Everyday we’re in contact with all shapes and sizes of people and it only takes a millisecond to generate your first visual impression of them: short, fat, model-esque, elegant, sloopy-lookin. We do this to people without really thinking or meaning to all day long, and eventually, of course, we have to wonder where we fit into that spectrum. All the mental agonizing about how we think we look is ludicrous, but it’s good to have an accurate picture of what you’re working with. What to do?
Dove's Real Beauty Campaign
No matter how much you look yourself up and down in the mirror you’ll never see yourself quite properly; trying to compare yourself to someone else is impossible unless you really know how all their height, weight and body-build as well. Trying to compare yourself to someone you think is vaguely your size is just a good way of making yourself feel like crap most of the time. (or give yourself false security – even scarier)
Finally there’s a website that can help. My Body Gallery.com shows you real pictures real people have uploaded. You just enter in your height, weight and body type and bam! – a small gallery of real life examples of what you look like to other people. This might sound a little scary but I think it can be extraordinarily motivating.
As for me, I wanted to lose a few but I really wasn’t sure how much – Some of my possible goal numbers I hadn’t seen since middle school – so the number really didn’t mean much. A picture on the other hand…genius. I know Exactly what I’m working toward and I was also relieved to know that even though I still want to shed a few pounds, I can totally still work it, right where I am.
Now look people, as far as getting in shape goes – summer is just around the corner. If you want to get motivated to see what you’d look like with a few more salads and a bit less ice cream then check it out! If you’re really pumped to wear that new string bikini you just bought – please check it out and make sure you’re as hot as you think you are. (as someone who lives near a beach this would be appreciated)
And for everyone in between: It’s good to rock what you’ve got the best way you can, but always remember it’s just one little piece of who you are!