We all want to look great in a stunning dress, our swimsuits on the beach and, of course, our birthday suits. What does “looking great” really meaning though? Is it having a flat tummy? Is it having six pack abs and toned arms and legs? Does the number on your scale determine it?
I have to admit that, for a little while, competing changed my perspective on what I should look like. I felt that I needed to be contest weight all year long. If I wasn’t contest weight or 1-2 pounds from it, I felt that I was “fat.” Umm…not good. My family and friends would tell me that I was nuts. They said I was not even close to being “fat,” but I didn’t see that. All I saw was that I didn’t look the way I looked on stage.
I’ve always been within five to seven pounds of my contest weight, so I have always stayed in shape, but I was just having a hard time seeing that. After about a year, I realized there was something wrong with the way I was thinking and was determined to change my mentality. I wanted to feel normal again. I wanted to be able to look at myself during the “off season/recovery season” and be happy with the way I looked.
One of the things I realized was that a big reason why I felt I needed to be a certain weight was because I was around tiny competitors all of the time. Being around girls who were getting ready for shows became “my normal” and so that’s what I compared myself to when I was not competing. Not a realistic comparison or a good way to live, huh? Nope, and as I mentioned, as soon as I became aware of what was going on in my brain, I decided to snap myself out of it.
To look good, one does NOT need to be super small or shredded. If you want to be healthy and fit, then eat a clean, well balanced diet, workout and be kind to yourself. Next, put the scale away and stop obsessing about your weight. The scale should not control your mood for the day or more importantly your life. Yes, I’ve been there, and it was not a fun time. I don’t weigh myself anymore unless my coach asks me for my weight, because it doesn’t matter. Life is too short to stress about small things.
So, it all boils down to this… are you happy with the way you look? If you said, “yes,” then…AWESOME. If you said no, then work on it, but don’t worry about it. It’s as easy as that.
I wrote this, because I know that many women can relate to this topic. If you are one of them, I would love to hear about your experience and how you can relate.
Just remember, you are ALL beautiful, so start believing it.
Until next time girls!
Love, India Paulino
