Here’s a fact that you probably aren’t going to believe, but I can assure you is true: Nobody sees your bodily “flaws” the way you do. You’re probably thinking, “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Everybody notices my big, flabby, dimpled thighs, and that’s why I can’t be seen in public in a bathing suit!” Guess what? Everyone on that beach you’re supposed to be enjoying hates something about their body. Everyone. And more than likely, everyone feels like their perceived flaws are being noticed and criticized by the world.
Let me take a wild guess at something that probably bothers you about your body: cellulite. Just the word makes you cringe, right? Of course you’ve seen thousands of images of celebrities and models whose legs are perfect, and it makes you feel like your legs are disgusting and should always be covered up, right? Well, consider for a moment the fact that 95% of women have cellulite. That’s right: Almost everybody. While I’m sure some celebrities and models are in the 5% that don’t, a lot of them do have cellulite, just like me – and probably you. The difference? We don’t have a team of Photoshop experts altering our every image so our skin is smooth and flawless as a doll’s.
Now let’s talk about the miracle cellulite cures that pop up in your inbox, your Pinterest feed, and in advertisements. Should you spend your hard-earned dollars on these creams, lotions, and devices? No. And you know it. Deep down, you know they aren’t going to work. Having the answers to our body issues solved by a little bottle or pill sounds good, but it’s just wishful thinking (and a drain on your bank account). The only way to reduce the appearance of cellulite is to reduce your weight and tone your body. (Even then, it’s important to remember that long-term weight loss isn’t possible for most people.)
While I’m always going to encourage working out as a means to achieve greater health, when you exercise solely to improve your appearance, you might very well end up disappointed. So let’s stop for a minute and consider the importance of cellulite in our lives. Would reducing cellulite from your body make you a better mother, wife, sister, friend? Would reducing cellulite make you smarter, braver, stronger? Like I said before, chances are your loved ones don’t even notice your bodily “flaws,” and are instead just glad you are part of their world. That’s something to think about when you’re hating your reflection. Exercise might not change your appearance, but it could very well help you increase your life span and the quality of your life. I think your loved ones would appreciate that.
Of course there are people out there who are hypercritical of other people’s bodies. And if you have a relationship with someone like this – someone who feels the need to tell you that you’re too lumpy, too fat, not toned enough, and on and on – it would be a good idea to reevaluate your relationship with that person. It’s important to surround yourself with people who love and cherish you, no matter what your thighs look like. And one of those people is you!
