Monday, August 16, 2010

Body Image & A Giveaway

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light.



This giveaway is now closed.

Climbing out of the shower each morning is a bit of a challenge. As I clamber out, reaching for my towel, I do everything in my power not to look to the right, towards the end of the bathroom...towards the large sliding mirrored doors that hide our closet. If I do happen to glance in that direction, I am greeted with a full-frontal view of myself. (Cue slasher movie scream.) I quickly look away in frustration and start on a long barrage of reprimands and promises to lock the pantry door and throw away the key.

Despite all of these dramatics, I am a very healthy person. I run four days per week and am training for a half-marathon, I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and I am doing everything but sticking an IV in my arm to increase my fluid intake. Yet, still, my body is far from the perfect specimen I yearn for. During that brief glance into the mirror, my eyes and brain refuse to see the legs that are becoming stronger or the arms that are getting a little bit slimmer with each run. Rather, they focus on the imperfections. Why are we so hard on ourselves?

While the media's glorification of skinny celebrities is partly to blame, I think we need to look a little deeper than that. While none of us have perfect lives, I will bet that the majority could list several things that are pretty darned good in their lives - kids that are active and happy, a supportive spouse, healthy parents, or a satisfying job. I am lucky enough to be able to check all of these off my list. These are the things that I should be focusing on, not the fact that my skinny jeans have been relegated to the back of the closet.


Right here, right now, I vow to be grateful for friends and my family, to be present in the moment. Do my kids care that my muffin top is popping over the waistband of my shorts while I am kicking the soccer ball with them in the backyard? Of course not. They are just happy that we are spending time together.

Each morning, I will continue to crawl out of bed, strap on my running shoes, and let myself enjoy the exertion as my friend and I run our regular loop. We are getting stronger, we are running faster and - darn it - we look good doing it.



This giveaway is now closed.

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, please answer the following question in the comments section:

What do you do to boost your body image?

Please, no duplicate comments.
You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
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You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Please head to the BlogHer.com CLB exclusive offers page for 6 more chances to win $100 and a chance to win $1000.

Please see the official rules for this giveaway.

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39 comments:

Mami2jcn said...

When I exercise, I feel better about myself and that boosts my body image.

mami2jcn at gmail dot com

Suburban prep said...

I make sure that I drink enough water. My skin looks fresher and better when I am well hydrated.

msgb245 at gmail dot com

Julie @ Willow Bird Baking said...

I did Jazzercise this summer, and that's helped how I feel about myself a ton!

Julie @ Willow Bird Baking said...

I tweeted this giveaway :)

http://twitter.com/julieruble/status/21327537482

Katie Mar said...

I write down all of the amazing things that my body can do. I make myself realize that my body wasn't made for appearances, but to function.

katie_20102002@yahoo.com

Jenna Z said...

If I start to think how pudgy my legs are or how my muffin top pops out, I remind myself that a: I am fortunate to HAVE this body, these legs and arms, this brain! And b: that my legs are strong and carry me where I need and want to go, that my hands are dexterous and help me do the hobbies I move, that my brain is capable of learning new things and that is what I LOVE!

meeyeehere said...

To boost my body image I fancy myself up a bit. I do my nails or wear something lovely or try a new hair cut,and I always try to get lots of sun and exercise because when I know I am my healthiest I am also my happiest and that just makes me more beautiful! YAY! Thanks
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

meeyeehere said...

http://meeyeehere.blogspot.com/2010/08/wanna-win-100-bucks_16.html
I blogged ya!!

Henry said...

Great question! I am not overweight, but I have always had a big frame. Big feet, big hips, big head even. And I always envied the feminine, dainty frame. A few months ago, a would-be rapist broke into my apartment, and because I wasn't dainty, I was able to fight him off until the cops came.Now, I have true respect for the way I am made and the power this large frame is hosting. Seriously.
quitecontrary1977@hotmail.com

sy said...

i try to not eat ice cream at the middle of the night >.< and exercise as much as i can and eat healthy. it is hard to have a healthy lifestyle.
songyueyu at gmail

sy said...

i tweeted http://twitter.com/syytta/status/21362994586

Julie from TheLittleKitchen.net said...

