Why do we all want to be so skinny?
Because of some things in my background (the way I grew up, my degree in exercise science, and my job as a nutrition and exercise consultant) this is something I feel very passionate about. I believe it is important to eat healthy and take good care of our bodies. I believe it is so important and everyone needs to so it. But I also think that there is a very fine line between being healthy and taking care of our bodies and obsessing over every single food that goes into our body, feeling guilt for eating, and always wanting (and talking about wanting) to be skinnier.
I believe we should fill our bodies with whole, nutritious foods. I believe we should use our bodies how they were designed and be active on a regular basis. I love challenging my body with something physically demanding and feeling strong and proud when I succeed. But I also believe that we are meant to enjoy life and not obsess over things. I think we can indulge in a small treat now and then without having to feel guilt and frustration. I believe in moderation in all things.
I have had some situations in the last few weeks that have made me really think about this and not be able to get it off my mind. I feel like lately whenever I am with a group of women, if there is a treat or something good to eat, the women all want it. They know they want it. And they even usually eat it. But they don't stop talking about how they shouldn't be eating it, or how they'll have to make up for it in the gym.
The other setting was more serious to me. We were in a situation where as women, there were younger girls with us, listening to us and watching us. As the leaders of these darling girls, we are supposed to be teaching them how important they are, how much they are worth, and what really matters in the world. I noticed that some of the women I was with were constantly making comments about "oh I really shouldn't be eating this," or "I know where I'll be tomorrow morning after eating this." Comment after comment about how heaven forbid we eat something not good for us without working off the calories and maintaining our figures. What message are we giving?
I would be lying if I said I never worried about my body, my size and how I looked and felt in my clothes. I know there are moments when we all worry and want to be different or smaller. But I also think it is more important to be happy how we are, comfortable in our own skin, confident and happy with the bodies our Heavenly Father gave us, than to obsess, stress and compare ourselves to others who are always skinnier.
I believe we must set an example for the girls around us. For our children, and for the girls growing up. I think it is a confusing time. We live in an obesity epidemic, and so much emphasis is placed on dieting and losing weight, while at the same time we are bombarded with pictures of beautiful, skinny women in the magazines who keep losing weight and "look better than ever." We are constantly told that skinnier is always better. I believe that is not always the truth. Especially when it comes in place of what is most important.
And most of all, I believe that our worth, our importance, and value in this world is not determined by how fit we are, what dress size we wear, or whether we burned enough calories at the gym this morning. There is so much more than that. I truly believe that, and I hope that someday when I have daughters of my own I can raise them to believe that too.
