Admit It.

     Body image and self image. In my opinion, these two things should never be taken to mean the same thing. Unfortunately, they usually are. I know this because I get in trouble for it and catch so much needless flack for it on a continual basis. Keep in mind that I have no degrees, I have no formal higher education on the subject so  in some people's eyes, this makes me totally unqualified to have an opinion, but I do possess a mind that thinks and learns and so I think I'm qualified.
     As I waste time on facebook during the week I like to share memes that get people to think. On occasion I will post a meme with something to the effect of taking responsibility for being fat, or having the will to change your body, etc., etc. These posts are by and large met with anger and disappointment form the women on my friends list because they feel I should promote loving yourself no matter what. Here in lies the confusion. Did anyone stop to think that maybe, just maybe, you could love yourself and still be disappointed in the packaging? 
     I can look at myself and know that I am a strong, capable lady. I can see that I'm doing my best to raise my daughter and I can be proud of the fact that despite my struggles, I always trudge on. I like my sense of humor and I think I'm fairly intelligent. I can also look at myself and see that my stomach is disgustingly fat, my calves need more muscle definition and my thighs should be much bigger. The physical attributes that I may or may not have DO NOT take away from who I am as a human being. I don't see why people are having such a hard time looking objectively at their bodies and admitting that they are not as good as they could/should be. 
    I wonder if it has to do with taking responsibility? To look at your body and say "Yup, that gut is way too big", is to admit that you haven't put in the effort required to stay fit. That can lead to disappoint in yourself, regret and shame. None of those things are exceptionally pleasant to feel. It's so much easier to look at your body and lie to yourself saying "Well, it doesn't matter that my body fat content is 50%, I'm still amazing." That gives you an out doesn't it? It allows you to remain sedentary and unfit. I think to honestly feel those unpleasant emotions of guilt and shame is key to actually changing for the long term. If you admit that you've been lazy and complacent then you can do something to change it - you have no excuse. Admitting to your faults is a difficult thing to do, make no mistake about it. But how are you ever to change if you don't? 
     If someone goes to the gym, but they haven't taken responsibility for the shape they're in, they WILL NOT continue to go, I guarantee it. They haven't taken the first step of admitting their lack of effort. They are the people that will fill the gyms on January 2nd only to leave them vacant on January 9th. They are the ones to go on yo-yo diets and repeatedly fail, always siting a fault with the diet plan rather than a fault with themselves. They are the ones to list off every medical condition known to man that causes them to gain weight rather than list all the shit they ate within the past week and the zero number of exercises they did to combat it. 
     If it sounds like I'm being harsh, so be it. I suppose I am, but it's because I've been there and to some degree still am. It's not easy for me, or for anyone else to get fit. It never becomes easy. The weights never get easier to push and if they do it's because we're slacking and shouldn't be. We are the people who have been in the gym long before the crowds of New Year's resolutionists and we are the people who will be there when those same weak people give up and leave a week later. Thankfully leaving our sanctuaries emptier and filled with the people who actually enjoy being there.
     I don't think you should be proud of a body that is incapable of running, jumping, lifting and moving. I just don't. You can be proud of having a tremendous personality, but you're a personality that needs to work on self-restraint and health. What's so bad about admitting to that? By admitting to that, you've added something else to your personality - truth. By committing to a workout plan and /or an eating plan you've added discipline and determination. How on earth is that a negative? I think it's time we stop getting our feelings hurt by honesty and I think it's time to realize that body image DOES NOT equal self image. 
     I've always made criticisms with myself in mind, and make no mistake about it, I'm writing here from personal experience. I'm not sitting on some high horse in an ivory tower, believe me, I look honestly at my body on a daily basis. I encourage everyone to look at themselves, see their body as a container for their soul. Have the courage to admit that the container may be a bit worn and haggard and that it 's time for repairs and upkeep. It will only make you better.