Circuit style workouts may be my favorite. They’re challenging, super-sweaty and the combination of strength, plyometric and cardio exercises holds my interest and makes the workout fly by.
Today Ryan and I began our workouts with 20 minutes on the elliptical before I went on to tackle this circuit workout:
|
Reps |
Exercise |
|
15 |
Squats |
|
15 |
Reverse flies |
|
10 |
Burpees |
|
15 |
Deadlifts |
|
15 |
Upright rows |
|
10 |
Burpees |
|
15 |
Lunges (each leg) |
|
15 |
Chest press |
|
10 |
Burpees |
|
15 |
Bicep curls |
|
15 |
Tricep extensions |
|
15 |
Burpees |
|
60 sec. |
Plank hold |
I repeated the circuit workout again, substituting 35 seconds of jump rope for the burpees. I completed the circuit again after that for a total of three rounds, only I completely eliminated the burpees and jump roping to focus solely on the strength exercises.
Great workout!
In case you’re looking for additional super sweaty circuit workouts, here are some of my favorites:
Breakfast
Ryan and I made a pit stop at the grocery store on the way home to pick up some jelly because we were both missing the added sweetness on our morning egg sandwiches.
The gooey yolk from the dippy egg added an extra punch of flavor.
Moving right along to the nitty gritty of this post!
An Eye Opening Email
You may remember a post I wrote last week on PBF about a study that was conducted that basically concluded that men prefer brunettes and curvy bodies.
I shared the study and asked you guys to weigh in… to share whether you thought the study was valid, ridiculous or if you were angry that a study like this even existed.
The comments were very interesting and many different opinions were shared and a discussion began in the comments section.
The different viewpoints were mostly respectful… though there were a few that were a little pointed about the bodies of “skinny” women. The women who are naturally thin.
Later that evening, I received an email from a blog reader, Sarah, saying that she was really hurt by some of the comments and I felt absolutely awful. Sarah and I emailed back and forth a few times, discussing her feelings. Her email to me was honestly eye opening.
Knowing how upset she was and how upset other naturally thin women may have been by that post and Sarah’s email really made me sit back and think.
As a “curvier” girl (okay, so I only have curves in my butt – not the boobs), I will admit that I am frequently envious of body types like Sarah’s and other naturally lean women. I think lean, petite bodies are beautiful. I know this sounds awful, but I think that maybe because the body types of these women are looked upon as “enviable” by SO many women, we don’t think these women have insecurities about being thin or small… which is TOTALLY wrong.
I thank Sarah for shedding light on the fact that every woman – no matter WHAT shape or size – can feel insecure at times.
Bottom line: We’re all different, we’re all beautiful and there’s no reason to say degrading things about ANYONE’S shape.
I asked Sarah to share more about her experience as a naturally thin woman to shed some light on the comments and judgments that these women receive regularly. I found her story interesting and thought provoking and thought you guys might as well!
Sarah’s Story
Hello PBF Readers!
My name is Sarah and I’ve been reading Julie’s blog for a while now. I read whenever I can because I think her blog is a positive outlet for “healthy” discussions about “healthy” things, and because her easy crockpot chicken recipe changed my life (or at least my week day cooking strategies). Which is why I was surprised to leave feeling offended and turned-off after reading a post the other day. The post I am referring to is here.
It wasn’t the post itself that I found offensive, but some of the comments in the discussion. More specifically, some of these comments referred to thin women as scrawny, boyish, and not sexy and suggested that they “go eat a hamburger.”
Let me preface this by saying that I am skinny. I am a size 00, I still wear jeans that I’ve had since high school, and I fly away when the wind blows hard. Kidding…kind of. In reality, I am a healthy young woman who strives to live a balanced lifestyle. I lift weights 3-4x per week, do a moderate amount of cardio, and balance my carnivorous appetite with fruits and veggies every day. But my whole life, I’ve been made fun of because of my weight.
