Taking a stroll down any supermarket or convenience store
magazine isle is enough to make me, at 26 years old, gag. Countless images of
beautiful women in bikinis, talking about how they dropped 15 lbs instantly, to
the body and cellulite shaming images marked “you’ll never guess who!” Even if
I let myself walk down those isles, I admit if I'm not in the best frame of mind
they can get me down.
Even fitness magazines bare perfectly sculpted bodies, who
no doubt have some sort of Photoshop action going on. While I no longer have the same body I did
back in my competition days, these magazines even hammer into my head what
women AND men (I won’t leave the guys out here) should look like. And of
course, they’ll give you the best 15 minute work out tips and the best way to
shape up your rump as well…Because we all know, that can use some work.
While I agree health and fitness are important and are
essential to leading a healthy lifestyle, not every woman has to be 5’2 105 lbs
to be the epitome of health.
We are sending the
wrong message to our girls and women here on what healthy, normal bodies look
like.
I have recently been inspired by several stories of strong,
powerful women in the media.
Brooke Birmingham, lifestyle and fitness blogger of BrookeNot A Diet, lost 172 lbs and channeled her weight loss journey for all to read. Recently, she was contacted
by Shape Magazine who wanted to write a story on her weightloss success.
Brooke happily complied and sent along this
picture to show what I real woman’s body looks like after losing 172 lbs, and
not being retouched.
Photo from www.brookenotonadiet.com
Shape Magazine wrote her back saying they were unable to use
the bikini top photo and wanted one with a shirt. Brooke questioned this, and
then later declined having her story written if Shape would not print the
photo.
All I have to say- kudos to Brooke for standing up for
something she believed in! Shape Magazine is HUGE, and to turn down her chance
to have the story run for something she believes is amazing.
After all of the media attention, countless comments, calls
from Good Morning America, The Today Show, and more, Shape Magazine made
arrangements with Brooke to be featured in an issue with 5 other “real” women
who have gone through extreme weight loss.
They will be able to be photographed in whatever outfits, or
bikinis, they choose.
I say that's quite an amazing turn out for Brooke, and for women everywhere.
What are your thoughts on Brooke's story?
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