To: Women, Love: Sarah

A Letter to Women About Your Body and Our Normalized Diet Culture

Why Are We Manipulating Our Bodies

We live in a society where it is completely accepted to be unhappy with the way we look. To be comparing ourselves to others while finding flaws in ourselves. To use food and exercise as a tool to manipulate the way our bodies look. Don't get me wrong, I find it fascinating how something as simple as the food we eat can drastically change our bodies. I could talk for hours about our metabolism, that's my jam. But when we use food and exercise to change our bodies for the wrong reasons, its detrimental not only to our physical health but to our mental health and it's not worth it.

I would like to start off by saying that as you grow up, your body is suppose to change. It is natural to gain some weight and fat. This is what is suppose to happen for a healthy woman. It's preparing you to be able to carry a child later in life for crying out loud. Cellulite is something as natural to your body as the hair on your head. If you are trying on clothes and you're not the size you used to be when you were in high school, buy the size that fits because most of the time our bodies are in the state they should be in.

Stop comparing yourself to other women. It is possible to appreciate someone elses beauty without diminishing your own. No matter how you eat or what exercises you do, you will never look the same as someone else. You won't have the same abs, butt or legs as them because you don't have the same genetics. End of story. And thank goodness for that because can you imagine a place where everyone looks the same? That would be horrible and I wouldn't want to live there.

You Are Much More Than Your Looks

Please stop putting your value and worth on the way you look. Start thinking about how you feel and how you act. Think about who you are as a person. The beauty and food industry with the help of the media thrive off telling women they need to change and that they aren't good enough. Don't let them win ladies. They are trying to shame you and make money off of your insecurities! You don't need detox tea or '10 Exercises To Be Beach Body Ready'. Your body is already ready, just go to the beach. Boom roasted.

Next time you think about starting a certain diet, meal plan, or exercise regime, I strongly urge you to question your motivation for doing so. Is it to become healthier? To gain confidence? To become happier with yourself? If so, following that super restrictive diet or crazy workout routine is not going to bring you those things. Sure, you may lose weight or tone your stomach but are you sincerely any happier? And how do you know your fitspiration women who have "the perfect body" you are comparing yourself to are actually healthy or better yet, happy.

It's like Coach Irv says in Cool Runnings, "A gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you're not enough without one, you'll never be enough with one." It is the same with your body and your relationship to food and exercise. If you do not love and appreciate your body how it is now, changing it to fit your goal will not make you love it any more. Instead of trying to manipulate your physical body, try working on yourself from the inside out. Work on your confidence, your positive body image, your self talk, and your love for yourself.

Figure out what actually makes you happy and continue to do that. If it's following a vegan diet because that's align with your personal morals, right on. If becoming stronger, running a 10K, strengthening your yoga practice, or dead lifting those weights is part of that, more power to you. Go ahead with your bad self and crush your goals! But if you want to do these things out of anything other than love and appreciation for your body, please reconsider.

Major Disclaimer

This is in no way shaming healthy behaviors. I am the biggest advocate for eating real foods, which includes a variety of of fruits and vegetables. Americans unfortunately aren't getting enough fruits and vegetables and obesity rates are rising but that is a topic for another time. Following restrictive diets and feeling bad about eating carbs is in no way a healthy behavior. It is way more healthy to want a piece of pizza, eat the pizza, enjoy it, and move on with your life instead of obsessing over it. Of course we eat to fuel our bodies and improve our health, but eating is just as much of a social activity and part of the human experience. Some of the best memories and laughs are made while sharing food with family and friends and we should never be avoiding this.

If food or exercise is causing you mental stress and taking over your enjoyment in life, this behavior is no longer healthy for you. These negative thoughts in your mind outweigh the potential health benefits the food or exercise could have for your body.

I strongly believe everyone should engage in some sort of movement or exercise everyday. It could be yoga, walking, biking, playing a sport, running, dancing, hiking, barre, anything. If not for the physical benefits, for the mental benefits. It will allow you to strengthen your confidence and gain a positive mindset. Complete health is not just having a healthy body but it is equally important to have a healthy mind. Yes, we engage in physical activity for our health but what is the point if you're not having fun doing it? It should be a celebration of what your body can do. Find what works for you. Don't like lifting weights at the gym? Don't do it. Can't stand running? Find something else. Like spin classes and HIIT? You do you.

A Call To Action

If you are truly motivated to become the healthiest version of yourself, learn how to cook. I do not say this lightly. Cooking is something to put your time and energy into that will genuinely make you healthier and happier. You will know where your ingredients come from. You will eat more mindfully. Cooking can help you think for yourself about what you are putting into your body and how that makes your feel. Instead of going out to eat, learn how to make you favorite dishes you would have ordered. We don't all have to become the next Barefoot Contessa (if only) but cooking is an art form we need to bring back. The amount of people who cook regularly is decreasing and obesity rates are increasing (Coincidence? I think not).

Cooking is an experience we can share with our friends and family. It's a skill we can teach our loved ones and can be used as a way to connect with others. It will help you learn to really appreciate your food, learn the art that comes in preparing it and how great it makes your body feel. Sharing food, learning from each other and sitting down to enjoy our food is a step forward to a healthier and happier society.