We don't all need to look a certain way
An Instagram post by Jessie Mundell, a pre/post natal fitness trainer, of herself, running on a treadmill, was so powerful it challenged me.
Confession time.
So, I don't like my body. And that's hard for me to say because I am a feminist. I love men, but I believe that patriarchy has created an expectation in society of what women should be like. 🚺
I have male friends, male colleagues, male family members, all who have ogled women with desirable body types. And don't get me wrong, those body types are different for every person, but mine is never one of them. Even plus size women who tend to look toned, and fit don't look like me.
My body has never been something I have been particularly proud of. I have struggled with my weight since university, and more since having my children. I work out, I eat fairly well, but nothing changes. Honestly as someone who works in healthcare, I am a little ashamed that I do not look healthier – I should know better right? 💁🏼♀️
Jessie’s post showed me that a woman can be fit without having a ‘hard body’. In fact, it really made me sit down for a moment and question the way I treat my body. And why I hear women everyday shaming the way they look and their “mummy tummies”
Something has to change. We have to change. I have to be part of the change for other women and men.
We are bombarded on a daily basis by images of other people's bodies, including the people doing their best to promote positive body image. And while I applaud those people, the more images we see of other people's bodies, the more we compare what they look like to what we look like.
Our bodies are incredible. Let's just think of all the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, all the functions going on within our body at any given moment. Hormones, digestion, oxygen exchange, blood, good things going in and bad things coming out. All the things that happen automatically without us even having to worry about it. An intricate machine.⚙️
Why is one person's body so different from someone else's? Despite living a similar lifestyle, my husband and his brother look completely different despite having the same parents. 🧐
We need to learn, to embrace bodies, all shapes, all sizes.
If you're a man and you're reading this, the next time you show your female friend, some hot girl on Instagram, think about how your friend feels about that! It's great to appreciate the female form, but maybe think of the effect that has. I hate to say it but I have been guilty of doing it with male pictures to my male friends. ♂︎
There is nothing wrong with having a bit of jiggle here and there. We need to stop bombarding ourselves with information that something is wrong with us because we don't look a certain way.
Celebrate other people's bodies, but we are all individuals, and are all meant to be our own person. It doesn’t mean you can't change your appearance, diet, exercise, makeup, nice clothes are all things we can embrace, but remember we are all works in progress rather than works of art. 🖼
If you're reading this, and you feel your thighs are too big, your arms are too wobbly or your tummy jiggles when you laugh, take a moment. Remember, all the things that you have done in your life that have brought you to this moment to make you who you are. You can change things, or you can leave them exactly as they are. You are a wonderful person. You are work in progress. You will never be complete. You are always learning something new.
Please don't be ashamed of the way you look. 🧡
Nicola Robertson
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist