Eff you media!

Perhaps you can tell by the title, I am far from a fan of media when it comes to the portrayal of beautiful women. Don't get me wrong, the women who are advertising these products marketed to us are simply flawless, gorgeous, unattainable women. Read: 'unattainable'. Not even these women look like their commercialized/advertised self. After all of the make-up, photoshopping and fancy camera work is removed, they are just like the rest of us. Flawed...beautifully. 

It is the crooked smile, the freckles, the love handles, and laugh lines that make us unique and beautiful. It is these very same things that are removed from the bodies and faces of the women marketing products. 

When we continually get bombarded with these images of 'gorgeous' (on the television, billboards, and magazine covers), we become critical of the reflection in the mirror. We spend far too much energy examining our pores, squeezing the skin on our stomaches and rear-ends. We see what makes us human as, dare I say it.... Ugly. WAIT A SECOND. All of that programming we have been receiving is so that we feel terrible about ourselves. We are taught by media to only see the 'flaws'. This results in our ridiculous NEED to purchase the 'snake oil' that will make our flaws disappear. When we continue to see the flaws, we buy more. 

Here are some facts: 

Cellulite is normal fat beneath the skin...visible on both thin and heavy women, it appears bumpy because it pushes against connective tissue.  

Crows feet, also known as laugh lines, are proof of emotion. 

Fat, we need it.  Without it we cease to have menstrual periods...and our brains will shut down. If you have an abundance of it, there is not a magic pill. I am sorry.  It takes a change in diet and level of physical activity. Period. 

There is no ideal size. Size zero and size 22 can both be beautiful in so much as the person who is that size is happy and healthy. This is measured by heart health, blood pressure, strength, endurance, flexibility, and size of smile. 

We can change what is presented to us.  We are the market.  We decide what we want to purchase and what we accept as advertisement. The product has a price tag, but it should not cost us our self esteem as well. 

You are beautiful. 

Stay happy & healthy

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