The teasing started at a young age, innocently enough with my family. My aunt would poke at my ribs, and my grandpa would ask me if I had to dance around in the shower to get wet. I would laugh it off, but deep down, it always bothered me. The teasing got malicious, however, when I got to middle school. Kids at school, both boys and girls, were so cruel to me, making fun of me to my face about my skinny legs, my small chest, and everything else about my body. I remember one boy actually made up a song about me that he called the anorexia song, and he would sing it when I walked into the classroom. It was very hard on me, and I would often cry myself to sleep at night. Although most of the teasing subsided once I got to high school, this treatment caused some deep self-esteem issues that took me many years to overcome.
To this day, I still get comments, mostly from my family, like “you’re so skinny” or “you need to eat more.” The fact is, I often eat more that my 6 foot, four inch 220 pound fiancé! The most frustrating part is that I know I am perfectly healthy, but I feel the need to constantly defend myself. As I mentioned in my original comment, the problem lies in that there is a negative stigma attached to insulting a woman about being overweight, but people think it’s socially acceptable to insult skinny women about their bodies. And to be honest, I really don’t understand why. I would never, in a million years, ever, insult a woman about being overweight. So why do people feel that it’s OK to tell me my booty is small or give me a dirty look when I turn down a piece of cake? Don’t tell me to go eat a hamburger; I’ll eat whatever I darn well please, thank you very much!
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Thank you both for posting this! I am very underweight and have been all of my life. I have felt all of my life that I can never be “good enough” and I would get comments from my family and inlaws that I was “too thin” I even had a manager at one of my jobs when I was younger start a rumor that I was anorexic just because I felt sick one day at work! I was wanting a curvy body so bad that I ate the most fattening foods I could think of which included hardly anything but candy and fast food! This caused me even more problems and I ended up losing weight rapidly despite what I was eating and I really ruined my digestive system and insides. I still have malabsorption problems 3 years later but I have changed my way of eating to whole foods and no gluten, and I have come to grips with how I look in the mirror now and I learned that I will never be “curvy” and that’s OK, and I do the best with the body God gave me, and if people comment about me I make sure to speak up, instead of laughing it off!
Thanks for sharing your story Sarah! And Julie you are pin thin!!!
I think all of us women need to start lifting eachother up instead of trying to tear eachother apart.
We should encourage eachother’s successes!
yes!
Agree about the supporting each others success. I go to the gym to lose weight and cant tell you how many comments and looks I get but the thing is atleast I’m at the gym and trying to be healthier so instead of putting me down people should be praising me for trying to make a healthy change.
Thank you so much for sharing your story Sarah!
For some reason it as become acceptable to judge other people and define them: we have come to think we can figure out who a certain person is and what they are going trhough just by looking at them; and in a world were dieting and aiming for a perfect body, people automatically think that if someone is skinny it’s because they have chosen to and automatically define them as “having an eating disorder”. Same thing happens for over weight people: we assume they cannot control themselves in front of food or are too lazy to be active. We never stop and think that we were all born with different bodies: some people may just be skinny or have a fast metabolism, while other people, whom eat healthy and are active, might be overweight because that’s the way there metabolism and body work.
I definitely identify with Sarah’s story. I am very thin (but somehow still have a ghetto booty, thanks genetics!) and I felt like some commenters were bashing skinny girls. I commented that I felt like the specific size standard given in that post might not be accurate for all body types and someone commented back in a way that made me feel attacked as though I was doing something wrong by defending the “skinny” (I hate that word) but healthy women. It was good to see you acknowledge that perspective.
Also, as someone who is 5’10” I feel like I should add that thin and petite is not the only naturally thin type though that’s what many commenters seem to be mentioning. As a tall women I feel like I am called out even more for being so thin and I find it offensive because I am very healthy, very active, and my BMI is in the bottom of the healthy range. It just seems to strike people more and make them even more ready to comment when you are thin AND tall.
