," "you're gonna automatically get fat if you take that bite of pizza," "be thinner," "starve yourself," etc. With these high demands leads to unhealthy lifestyles of eating disorders, anorexia, bulimia, steroid intake, and the constant fret and worry of a shifting three-digit number on the weight scale. So each time we go to the gym or take a walk, hike, run, whatever, should we still have these mental demands glued inside our heads? Or should we just learn and strive to be happy with our bodies (which is the most important of all)?
Our bodies matters. Regardless of our shapes and sizes, the most important thing that we have to do is maintain that balance and healthy lifestyle. Sounds easier said than done I know. But it's incredibly important. So don't strive for that perfection or being buff and skinny tan like those GQ and Pinterest worthy models. You Matter.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?" Matthew 6:25