The Gym.

Today I've decided to join a gym at home, pure motivation in order to achieve a better looking body in order for America, and also for when university starts again in September. In general, I'm quite confident in myself but this tends to lack appearance wise, mainly because of pressure from the media. These days there seems to be a perfect body type; women are supposed to be skinny, with perfect legs and a flat stomach, not a bit of flab in sight. Men on the other hand are supposed to be incredibly toned, with huge muscles and a toned six pack. For me, both of these stereotypes are just bizarre. What woman wants to be stick thin with no curves? Some people may find it strange for me not to find men with muscles attractive, but it's true. I'd just prefer to have a man that's normal and with a bit of chub. If the guy is full of muscles, he'll be spending his life in the gym, and what sort of life is that? A pretty boring one if you ask me.

So yes, I am going to start going to the gym. Yet this is purely to improve my fitness and try to tone up the chub, mainly in areas where I'm least confident, such as my arms. I will never go as far as being anorexic. For one, I'm a lover of food. We only live once, so why spoil one of life's pleasures in order to achieve the media's desire? I for one do feel pressure from the media, such as the bmi scale, a factor which takes into consideration your height and weight in order to determine if you are underweight to obese. In my eyes, what a load of rubbish. This doesn't take into account your bone structure, or for women what bra size you are etc, common factors which will affect your "bmi". The media portrays the idea that skinny is good. When I've spoken to male friends and asked what their views are, every response has been that they prefer a curvy girl, or in other words a girl where they have love handles to grab onto. Holly willoughby for instance is a great example. She embraces her womanly curves, yet she is fit and toned. She's basically the woman that most men dream for, and to me that's great because it's actually realistic and achievable, and she looks like a woman should do.

Everyone has secret doubts about their body, me included. I for one hate my arms and my legs, and that's a fact. Many friends of mine hate various other parts of their bodies, but I think that they look fine, healthy and normal even. It just goes to show that body confidence is all in the mind. Some people take it more serious that others. I know that I won't be giving up roast dinner and chocolate anytime soon. I also know that I'll never been 100% happy with my body, it's just something I need to learn to accept and deal with. On that note, it's time to eat a rather large sandwich and then hit the gym.