I Wanna Be A Model! (Setting Realistic Goals)

Seriously? Talk about being born in the wrong decade! Putting on weight was once a science? If that were still true today, I've have my PhD and be making lots of $$$!!

But no. I live in an age where this is what is considered desirable:

More modest picture chosen purposefully

Sometimes I wish I was a bear.  They're expected to get fat, they sleep all winter long, everyone knows if you mess with their cub you're going to lose your life--and they're not expected to shave! EVER! Not a bad life! :)

Seems to me as though society and media are constantly trying to tell us that even if we're over 18, have had children, health problems, or just enjoy a couple helpings of Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake (from Cheesecake Factory... it was my wedding cake, in case you were curious... A-MAZING) that we should still have the body of a 14-16 (maybe 18) year old.  Not fare. Not possible for everyone. And it certainly isn't everyone's goal!  Would I love to have a space between my legs standing with my feet close together and not just while I'm doing my morning stretches? Yes, yes I would. And I plan on getting there.  But not because when a picture is taken of me I can still see the beautiful beach behind me--because I want my body to be HEALTHY!

On the flip side, I've been hearing more and more people saying that large women are beautiful as they are and shouldn't change. I have issues with that statement... It's not about being too large or too skinny. It;s about Balance and Health.  Beauty comes from within. Telling us larger woman that we're perfect as we are isn't doing us any favours. Not that telling us we're fat and need to lose weight is appropriate or okay either! :)

Which brings me around to my topic.  Since starting THE CHALLENGE I've been doing a lot of reading and serious meditation about WHY I want to change my body.  There are sooo many reasons I can think of off the top of my head, some of them including:

• having the needed energy to keep up with my daughter and be a fun mom
• being able to go into a clothing store and not feel stressed out they won't have my size, or I won't find anything flattering
• so I can fit into the piles of pretty clothing I have in my closet that are lonely from lack of use
• so I can have more children and be healthy while they grow, be strong when they are born, and be able to bounce back faster and continue being an awesome mom
• I want to be around to see my children grow, get married, have children of their own, and be an awesome Grandma

That's a short list--there are many other good reasons to get my body healthy and strong.  But as I read that list, I discovered something cool!  That my desire to be healthy is mostly centered on my true desire to be there for my family!  I'm not being selfish, self centered... I want to take care of me so I can take care of the ones I love!

The other questions I've been meditating on are the HOW, WHAT and even WHEN. 

How am I going to lose this weight? How am I going to release all this pent up stress I have? 

Imagine you have all these  "Happy Happy Joy Joy" cells in your body. And they're in prison--locked behind bars, the happiness in the seeping away.  But then, you start dancing! All that shaking, jumping, stretching, rhythm starts breaking down the jailhouse, and the HHJJ cells break free, and travel all over you--and you sweat, and you're laughing, and you can feel the happiness coming back to life! Okay, there may be some better, more technical words for that--but the imagery works for me. :)

And so I dance! And I dance often, because I don't want those jailhouses to have time to repair! When my HHJJ cells are free, I'm a better person! I have more patients with my husband and daughter, I'm more productive, I'm more organized, and I'm able to have a more positive attitude about life! Those cells are powerful guys, let me tell you!  (Huh... I used the word MORE a lot, did you notice? :) )

Dancing may not be the BEST way to keep your metabolism up throughout the whole day, but it is something you can do in spurs all day, and the HHJJ cells love me for doing it! And this is what it's all about for me-- ENJOYING LIFE MORE FULLY, not killing myself to fit in a size 2 jean (which actually fits 2 sizes smaller).  If I can keep myself feeling good and happy, I'm going to take the time to eat better and healthier! And if I cheat--not a big deal! Cuz I'm still livin' and loving life!

So, WHAT do I want my body to be? That's an easy one-- I wanna be a model! But one of those latino models with the hour glass figures and amazing cabooses! However, I NEED (which is a much stronger feeling) for my body to be where it naturally should be.  After all-- I want more children. It isn't my priority to be spending hours in the the gym getting ripped-- I want my body healthy so I can care for my kids.  I believe my body knows where it should be! It's not stupid, after all. It knows how to grow babies, feed them, heal itself-- it just needs me to co-operate so it can do its job!

The WHEN is my time goal. Obviously, I'm starting NOW.  I would like to be able to fit into the bathing suit I wore before I had my daughter. That's where I would like to get to---by summer time! I totally think this is a realistic goal, and I'm not afraid of it!  And, if by some crazy reason I don't make it (like get preggo again or something) am I going to sulk and give up and fall off the wagon? Nope. Because I'm making a life change--not just a body change!

I guess to me, the important thing every person should do before attempting weight loss, is to figure out your reasons WHY you want to. If your reasons aren't strong enough, you're not going to be able to stick to it.  I'm not just talking about writing down all these amazing points that could move the reader of it to tears... if YOU don't feel the reasons, own them, make them personal, and BELIEVE in your reasons, then it won't work.  Ponder, research, and go forward with faith and JOY!

One day, we'll be able to see our socks again. :)

**Please feel free to leave a comment with your own thoughts and feelings on this! I'd love to hear from you!**