ILOVE this post Sara! I’m not a naturally rail thin girl at all, but I Have cousins who are. My grandma always promised my cousin she would bake her a cake when she hit 80 pounds. That was in High school for her. I was a little chubby as a kid, so I envied this. Now, I live a healthy lifestyle and I guess Can be considered skinny. I am happier With my new eating habits And such, but a lot of people now say I am too skinny just Because I used to eat fast food, drink whole chocolate milk multiple times daily, and my favorite dinners Were potatoes fried in crisco. This was not healthy, and Now I am healthy, but am criticized for this Because I “lost weight when I wasn’t fat.” I fuel my body with what feels right for me. People do not realize That saying someone Is too skinny is like telling a recovered anorexic that they are too fat.
Great post! Love Sarah’s story and thanks for sharing!
I think this really showcases just how cruel life can be for absolutely everyone. I think if everyone was able to tell their story it would not be complete without at least some instance when someone else said or did something hurtful to them in regards to their appearance. It seems that it really doesn’t matter how big, small, short or tall you are, EVERYONE has insecurities and EVERYONE deals with them differently. Unfortunately many people deal with them by taking it out on others. Most people want what they don’t have and instead of learning to love what they have been blessed with they turn their negativity outwards. Pitiful really.
I’m glad you posted this! That original post and the comments made me kind of uncomfortable. It sort of reminded me of the whole “real women have curves” thing. It draws this dichotomy that you either have to be an hourglass figure (of any size) or waifishly thin to be attractive. Makes me feel like crap because no matter how thin or heavy I am, I have an athlete’s body, I’ll never be waifish or have curves, So does that mean no guy thinks I’m hot? Or that I’m not a “real woman” because I don’t have curves? I know intellectually that the answer is no…but it still makes me feel bad when I hear things like that. I wish women’s mags and other sources would stop writing articles about celebrating curves or fnding the right skirt to minimize your butt. It just categorizes women and sort of forces a competiation. Let’s just accept that we are all studs no matter what our body type!
I can also relate to the email in this post. I am not super skinny–a size 6 and 5’8″ but I’m not curvy at all so I think it makes me appear skinnier than I actually am- and people always comment on my weight. People at work are always telling me to eat more, or to stop being a vegetarian or to workout less. Drives me bonkers because they quite clearly don’t lead a healthy lifestyle. I’m NOT skinny, I’m just healthy and not overweight.
Umm….that’s a really long comment, sorry! 😉 I really appreciate you posting this followup Julie!
This is SO true, and something I’ve experienced myself. It’s so bizarre how it’s socially acceptable to poke fun at people who are:
-naturally thin
-naturally tall
-health-conscious (how many times have you gotten the eye roll from friends along with “She’s just a health NUT.”)
-blonde
I would never dream of saying anything to somebody who is overweight, below average in height, a junk-food fanatic, or a brunette. But somehow, it doesn’t seem to work the other way around.
Thank’s for sharing your story Sarah. 🙂
Ok….I love you and I love this blog but lets be real. You are not curvy, LOL! Do not get me wrong, I think you are super healthy and you look amazing and shouldn’t change a thing…but you are not curvy. We all have body issues and label ourselves one way or another but how about we just say we are beautiful just the way we are!
Every girl has a different definition of curvy. I’ve heard people from size 0 to 16+ describe themselves as ‘curvy’ so it’s in the eye of the beholder I guess!
To some, curvy is an insult and to some a compliment!
Same as when people talk about muscle tone, most females have their own definition of muscular for a girl as well. I’ll hear someone say another girl is ripped, and yet my definition of ripped is completely different. And to some it’s an insult, and others a compliment!
Us females are strange creatures! 🙂
You say:
“We all have body issues and label ourselves one way or another but how about we just say we are beautiful just the way we are!”
Ummm….Sine when does curvy=bad? I don’t think Julie was associating her curves with a negative body image…. Plus, I’m naturally thin and people tell me all the time that I’m too small, yet I still see a nice booty when I look in the mirror….not a BAD thing….but I see it, and I like it, yet people tell me all the time that they wish they didn’t have a butt, like me. So as Krista said, it’s in the eye of the beholder.
all i meant by “curvy” is that i have a booty. 🙂 i didn’t mean it in a good or bad way. it’s just that when i try on clothes, i am always a good 3 sizes bigger in the booty! sarah referenced people referring to her as having a “boyish” shape, so i was just trying to communicate that i never thought about the judgments these women may receive until i read her email.
