The Best You

Sooooo....hey there!

I'm back! For now anyway. Not much has happened since I last wrote 4 months ago. Just kidding! Lots has happened!

But, rather than re cap all that I feel like discussing something I keep thinking about. Body image. Yes, body image. I know I've discussed this in the past, but it keeps popping up.

There's been a movement to boycott Carls Jr. I love their food. I really do. But I do find their commercials offensive. And stupid. But isn't it their right to air offensive stupid commercials? You know, the whole I don't agree with what you are saying, but I agree with your right to say it? If I was going to boycott everything I found offensive there would be a lot.

I get my bras from Victoria's secret, yet I find their commercials dumb. And lets not get started on the "fashion shows"... Should I stop buying bras from there?

Sports Illustrated and their whole "swimsuit issue". So dumb. Who looks like that? Really. Should I stop reading that magazine?

To be completely honest, what bothers me the most about these things is where is the equality? Carls Jr, where are your commercials with hot guys eating cheese burgers with no shirt? Why isn't there an annual woman's magazine that comes out with a men's swimsuit issue? I wouldn't buy it ( which is maybe the root of why they don't come out with it). I don't need to stare at pictures of attractive men. What does that accomplish? But where is the equality here?

When it comes down to it, we just aren't equal when it comes to body image. Women are seen as possessions. To be stared at, drooled over and gawked at. Men are not ( for the most part, there are exceptions to every rule. ie Magic Mike). I know there are some men with body image issues. I know you are out there men. But there are not nearly as many of you as there are us. Probably because we compare ourselves to the girls on the Carls Jr commercial that you watch...you don't have a commercial to compare yourself to.

So, besides boycotting these places and things, what can I do about it? I can be at peace with myself. I'm never going to look like a Victoria's secret model. 99% of us won't. No, it's not fair that we are expected to. But to expect to look like that is NOT realistic. If you are with a guy who expects you to look like that, you need a new guy. Not a new body. Try to be the best YOU you can be. You with love handles, muffin top and a saggy bum ( Ok, that's all me, but you get the idea). At least that is what I'm doing. I work out sometimes. I eat right sometimes. I feel pretty sometimes ( sometimes, not so pretty). But I'm working on it. And I'm definitely not using a Carls Jr add as inspiration!