Skinny vs. Strong

Before I go into another tangent on body image, I made some cake pops.  And I'm sharing them with Kara's readers at All in a Row(e).  So "pop" on over and say "Hi!". 

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So let's pretend there is not a giant cake pop picture right there...we're moving onto some healthy body image talk today..

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 Ah ha!  Now I have your attention.  No longer are you thinking about cake pops...

I'm sure you're wondering, after all my lamenting and whatnot this past winter/spring, how I'm doing on the body image front. 


Well, truthfully, I"m still trying really hard to convince myself of this.

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Because, after months of constant working out, I'm getting to be pretty ripped.  My arms are huge (for me) compared to the weak little chicken wings I was sporting before.  However, my actual weight is higher than it used to be.  Muscle weighs more than fat?  I sure hope so.

And my legs?

My *only* complaint is that they are getting a little too muscular.  What a problem to have, I know.  What's happening is that my jeans are loose in the waist, but tight in the thigh.  Has anyone else run into this issue?  They're not unwearable, obviously; just noticeably more snug in the thigh.

I'm not an expert and this is not professional advice, but I think that the best way to get started on your legs is...

Lunges and Squats.  

Start without weights and then try 5-8 pound weights on your shoulders.  It makes a huge difference!

Lunge around your house from room to room.  And plie squat while rowing 5 pound weights and watching t.v.

I did hundreds every week.  And then, after I started running and kickboxing and doing crazy cardio like RIPPED, the rest just came along. 


My abs?  I'm working on it.  I think the fact that I refuse to give up dessert is counteracting all those ab workouts.  But I'm not upset with my progress.  Ab workouts like Mean Abs June are easy to do on your own.  I started that calendar but then realized I was doing abs at least 4 times a week through classes at the gym, so I probably shouldn't do it everyday.  Does anyone have a hard and fast rule for when it comes to ab workouts? 

I still keep this whole No Fat Talk challenge in the forefront of my mind.  I know this is as much a mental issue as it is a physical one.

Try this.  Go to Pinterest.  Search "skinny".  You will get emaciated models in lingerie and tight jeans and quotes from Kate Moss (A real role model if there ever was one, right?? Um. No.) saying that "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels".  I didn't click on any of the images because I was afraid it'd take me to one of those terrifying encourage-the-eating-disorder websites that Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil are always talking about.

Now.  Search "strong".  You'll get pictures of women working out.  Most of them are very thin, yes.  But they are muscular.  Not KStew pale little weakling thin.  But strong thin.  Healthy thin.
You'll get quotes about bravery and resiliency.  Everything we're supposed to be, right?


Skinny and strong seen to go together so often, especially on the covers of magazines, but the images representing them are totally different.  Which of the images are you trying to exemplify?  We all (I'm assuming) want to be skinnyskinnyskinny.  But there's such a difference between being skinny and being fit and strong.

I spent so much time (high school, college, and beyond) wanting to be skinny.  But if I had to choose?  I'd rather be toned and strong than the dreaded "skinny fat".  I don't care if you can squeeze your muffin top or flabby bottom into those size 2's.  You still have a muffin top.   And a flabby bottom.  (We all know people like this, no doubt.)

Any workout stories or motivation to share??   What keeps you working out day after day?  Are you trying to be strong or are you trying to be skinny?

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