Exactly!!!! I’m the same way…..hips and butt are always normal sized…..chest…..xxsmall. LOL No shame
I didn’t say curvy was bad, I just said Julie is not Curvy. That is my opinion. I also said that Julie is healthy and looks great. Every comment that doesn’t agree is not an attack.
i didn’t feel attacked by your comment, nicole, no worries! everyone’s interpretaion of curvy is different and that’s totally fine.
I completely agree with this. It’s great to hear your side of the story, Sarah. I do feel as if though people think it’s more than okay to tell a naturally skinny woman to “go eat a cheeseburger” and not say ANYTHING to someone who is overweight because it may hurt their feelings. People don’t realize what insecurities other people may have and if you don’t have anything nice to say, nothing should be said. There is no point in commenting on someone else’s body type unless it’s a good thing. Will it benefit you if you say something? No, I’m sure the person already knows they are skinny or overweight so there’s no need to point it out in the first place.
THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING OUT FINALLY. I’m 5’7 and 112 pounds and HEALTHY. Yes I eat. No I will not go have a hamburger.
This is awesome. I loved the curvy girl post, but it did hurt my feelings a bit as well. My boyfriend loves my physique b/c it’s healthy, not b/c it’s in a specific curvy or non-curvy category.
Go Julie and Sarah 🙂
i have to put this out there.
“IF YOU JUDGE SOMEONE, YOU LEAVE NO ROOM TO LOVE THEM.”
Thanks for sharing your story Sarah. I am a naturally thinner person as well and I’m a real foodie. When I was a teen I can still clearly remember a boy in class who called me ‘anorexic girl’ which I found hurtful. People have said other not so nice comments as a young adult as well but I’ve learned to not react to them but I still think about it and it hurts my feelings.
In saying that I believe that a lot people have negative things to say about a persons weight whether they are big or small.
Thanks Julie for the post, and thanks Sarah for sharing!
It’s really sad how no matter what size or body type, women really do tend to pick on each other’s insecurities or put them down. I’ve witnessed so many people (and even close friends) make fun of other women/friends because they are “too skinny”, “so short”, “getting fit and have man arms”, etc. Really, what is the point of making these comments? Like you’ve posted before Julie, “Blowing out someone else’s candle doesn’t make yours burn any brighter.”
Anyway, this post definitely made me reflect and think if I have taken into account my naturally thin friends feelings. I definitely try to only be positive with all my friends no matter what size, but this post will make me even more conscious that no matter what shape or size – everyone still wants to feel attractive/beautiful/etc.
It’s just as hard being overweight. I was called a “fat man cow” and “twinkies.” That stuff sticks with you forever, and I’d be lying if I said what I went through didn’t mess up my head.
Oh and I wanted to add that it’s been 11 years since then, and I’d say I do have extreme body issues that stemmed from all that. Funny how such mean spirited people can warp your mind, but that’s what happens when you’re young going through those awkward years–for people of any body type.
I work in a gym and I have had people make some very nasty comments to me about how others look – as in making fun of other people who are there trying to workout and make themselves better It’s just crazy and I hate it when it happens. Why is okay to pick on another person?
I have heard stuff about people being too big, and too skinny. They are too tanned, too pale. They are too this, or not enough that. Well who died and make you the body police?
Most recently I had a woman come up to me and ask if I was related to somebody. I couldn’t figure out why she asked – until she started off on how she was disgusted by the woman’s cellulite and how dare that woman show up in shorts if her legs look that way. I was so stunned. I went home from work and was upset all night about this cruel attack.
And I have to add that I have started visiting some blogs a lot less and not comment as much because of the negativity – not because of the blogger themselves, but because the comments can get so rude and mean.
For me, I used to be overweight and I got picked on so bad. It still upsets me today when I think about it and it most certainly hurt my self-esteem. I’ve also been told my chin was too pointy, or my nose too big, or now, wearing a size 4, that my thighs were too fat. Good grief! Like Miss Gaga would say – I was born this way! This is how I look. If you like it, great. But if you don’t, then fine – but that doesn’t make it okay to put me down.
