We are living in the age of body positivity. Even if we are still bombarded with images of Victoria’s Secret and Men’s Health models, people who are plus-sized are fighting back by loving every curve and pound. I was one of those people, too. I scoffed at society’s ideal body type and gleefully ate my favorite food, many of them unhealthy. But at the back of my head, there was a little voice in my head that I could be better. I’m listening to that voice now. In the age of “love your body,” I want to lose weight.
I’m going to be honest. There is a part of me that wants to do it for superficial reasons. I want to look better. I want to sit down and not have to worry about my stomach bulging. I want to be able to stretch my arms and have people comment on my biceps. I want to have a jawline. I am an average-looking person, but I feel like I’m going to get more matches on Tinder if I have pictures showing how fit I am. Before you judge me, let me remind you of that Bible story about casting the first stone.
I am aware that it is shallow. I am also aware that having abs will not fix my self-esteem issues. But you have to admit that we are judged based on appearances first. There is such a thing as erotic capital (which include beauty, sex appeal, social skills, liveliness and humor, social presentation, and sexual ability), and that it has become a major determinant of personal success.
But looking better is not just the reason why I want to lose weight. Being fit decreases your risk of many diseases and injuries, increases your strength, and improves posture. Psychologically, it helps you cope better with stress, improves your mood and sleep patterns, and increases your confidence and self-esteem. As the wise philosopher Elle Woods once said, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands. They just don’t.”
So how do I do this? Of course, exercise. I’m processing my application for a gym. Honestly, this will be my fourth time to enroll and I fell by the wayside after a few months each time, but this will be different. I’ve been working from home, which means a largely sedentary lifestyle, making me prone to gaining more weight. Other effects of not exercising is weaker bones and muscles, increased risk for high blood pressure and heart disease, and stress. This alone will encourage me to go on the treadmill and lift a few weights.
At the same time, I will watch what I eat. I’m not going to give up my favorite food, though. I’m just going to modify my diet to subtract sweets and add fruits and vegetables. Going cold turkey on cookies and cake is a disaster waiting to happen.
It’s all about moderation and substitution.
My friend also told me about this diet supplement called FatOut, which uses the Sweep and Shred Formula, a method that’s supposed to cleanse your colon and sweep away toxins and cholesterol from dietary fats. It also has green tea extracts which shreds fats by speeding up your metabolism. I’m not sure how effective it would be, but my friend advised me to pair it with exercise as it increases your metabolic rate.
This is not just about becoming physically fit.
I want to be “fit” in all aspects. I want to also develop my mind, my personality, and my attitude. There’s something sad about just building up your body while leaving everything else behind. My commitment to losing weight is part of a bigger approach that hopes to make me the best version of myself.
Yes, I believe in body positivity. I believe in being proud of what you are given.
I believe in being happy with what you have. But if there’s an opportunity to make it better, grab it. It may not help my self-esteem, but life is short, and I want to make the most out of it without having to catch my breath.
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