I try to work out a few times a week and drink tea every day. When I feel good health-wise is when I feel good about who I am and how I look.

julie (at) thelittlekitchen (dot) net

We are Three said...

I drink a ton of water every day-keep active and just know how blessed I am to be alive and healthy.

Anonymous said...

I always feel great about myself after a tough workout!

Unknown said...

I do a few things
1. Running, the sweat from running makes you realize the hard work your body has put into it and it feels good to drink that glass of orange juice.

2. Cycling, boxing and any other physical activity that makes you sweat like a pig. Sweating makes me feel my body working towards the goal of burning fat. Makes me feel fantastic.

Unknown said...

I make homemade vegetable juice and keep active.

Unknown said...

I try to focus on my assets and not my drawbacks and every little weight-loss victory along the way. I need to lose about 40 pounds and it's much harder taking it off than it was putting it on. I had to stop thinking of it as a "diet" and instead make it my mindset that it was a change...I'm not going to deprive myself of everything that tastes good but it has to be in moderation..no more eating a sleeve of fig newtons but I can have one or two. I feel a lot better about myself and my body when I know I'm doing what I can to lose the weight without feeling like it is a punishment.

shel704 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/21468327704

shel704 at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

What do I do to boost my body image?
First and most important, I take time to breathe. First thing in the morning, I sit in silence and breathe and feel my body. After that, it's all in the moment.
gmissycat
gmissycat@yahoo.com

LeGwen said...

We all see every, single, solitary fault we have, so to boost my body image I....try to see myself as an entire package. Not just the outside but the inside, too. Now that brings about another problem, BEING THE BEST, KINDEST, SELFLESS-EST, LOVING-EST PERSON YOU CAN BE.

Erika said...

I make sure to get some work outs in and eat some healthy meals along the way. Even if I don't look exactly how I want to, knowing that I am taking good care of my body makes me feel great.

Erika said...

I make sure and get good work outs in and balance eating healthy with small indulgences. Even if I don't look what I feel is my best, knowing I'm taking good care of my body makes me feel great.

Erika said...

I'm sorry, I forgot to leave an email - erika.marie@sbcglobal.net

Lynn said...

Because summers are so hot here I swim several times a week. In the winter I walk a lot.

JC said...

I stay hydrated, eat right and exercise regularly (love yoga and jogging) to boost my body image.

JC said...

http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/21524208672

JC said...

blogged.http://tcarolinep.blogspot.com/2010/08/giveaway-points-of-review_18.html

Mo said...

I've found that how I see myself usually has less to do with how fit/thin I am at the time and more to do with what I'm focusing on and letting myself think about throughout the day. We're all too hard on ourselves and its sad how many beautiful women I know that focus on their percieved flaws. Remember what is good and what is true. You're more than just your body. You have heart, character and mind. There's nothing more beautiful than a loving spirit.

missamorgan@gmail.com

slehan said...

I swim 3 times a week and it makes me feel good. Thanks for the contest.

slehan said...

http://twitter.com/slehan/status/21857379754

belgd said...

Drink a lot of water! more water than soda or other drinks


belgd at live dot com

Z said...

I remind myself that I'm pretty as I am, and that the people around me think so too.

Tabathia B said...

I try to take care of myself by walking 3x a week and making sure I take the time to do my hair
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Tabathia B said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/22276126362
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Ninja Panda said...

I stay away from HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup), lunch meats containing Nitrates, aspartame, etc. I take pride in taking the time to really think about what I'm putting into my body. =)

ninjapandawedding(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I exercise and drink tons of water

Unknown said...

Tweet

http://twitter.com/jillyrh/status/22551351191

Nancye said...

I exercise, eats healthy, and drink,lots of water to boost my body image. Some days are more difficult to do all of these things.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Just call me "B" said...

I boost my body image by working out/running. When I feel like I am "working on it" then it makes me feel better.