Thank you posting Sarah’s story!! I can relate to a lot of it and it’s really nice to know that there is somebody else out there who deals with similar issues and feelings regarding being naturally thin. It’s also really great to be able to get a glimpse at the way she has dealt with these issues and feelings and encouraging for me– I’ve sometimes dealt with them in less positive ways which has only caused more damage to myself. She seems like a really smart girl and good role-model when it comes this issue.
While I agree that there shouldn’t be ANY comments about someone’s weight, I think that it’s easier to accept skinny mean comments than obese ones. I’ve never been in that position before but I think maybe the comments about skinny people stem from jealousy because most women would prefer to be super skinny then super obese. The grass is always greener on the other side.
Thank you for posting Sarah’s story. I think it is important to for us all to realize that all women of different shapes and sizes struggle with body issues. This is why I love reading your blog, because you are thoughtful and you really listen to your readers! Thanks again!
Thanks for posting this story! I too am a “naturally” thin person, and have regularly received many comment/remarks about my body my whole life from family, friends, and strangers. People often feel the need to tell me to eat more, or eat this or that, and I have been approached more than once about having an eating disorder with out the person even knowing what I eat at all! Comments like “You’re too thin” with concerning eyes have always been a part of any conversation regarding food/workingout/being healthy that I have with people. I am constantly looked down on by friends for being skinnier than they are.
All this to say, just because thin people received negative comments too does not negate the fact that overweight (or just bigger body types) receive negativity as well. It’s not truly the size of the person that is the problem, it is the inadequacy in the person making the comments. For whatever reason, people who are hurting in their own life feel the need to inflict pain on others. (This is true also with the people who make outrageous comments about people’s significant others).
This discussion really reminds me of a saying “Where you stand depends on where you sit”. Overweight people are likely to hear the negative comments geared towards overweight people, and vice versa for the thin chicks. The truth is that people are judged all the time no matter what the number on the scale is. I consider myself thin but considered average by BMI standards; 5’6″ and 120 and I still get comments like “You need to eat”. In high school I was much smaller and use to be called anorexic! Truth is, I actually wish I was curvier. I have a chest as flat as a door and a butt to match! But, these aren’t things I can change, so I’m happy with my body. And when someone says “You should eat a hamburger” I reply with “No Thanks, I’d rather not die of a heart attack at age 30” and give them a big old grin! 🙂
Great post! In India, the ‘done’ thing is for the girls to marry young (26 is considered old). My friend’s cousin is merely 17, and like Sarah, is naturally very thin despite the quantities she eats! Yet her grandmother/family members give her a LOT of grief and torment her that she will never find a husband if she remains one big bone- it’s so out of line.
How about we all stop judging people?! I think that would fix every degrading comment. Yes, I think it would 🙂
Besides, we don’t know ANYONE else’s full story, so we have no right to tell them one way or another what they’re doing is wrong.
Very eye-opening, thanks!!
THANK YOU for posting this!
I honestly was offended by the post as well and didn’t even bother to read the comments. I feel as though Sarah took the words right out of my mouth. While I am not as small as I was growing up, I still a thin and lean women. I remember crying to my mom about peoples comments and wishing that I would grow faster. I have never, ever said “thank you” to someone who calls me skinny. In fact, I tell them that it isn’t a compliment to me. They usually always counter with “but I would kill for your body..” Then say that! Tell someone they have great legs, a beautiful smile, toned arms….whatever.
I also HATE that people tell me “wow you’re a runner, you don’t need to run you’re skinny.” Why should I be able to do something I love? Something I am good at? I understand that some people exercise to lose weight but not everyone. Just because I could sit around and eat junk food and not exercise and still be thin doesn’t mean that I should or that it’s healthy for me. I, like Sarah, have always been a “human garbage disposal” (as sweetly nicknamed by my family) and there’s nothing wrong with me eating a lot of fruits, veggies, staying active as well.
Well I guess I had a lot to say but bottom line is; we are ALL beautiful, no matter what our size it. All that is really important is whether or not you are HEALTHY.
