I came across this little gem on HuffPo the other day: My Top 3 Breakout Body Image Stars of 2014. The article was written by Caleigh Rykiss, whose byline tells us she is a
Yep. Khloe Kardashian, Cameron Diaz, and (I guess she had to have one out-of-left-field pick) Lena Dunham. Why these ladies? Well, Khloe lost some weight by going to the gym a lot. Cameron wrote a book about how she abused her body and then learned to love it. And Lena has learned to fuel her body and go to the gym (thank goodness?).
Do I think these women represent the best of body image this year? I sure don’t! It’s not revolutionary to lose 30 pounds by working with a celebrity trainer (I cringe to think how the media will lambast Khloe when she likely puts all that weight back on – and more). It’s not noteworthy for an admittedly naturally thin star to sell advice on how to live our lives like she lives hers (check out how many times Rykiss uses the word “perfect” in talking about Diaz). I guess it’s a little interesting to pick Dunham, as she has been treated pretty badly by the body police over the years, but I feel like the other, weight-focused parts of this article kind of cancel out that “you go, non-thin girl!” message.
So, without further ado, here are my top three choices for breakout body image stars of 2014:
- You.
- Me.
- Everyone working on loving their body.
We don’t need a celebrity – who has access to personal trainers and chefs, and whose job it is to look a certain way – to inspire us. In fact, more often than not, celebrity health and fitness stories just make us feel worse. Let’s be honest: I could follow every bit of advice in “Cammy D’s” book and never come close to looking like her.
But I can be inspired by making and meeting my own health and fitness goals. I can embrace a wellness lifestyle that is tailored for and makes sense to me. I can be encouraged and inspired by the women (and men!) of all shapes, sizes, and ages I have made friends with at the gym. I can see people all around me learning to embrace and love their bodies (and fail, and then succeed again), and I can take heart in those brave, powerful actions. And so can you.
Let’s be our own body image breakout stars of this year, and next year, and the year after that. We’ll probably never make it on Ms. Rykiss’s list, but we can definitely make it on our own. You’ve already made mine!
