jacindadoesblogging: 29 January 2013 - It's not fair to compare

In the past I have had a comparison problem. I would look at images of other women's body's and compare them with my own, labelling them as better. I think this problem is more common and more dangerous then we wish to admit.

An alarming online world opened up to women suffering from eating disorders years ago within which "pro-ana" websites were created and included, among other 'advice' for sufferers, many galleries of what was labelled "thinspiration." The pictures intended to inspire women towards thinness were of painfully thin women, often accompanied with motivational quotes such as "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels"

I've noticed lately there has been a trend towards a similar form of inspiration for women to change their body's in the form of "fitspiration" (images of women with perfectly fit and toned bodies) and I'd like to put my hand up and say loudly I DO NOT THINK THIS IS OKAY!

I've caught myself looking over these types of pictures before and daydreaming about the day that I'll have a body like that. The biggest problems I see with making these sorts of comparisons or hinging your fitness goals on these ideals are:

1. A women's physique is not the greatest indicator of her fitness level. Some women are naturally slender, or spend a lot of time focusing on muscle definition, or live on near starvation diets to achieve a certain 'look' but when it comes to their fitness level they're lacking. I actually saw an image under the header of "fitspo" which included a woman in a bikini with a well toned body smoking a cigarette. Clearly the woman's body and not her good health is what's being used as 'fitspiration' here.

2. Motivation should come from loving your body, not hating it, comparing it or putting it down. I used to try to diet and workout purely because I didn't like the body I have. I would use this negativity as my motivation to succeed. Did it get me very far? No. It was only once I changed up my mindset to one that encouraged my body to do what it was capable of and gave my body praise for what it's already done and stopped comparing myself with others that I was able to stay on track.

3. Fitness goals should be based on what's realistic for YOU. All women have different lifestyles and different hurdles to overcome. A full time fitness model is certainly able to spend more of their time working out than your average woman. Fit your goals in around your other priorities and be proud of accomplishments that are personal to you.

After I realized that chasing the "perfect" body was never going to be a goal that kept me driven, or that I even thought was sensible to strive for I sought other motivation for increasing my fitness. I want strong arms so I can do push ups on my toes, not so I can pose for photos of my biceps. I want strong legs so I can run faster and for longer not so I can show them off in a short skirt. I want to be fit so I can compete in sporting events, have more daily energy and tick things off my bucket list that require me to be so. I want to eat healthily so I can live longer and feel at my best. Not so I can feel smug in a bikini at the beach.

So I want to leave readers with a challenge. Stop comparing. Catch yourself when you do. And apologize to your own body. Because it's the only one you've got and it deserves your full attention.

Below are some images of what I use as inspiration for my fitness goals