What an interesting post!!!! I’m small, and definitely get teased a lot about it!!!!! It is just plain wrong t o judge a person based solely on appearance, whether they are thin or overweight. It is hurtful, degrading, and really keeps people from getting to actually know what the other is like as a person.
Discrimination, no matter what, is an evil for women and body image. No matter what a woman looks like, it seems there is always going to be a person or a society who does not accept her body. Curvy women are seen as healthy in some countries while other countries see them as overweight. It’s really a wrong situation because when I was “curvy” in my youth, my entire self-image was screwed up because of taunts/teasing. Now, I deal with issues I’ve had since high school. It’s unfair I have to live this way because people expressed their opinions to me in a negative way. If someone did not like my body or thought I looked “overweight”, why say anything at all? Okay, so you think it… Keep it to yourself. If you think it might be causing someone problems which may harm them, say it in a NICE way. TALK to the individual. Do not say things like ,”You need to go eat more.” How does ANYONE think that helps? “Go eat a burger!” Uhmm… Or what?
I just hate it because the voiced opinions of others left ME with disordered eating. I struggle every day. I used to be very bright, healthy, sociable, etc. Now, I’m left with a struggle and a totally different mentality. I spend a majority of time on my own because of society and outspoken jerks. It’s not fair. At all. And I believe it’s just a sin for people to treat others this way.
Such a great post, Julie and Sarah. So many times everyone’s trying to lose weight and be skinnier so it’s easier for people to bash those who are smaller than them. Great reminder that everyone does have securities and everyone is beautiful and as women, we should support each other and not ever be putting each other down.
Thanks for sharing Sarah.
I hate any comments or judgements on people’s appearance/eating habits. Nothing gives people the right to do that!
Sarah, thanl you for sharing this. I could be wrong but i believe you were referring to the comment i wrote and i mentioned a comment my husband made to me. I am deeply sorry for hurting yours or anyone’s feelings. You are completely right in that we shouldn’t judge anyone bc you never know there situation. I’m 5’8″ and have wide hips but no chest. At my lowest weight i was 112 lbs and everyone thought i had an eating disorder. When actually i just started taking better care of what i was eating and exercising more. I remember how that felt and the fact that i or anyone else could have hurt your feelings breaks my heart. Thank you for reminding us that we are all beautifully and wonderfully made. Thank you Julie for bringing light to this.
Tabaitha, my comments were hurtful too, I’m sure! I think a lot of women make comments – even if they’re quoting others (like my husband and your husband in this case) and I’m so glad Sarah could help to open BOTH of our eyes about not saying anything critical about anyone’s bodies! 🙂 I’m so glad you found Sarah’s story as poignant as I did.
Tabitha, It wasn’t the first time I’ve heard that, and it definitely won’t be the last. The truth is, I really like hamburgers, so I think I’ll start responding, “sounds great, wanna get me one.” 🙂
But seriously, no worries!
Good for you Sarah! My mom has had a similar problem her whole life, thanks for addressing it! Also, props to you Julie for bringing a readers concern out in the open 🙂
My body has changed quite a bit from jr. high to now. Like most I endured the changed of hitting puberty, the dieting in high school, and trying to find balance during University too. I’m pretty short so any amount of weight gain I “feel” right away, even if it does go unnoticed. I’ve had the freshmen 15 as well as the “skinny-all-I-do-is-live at the library” look. But no matter what side of the coin I found myself I fell into the comparison trap. I think that’s where a lot of the emotions and comments about others people’s weight comes from…comparing ourselves to others. Does it make us feel better? I don’t know, but I’m learning to be comfortable and satisfied with my own body and be less concerned with how others look… I’m hoping that will be my best look :).
My sister has this same problem, at 6’1 and size 2 she has spent her whole life getting cruel comments about being anorexic and the girl eats ice cream for breakfast on a regular basis!
I find the nasty comments toward skinny girls comes from jealousy. It’s great to love your body and feel comfortable in your own skin but how many of us actually do? Many women like to make nasty remarks about skinny women simply because they are jealous and it makes them feel better.
