Bodacious Boomer

Evelyn and I are going back to the gym tomorrow. (I think we’ve been a total of two times since the first of the year. ) We’ve had a lot of reasons for not having gone. I wanted to go and she wasn’t up for it; or she could go and I had to work. One day it was cold and rainy, so we didn’t go. They all seemed like good reasons at the time on the days that we didn’t go.  Looking back, not so much. Of course, if I was out of town working, that couldn’t be helped. But I haven’t been out of town since last year. I know I could go by myself. I know I could even just walk the dogs around the block, but I don’t. Why is it just so damn easy to procrastinate? If only there was a pill I could pop to prevent procrastination.

Anyway, tomorrow is the day. I absolutely hate starting back at the gym. Actually I hate it for about the first week. I go there  in my finest gym wear, a pair of old shorts and a t-shirt that way past  it’s prime.  I lumber onto the treadmill, get going and inevitably, some super fit person will hop on to the machine next to me and start running uphill like their pants are on fire. And to just put a cherry on my day, they don’t even sweat!

I wish there were two distinct sections in the gym- a section for those in shape and a section for those trying to get in shape. (It isn’t that I want to be labeled.) I want to freedom to choose what section I go to. But some days it’s just really hard when I’m doing a 15 min mile and the person next to me is doing a 7 min mile. I know, I know, I’m there for me, not for them…blah, blah, blah.

I did see this photo today and got inspired.  I think this is what I’ll work towards. Does she look really crazy or is it just me? This woman,  Cathy Jung, has a 15″ waist. Can you believe that? – 15 ” ! Miss Jung is just too “hourglassy” for me. (Honestly, I think she looks kinda scary.) I think I’ll keep my curves less severe, thank you very much.

This is NOT photshopped!

I saw a model named Lizzie Miller interviewed on TV last week.  I thought by now all the buzz over her had all settled down. However, since I saw it on CNN.com today I guess she’s still big news. For those who don’t know, Lizzie Miller is a plus size model who was photographed nude while sitting with her legs crossed. Do you know what was in the photo for all to see? Was was making her so news worthy? She was leaning forward a bit and her stomach was pooching out for all to see. Mind you, this was not a Jabba the Hut stomach, just a small pooch. She also has thighs with a reasonable amount of meat on them. They look like they could actually get her somewhere more than down a runway. How many of us could sit that way without some bit of pooch at least?

I watched the interview closely and have read much of the press about the photo since that time. There has been overwhelming support for a model who looks like what most people would perceive as “normal” or “healthy”. Lizzie isn’t sitting there with hollow cheeks and her hip bones  jutting out through her skin, looking like she’s ready to kill for a cheeseburger or rack of ribs.  She is totally comfortable with her body the way it is. Good for her.

Let’s hope society is changing and is willing to start embracing a healthier and more realistic vision of what a woman should look like instead of looking like these anorexic and unhealthy girls that most of the designers make their clothes for. (Personally I know only two women that wear pants in a size that is a single digit). Let us not also forget that the camera adds 10 lbs so the women that look slim, but healthy in photographs are in reality much thinner than they appear in the photos. Check out this photo of Jessica Alba before and after airbrushing-It’s been said that she has the best body in Hollywood. Apparently though her body was still not considered good enough. The art director wanted her waist smaller still, her thighs a little more toned. (I guess he hasn’t embraced the natural, healthy look as yet.) BTW- Lizzie is busier than ever and has been told not to lose a pound. How often does a model ever hear that?

Curves are coming back in vogue. It’s about time. All of us who don’t look like boys-rejoice! The answer to today’s trivia question: The S & H Green Stamps rewards catalog