For Christmas, I went online and bought 3 "Strong is the New Skinny" hooded long sleeve shirts and 3 keychains which I had engraved to read "Sisters in Iron". One for Ange, one for Tammy, and a little present for myself. A congratulations of sorts for being able to be in such an elite little group. It's not often someone can say they get the chance to swap fitness tips with 2 figure competitors! I'm pretty lucky that way. These things were my little way of showing my appreciation for being invited for workouts, road trips, dinners, and being shown by 2 very capable women that STRONG really is the new skinny.
Looking around the Facebook pages, I have seen so many people posting things promoting this women's fitness revolution. It's amazing. I no longer see posts with pictures of fashion models, but posts of fitness models! Real women who are NOT starving themselves to achieve a near death look. Finally, I think we are coming around to show the young girls of today that being strong and healthy is attractive. I found this little tidbit while surfing the internet this morning.
While most children who develop eating disorders are between 11 and 13, studies have shown that 80% of 3rd through 6th graders are dissatisfied with their bodies or their weight and by age 9 somewhere between 30 and 40% of girls have already been on a diet. Between ages 10 and 16, the statistic jumps to 80%. Many eating disorder experts attribute this behavior to the effects of cultural expectations. Unnatural ideas of beauty bombard our little girls and teens for as long as they can remember, they need to know that they do not have to be as thin as bread sticks to be sexy or beautiful!
Perhaps young women will find more support in seeing photos of Oksana Grishina, Miryah Scott, Jamie Eason, Ava Cowan, Nicole Wilkins, Erin Stern, or a few of our own Sault Ste Marie born and raised fit chicks like Angela DeFrancesco or Vanessa Pipoli who look healthy and fit as opposed to the Paris Hiltons, Olsen Twins, or Kate Middletons whose frighteningly skeletal bodies have been plastered everywhere for impressionable people to "admire". Society may be making a positive turn and I have to say, I love it!
So mothers out there, support and encourage your daughters. There is enough negativity in the world that you really don't need to bring your own daughters down. Raise them up, let them know how beautiful they are. Encourage healthy choices, exercise, positive relationships, and most of all, be a role model. It's amazing the impact one person can have on another, so choose to be a positive influence and make your daughters strong!
Today I saw a friend of mine post a pretty awesome picture of Oksana Grishina, which inspired this whole rant.
Pretty awesome! This girl is a fitness pro who I had the pleasure of seeing perform live last year on the Arnold stage. I hope more young girls, women, and all people start to take more from what one can do when they put their mind to it and how amazing the human body actually is, and stop focusing on how much we can hurt outrselves by trying to get down under 100 lbs! Check this out. It's Oksana's Arnold performance and it's worth your 3 minutes. This chick is BAD ASS!
In the end, we can't all be fitness pro's or models, but do your best for yourself. Be your best every day. Get better, get stronger reach for your goals. That's beautiful!
I'm down 4.7 lbs... also beautiful! Slow and steady, but awesome anyway!
I am totally addicted to facebook just to read your blog girl!! Take time to commend yourself and realize what an inspiration YOU are to so many people as well !! Love it! xo
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