Hi Women's Health readers!

And a big shout-out to Back in Skinny Jeans readers, too! Stephanie's site is way prettier and more useful than mine, so it's very kind of her to link to me. And a "hi" to Cranky Fitness readers, too! Those cupcakes are making me hungry. Also I should add my girls over at Big Fat Deal. They're having an interesting discussion over there as to whether or not BFD should be included in a discussion with a blog like mine.

My two cents?

I must admit that I get a little weary of defending and clarifying what I do here at my blog. I guess there is a misconception about my blog that I somehow promote the act of dieting because I adhere to a particular diet for myself, though I don't consider what I do to be dieting, but eh. What are you going to do? It may have started out that way, but LTB hasn't been a diet blog in the traditional sense in a long, long time. I suppose I wish some people would read what I've had to say these past couple of years rather than lump me into some stereotype because it's quick and convenient for them.

I can't please those people who want me to focus more about weight loss and I can't please all those who hate any mention of the process. Damned if you do and all. But I know there is a good many who read me who fall into the middle, so I keep on, keeping on.

BFD should absolutely be included in any discussion about body image and inspiration because, as I commented over there, they provide proof positive that what's most important is that acceptance starts from wherever you are.

Moving along ...

I cannot promise you that my wit is as hard-hitting as it once was, but bitches I AM a feisty one. They're totally right about that. The writer over at WH is waaay too kind; that was probably one of the kindest, coolest descriptions of me and this site that's ever been penned, and we've been called lots of nice things by lots of nice writers.

In all honesty, though, I'm still hard at work on the body image thing. I think we all are. I don't know that you can be a member of this society and not struggle with what constitutes a good body image.

Much like The Goal Weight, The Healthy Body Image has become the new Holy Grail that we're all expected to attain. Anything less constitutes some sort of failure on our part. And that's crap. Obviously that's crap. Any improvement is a victory, and if any one of your efforts - big or small - translates into one less moment of self-doubt or self-loathing, then you're a fucking rock star. The thing is, we can't all stay in a suspended state of anything; we're fluid, moving people. Whether it's a number on a scale or how you view your body, the idea that either is somehow something you can achieve and be done with for good is ridiculous. Because here is what happens, as an example:

1) You hit goal weight.
2) You go out for a cocktail with your significant other that night. It turns into five.
3) You wake up and you're up a half-pound.

See? Constantly changing. And if you obsess over the fact that any slight deviation in behavior will take you away from that goal, you're going to be miserable. Who doesn't want a night where one cocktail (or french fry or cupcake or whatever your poison) turns into five every now and again? Is that almighty goal really worth sacrificing those moments?

The same goes with body image. Some days, I'm afraid, you're just going to feel like shit. And you're going to wonder why you're not done with it already, why you can't just cease completely from the barrage of negative comments you throw at yourself every once in awhile. The key for me is to have a sense of humor about all of this so that I don't miss the days wherein I look smokin' hot.

And I think I looked smokin' hot yesterday, for the record.

Fitness and health are all a matter of paying attention and being aware, much like anything worth having in life. They aren't a matter of reaching a number on a scale or banishing forever self-doubt. You're going to have off days - I'm having a slew now - and that calls for care and patience on your part.

And I suppose being feisty wouldn't hurt, either.

Posted by Erin at 09:03 AM | filed under: Random