WE NEED TO STOP PUTTING EACH OTHER DOWN TO MAKE OURSELVES FEEL BETTER!
Ok, weighing in here (no pun intended).
I’ve come to the conclusion that there are two types of pre-pubescent children: those that tend towards skinny and then fill out once they hit their growth spurt, and those that tend towards chubby and then everything falls into place when they grow.
I was one of the latter, most of my friends were the former. Because of this, and because many of those friends are still very thin, I’ve had to defend them to other people. I know how much my friends eat and I know their body image issues. It sucks for them because so many people might say things and my thin friends don’t feel they can fight back. Social stigma says being made fun of for being “too thin” is akin to being made fun of for being “too rich”; you have nothing to complain about.
The worst was actually in college. I went to Bryn Mawr, which embraces tolerance of all people, and nasty girls would make fun of my best friend because she’s 6 foot and normally 125lbs. At one point, due to stress, she went down to 117lbs (way too thin, you could see the bones in her arms) and girls would say nasty things to her in earnest (ended up being an easily fixed health issue).
With that behind me, I can say with total confidence that anyone who makes snide comments to someone who’s thin is showing their own insecurities. Whether it’s right or wrong, these women believe they should have the slender bodies of the women they make fun of. Perhaps the thin person does have an eating disorder, but that’s for those closest to that person to deal with, not a stranger.
I’m not sure if realizing that helps girls who are thin and get snide comments, but it helps my friends.
Haha I’m not sure I’d call ya “curvy” either, Julie. Hottie with a body! I think you look strong, happy, and confident! Keep up the awesome posts.
This was a very eye-opening post for sure. People of all sizes can be self conscious, not just those who are overweight.
I just wanted to thank both Sarah for standing up for something that she believed in and knew needed to be shared from a different perpective. It takes a lot of courage to do that. And also to Julie for being such an understanding person and never sulking or hiding behind these issues. It’s refreshing and impowering to know that no matter what size you are, there are other women out there, amongst all the negativity, who are in the same boat as you and who will support you. You just need to look in the right place. Thank you Sarah for standing up and thank you Julie for creating a place where she could.
This is a great post and totally eye opening. As a person who has always been heavier than others, I can totally relate to your story. The words may be different, but the feelings they generate are exactly the same.
That whole adage about “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words can never hurt me” is a crock of poo. They certainly do hurt and have more lasting effects than any bruise or broken bone ever could.
Thanks for sharing your story.
I completely relate with you Sarah! I always was teased by family and classmates on how skinny I was. They would tell me I don’t eat enough and I need to eat more…but I just ate until I got full and never had any sort of food issues. When I was in college, I actually got really excited about gaining weight, about finally being able to buy bigger jeans…but I wasn’t taking care of myself, I was constantly eating junk and feeling so tired and fatigued. Its sad how focused the world is on our appearance!
I think in our society saying something like “wow you’re so thin” is typically meant as a compliment. It’s interesting that we tend to forget that could be pointing out someone’s insecurities…
Thanks for sharing Julie and Sarah. This is an issue I have been dealing with my whole life. With a small frame, I have been dealing with insults my whole life. Eat this, why don’t you eat that..etc. Never in a million years would I approach someone bigger and tell them what not to eat. It is the same thing. But people are capable of being hurt.
As far as the curvy issue goes, there is a reason they sell curvies all the way down to size 0 and not curvies in sizes up to 16. Just because you are small doesn’t mean your body doesnt have curves and larger frames can have no curves at all.
Thank you so much for sharing this! My roommate in college and one of my close friends is naturally very skinny and she told me that it’s frustrating because every time she goes to the doctor and she is questioned about having an eating disorder because she isn’t over 100 lbs. It’s so crazy to think that even doctors (people who should totally understand that every body is completely different) are sometimes judgmental about body size! You are so right Julie- everyone is beautiful, regardless of their shape and size!
Looks like an awesome circuit! Sooooo many burpees!
