I seriously hate the way I look in shorts. I avoid shorts like the plague and only make an exception for running shorts because it’s too hot to wear anything else while running outside in Florida.
I always evnvied the girls who would prance around in itty bitty shorts and look so cute and carefree. Daisy Dukes? Ummm, no thanks.
Last week while chatting with Meghann over dinner, I mentioned my aversion to shorts. She said she loves shorts and wears them all the time. I instantly felt envious and thought about the three pairs of shorts I bought last summer with my mom and sister in an attempt to triumph over my hatred for the silly half-pants.
This morning, I dug a simple pair of brown J.Crew shorts out of the back of my closet and slipped them on. My first thought? “Ugh, these are terrible.”
My second thought? “Get over yourself. They’re fine.”
Ahhh! Shorts! Run for Cover!
I hated the negative thoughts that ran through my head when I put these shorts on. (I even look a little stressed in the above picture!)
Sure, I could easily toss the shorts aside and put on some jeans or a skirt and feel more confident, but I am determined to wear these shorts with pride today. My appearance and how I look in shorts does not define me.
There are some days when no matter what we put on, we feel unattractive. I think that we should get a free pass to wear sweatpants to work on those days. “Sorry boss, feelin’ a little bloated today. Hope you understand.” 😉
I think everyone has some kind of clothing or trend they avoid because they just don’t feel right in it. I think that’s completely okay and totally normal, but I also think most of the negative thoughts are in our own heads. Today I am determined to overcome my negative thoughts about how I look in shorts.
Is there a trend or certain type of clothing you avoid? Is there something you used to avoid wearing but have now made peace with and will wear again?
Though shorts are something I steer clear from wearing most days, you will never catch me in high-wasted pants. I tried them on at Express once and had an instant granny booty (You know, the booty that appears to go on for daaaays? Not cute.).
Breakfast
Enough of the shortie shorts talk and on to brefkist (as a kid I used to babysit for would say).
Chococlate PB + Apples + Yogurt
Today’s morning meal featured a cup of Greek yogurt topped with a fresh chunks of apple and a dollop (<– love that word) of chocolate PB2.
Thursday (Oh My Gosh, It's Already Thursday!) Breakfast
Sweet, Salty, Crunchy, Smooth
Stirred, Not Shaken
This combo was tasty!
Shockingly enough, I do not like peanut butter stirred into my Greek yogurt (blasphemy, I know), but the chocolate PB2 was a whole nother story!
Yum.
Workout
Ooooh yoga, why did I hate you for so long?
In just one short month, I went from yoga hater to yoga craver. So weird, but so lovely. Now that I make sure to pay attention to my body and do the poses as they feel right for me, I find yoga challenging, soothing and relaxing. I leave a class feeling like my body is grateful for what I just put it through.
Sch-weet!
This morning my workout included a yoga class (the most challenging one I’ve taken to date), as well as 10 minutes on the stair master and 20 minutes on the elliptical with the latest issue of Shape magazine.
Special Day
Today is a special day for someone in my family! Stay tuned for a birthday shout out at lunch time… 🙂
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Wow, for someone who has had to work at toning up my thighs, I’ve always loved shorts…and I don’t even look as great as you do in them! LOL. You look awesome and I love your shirt, where did you get it?
charlotte russe – but i got it a good year or so ago!
Ahh I hate wearing shorts too! Still getting the courage to wear them this summer, since the weather is hotttt. You look so gorgeous and I love your outfit!
I totally feel the same way about shorts. I’m trying to break myself in because it’s going to be a HOT and LONG Texas summer 🙂
It seems like everyone is loving yoga lately!! I need to jump right in and make myself love it 😉
you go with your bad self in those shorts! i am glad to see you doing that. maybe i can get over my issue with tight shirts. i hate the way my belly is shaped, even though it is not fat, i look pregnant because of the shape of my stomach and i NEVER wear tighter fitting shirts!
SHUT THE HELL UP!!!
Do you have any idea how much it sucks to wear shorts for us women who are decidedly NOT a lean 100lbs of conventionally hot?
There is no one on the planet who would think you look bad in shorts, and reading about how self-sconscious you are about your thighs makes me want to curl up into a little ball and cry because I could never hope for mine to look like yours.
This sounds incredibly brutal because I occasionally find myself getting incredibly frustrated and upset with how many people are like you. They are utterly gorgeous in every sense of the word (and a lot of them know it), and yet they cannot stop finding flaws. Goddamit, if these flaws are so clearly imagined to even you, they don’t need to be published on your blog, which I usually adore. I guess it just disappoints me that someone like you can feel that way. What hope is there for the rest of us?
I’m really sorry this post negatively affected you, Mel. I posted this because I’m a real person and I do have insecurities. I try to be open and honest on my blog, and sometimes that means sharing personal feelings and self doubt. I think everyone, regardless of their appearance, weight, body shape, etc. experiences self esteem issues at some point and I am not immune. 🙁 Again, I apologize for any anger or irritation this may have caused you.
Despite how angry I definitely sounded in that moment, the frustration that comes out when I hear things like that is directed more towards that part of society as a whole- not just you. Beyond all the Operation Beautiful, the “Perfection is a social construct, Perfection is unattainble” mindset and pre-photoshopped pictures we see, it is so, so hard to gain any sense of realistic body image when beautiful, slim, athletic women like yourself (and your goddamn self-loathing commenters, who chime in with “I hate this, I hate that!”) pick apart flaws only they notice.
I do realize that behind the images we’re presented of you every day, there is a real person, a person who writes a lovely blog every day. But self-doubt is just that- of the self, and some of your readers (like myself) are simply more sensitive to it than others, and unwilling to bond over a shared hatred of our bodies by chiming in.
I don’t know why I even bothered commenting, or what I expect you to say. The problem is much, much deeper than a simple comparison trap between women- it’s a huge, immense, horrifying, wrong disconnect between modern women and the standard they think they have to live up to.
i 100% agree with your last sentence… i think there is a very, very unnaturally large disconnect between REAL women and what women imagine they should look like. it’s not realistic and, try as we might, it’s so hard to get out of that midset and truly accept ourselves when, if compared to models and photoshopped images, we’ll always find a flaw. in the end, i guess it’s all about embracing our flaws and finding THEM beautiful. it’s a constant struggle and one that the media doesn’t help in the least. also, i apprecaite both of your comments. they’re heart-felt and come from a good place. thanks for sharing your opinion and thoughts. 🙂
I just read this post and want to say that I think we could be friends if you didn’t live in Orlando and I didn’t live in Arkansas. Haha.
The end.
Thanks for this post, Julie! Like you, I typically feel less-than-awesome in shorts but sometimes “force” myself to wear them because (a) I’d roast alive in MD summer weather if I didnt and (b) I don’t want to be one of those girls who lets her insecurities run her life. I think it’s incredible that you’re honest enough to admit that you have insecurities about your body like most of us do (and trust me when I say that most of us would probably love to trade bods with you!); however, I think it’s truly inspiring that you don’t let those insecurities define you. I’m definitely rocking some shorts today and hope you are too! 🙂