I applaud Sarah and her story. I am definitely in her boat as well with being a non-existent size 00 (finding clothes is a problem) and people telling me to eat more. It’s hard. I am so happy there are so many other people out there that are dealing with the same problem, which really isn’t a problem, just a reality. I agree with Julie that everyone is this world is beautiful. Thank you so much for this post.
I think the most important thing to take from the previous and current post’s comments are that every woman regardless of her weight and height is going to have their insecurities. The next time that you’re feeling envious of how thin a woman is, or how she rocks those curves, remember that she could be looking right back at you asking those same questions.
So I say rock whatever body you’ve got!
This post reminds me of the other night when i was watching jersey shore with my friends…and yes i know the show is total trash…but all of my guy friends commented on how gross jwoww looks now because she is so skinny and they all preferred her at a higher weight. I think that when a person is at their natural weight they look their best, its when a person tries to force themself to be skinnier than their body was meant for that one loses their beauty.
I will never forget the day in high school, the mean girl next door told me to go eat something. Or the day after becoming an adult, getting married, and gaining almost 20 lbs, that my uncle didn’t believe that I wasn’t pregnant. I know it hurts either way. Since then I have started to work out and eat healthy (mostly). My body is still not perfect but because I actually work for it, I am proud of it and nothing anyone posts in comments on a blog can make me feel bad.
You tell it Sarah! My story has always been the complete opposite of yours: Lose some weight and you’ll actually look cute! I was belittled through middle school, and a guy actually made up a song called ‘The Butt Song’ because according to him my butt looked like a caboose train. Eventually our math teacher overheard him singing it and saw me crying and he got into some serious trouble, but it still left a profound impact on me. Irregardless of our weight, whether we are thin, average, or chubby like I am currently, we shouldn’t let it define ourselves. And we all need to see the value in ourselves that doesn’t include weight. That has been one thing that has changed for me over the past several months of my very slow weight loss. We are beautiful and strong capable women and we shouldn’t let society define who we are, we define who we are! My mom always put the utmost importance into appearance and she was constantly calling me the most horrid names because of it, especially because she worked at my high school and hated the appearance I gave off of her (me being overweight= bad mom) and treated me like crap. I tried not to listen to her, but that whole mantra is stuck in my head so I’m working on getting it out now that I am on my own. I’m sorry that you were so offended by the comments, I didn’t participate in that discussion, but I am deeply sorry for the pain it cause you. All of us just need to stick together and combat the negativity that society gives off, its plain and simple, but society isn’t plain and simple. As long as we are happy with ourselves we shouldn’t let society define us.
What is it with these loser boys and their stupid songs lol. That damn song didn’t even rhyme…so lame!
Sometimes it’s so easy to pass judgement on others and unfortunately people forget how hurtful words can be. No matter what you look like, a negative comment directed at your body type never feels good. I think it’s really important for everyone to realize that a HEALTHY body is a beautiful body, and they come in all different forms. I work at a gym and I see sooo many different body types every day and I also notice how quick everyone is to judge each others bodies. If these people are in the gym every day and obviously care about their well being, who cares what their bodies look like?! We can’t change our genes, whether God gave us a “skinny” ( I hate that word) or a curvier body type. Embracing what you have and focusing on being healthy and fueling your body nutritiously always helps. 🙂
In regards to the survey though, let men think what they want. Its MY body and like it however I like it. The man who deserves to be with you will love your body because it’s YOURS and he loves YOU! Plus, the sexiest woman is the most confident woman, the one who embraces what she has without worry of who likes it or doesn’t. I’m pretty muscular for a girl and I know my boyfriend likes me a little softer, but I love my muscles and I’m proud of them and he loves me how I am!
Julie, I appreciate how you make the effort to make sure everyone’s voice is represented. 🙂
Xo Lindsay
Sarah! Agreed 100%. I have a disproportionate body but I’m mostly boney and thin and people STILL do the same thing to me – poke at my ribs or hip bones and say I need to eat more. I eat all day every day – God just made me this way! It really bothers me when people think I have an eating disorder. My body just is this way and has always been this way. Funny how no one would walk up to an obese person and say, “you should really eat less”… come on!!!