4 Reasons Why "Skinny" Is Misleading

I am so sick of the word, skinny! As a society, we are focused, if not obsessed with skinny. The word, skinny, by definition means: lacking of flesh, thin, according to The Free Dictionary. For some reason, we associate this word with healthy, beautiful and fit. No where in this meaning is anything mentioned about being fit, healthy and strong or in shape. Of course, people who maintain their bodies at a healthy weight tend to be healthier escaping the issues that obesity brings such as diabetes, joint problems and heart issues to name a few. This doesn't mean that you have to be skinny to be healthy or fit. Fit, according to the Free Dictionary means: to be the proper size and shape, physically sound; healthy. We need to move toward a fit culture, one that is physically sound, structurally sound and healthy. Here are five reasons why skinny is misleading.

1. Skinny doesn't mean you'll burn calories. Most people that want to be thin are looking to burn calories and have the ability to maintain a high metabolism. To be skinny is to lack flesh on your bones according to the Free Dictionary. If you lack flesh, then you are probably lacking muscle. Your metabolism is supported largely by the amount of muscle mass on your body. If you're the kind of skinny where muscle mass is minimal, then you're burning quite a bit less than a person who is fit and strong with active muscle tissue.

2. Skinny isn't always strong. You have one body. This body has to carry you around the rest of your life. Are you really worried about being skinny? Focus on being strong and healthy. Daily activities such as walking up and down stairs, putting the groceries away or cleaning the house depend on a body that can move and support these types of activities. As we age, we begin to lose our strength due to muscle loss and bone density loss. Toughen up! Hit those weights, get down and give me 20 and begin the process of getting stronger if you haven't already. What good is being skinny if you can't even perform your own daily household chores?

3. Skinny doesn't necessarily mean healthy. Just because you aren't fat doesn't mean you are healthy. There are plenty of ways to remain skinny without putting one healthy thing in your mouth. In fact, there are many substances out there to help keep you skinny that will do more harm than good. Healthy should equal a sound body and mind, a well functioning body and mind. It's not possible to do that if we are focused solely on being skinny.

4. Skinny doesn't always look beautiful. This may be the biggest issue with our obsession of skinny. We see models, actors, musicians and others in magazines, commercials and movies on a weekly and daily basis. Skinny figures in the spotlight are seen as beautiful. In fact, those that aren't skinny are often ridiculed. To be beautiful, you must be beautiful inside and the outside will come along with it.

The next time you feel like you aren't skinny enough or you need or want to be skinny, re-evaluate where you're at physically. Focus on becoming the most fit and healthy person that you can be. Refer to guidelines such as body fat composition, BMI and measurements to determine whether you are in a fit category instead of focusing on skinny. Be the best that you personally can be to remain healthy and strong.

Body Beauty: In your Competitions be Elegant-Perfectly Toned and Fit for that Sash and Crown

It is tempting to avoid too much exercising and simply eat less or adhere to a strict diet while preparing oneself for a beauty competition. However, the fact of the matter is that you can get in shape and actually increase your strength and tone without "bulking up." The information below will help your overall look when you are in a fitness competition as well, you will have to make the distinctions, depending on the competition itself.

There are several kinds of programs out there that focus on lengthening the muscles instead of pumping them up. In addition, there are plenty of cardiovascular exercises that can help you burn calories and focus on specific muscle groups such as jazzercise and other aerobics.

Pilates is a new and popular kind of exercise that targets specific groups of muscles. Yoga, again, targets specific groups of muscles and can have a similar affect on the body - LENGTHENING the muscles instead of bulking up. Yoga, as a matter of fact, is basically a series of stretching - there is virtually no cardiovascular benefit. However, each of these stretches can increase the muscle tone, flexibility, balance and - in short - beauty of your body.

When you workout by lifting weights, without specific instruction or direction to best suit your needs, you may not accomplish the body figure you want. If you bulk up too much you may look like someone to avoid in a dark alley wearing your strapless gown. Not sexy - it is much better looking to have toned, (not buffed - up) beautiful arms.

If you are fit and lovely, you have an advantage over those who are only thin and lovely, by common opinion. Judges look for that healthy, strengthened and toned look in virtually all beauty competitions.

However, not only is it healthier to be fit, but many believe that soft, toned skin is a sexier look overall. The difference between beauty and fit beauty comes in tone, shape and even posture. There is a certain beauty in the soft, unfit arms and bodies of women, of course. But if you are going to focus on muscle tone and general body shape, exercise can really help you enhance your feminine features.

Beauty - The X-Factor

The term beauty has been associated with health and fitness till one can remember. In fact it would not be wrong to say that beauty and fitness go centuries back hand in hand. There have been several researches in the past and several are still ongoing regarding the relation between fitness and beauty.

Amongst them it has been concluded in several researches that staying fit are a central element of good looks. The usage of this term is not only restricted to the female sex and is employed for both the genders.

The physical beauty that is the features of a person are mainly dependent on the genetics, as a child is more likely to resemble its parents or relatives. Other than genetics the other determining factors are in the control of the individuals. For example since pre-historic era weight has been a scale of its judgment. In times when food supply was inadequate obese people were considered as attractive, whereas today this trend has changed and more significance is laid on being fit as it does not only adds to the beauty issue but also has several health benefits as opposed to the overweight people, and it depends on the individuals.

Other than that there are quite a few numbers of treatments that only enhance the beauty but also have positive effects on the overall health of a person. For example the usage of green tea not only provides its regular drinker a clear glowing skin but at the same time its polyphonic rich content reduces the risk of cancer of all kinds. Similarly there are several home based treatments that not only work towards improvement of general beauty but also induces positive effects on an individual's health and keeps him fit in all senses of the word!

The Purpose of Fitness Beauties in Bikinis in the Media

All through the media- in fitness magazines, websites, fitness books, etc - you've seen them. The lovely and enviable fitness beauties in bikinis. These ladies are lovely, in great shape, and it's not at all unusual for those who are of "average" beauty and fitness to be envious.

But did you know they aren't shown in the media for the purpose of causing envy or feelings of inferiority? The media doesn't INTEND to promote low self-esteem or insecurity in readers or watchers. Most fitness magazines or websites that use these models, use them for purposes of motivation.

They are used to demonstrate workout techniques, stretching moves, there are "before and after" photos of these lovely people in some, and they are ideally used to promote the idea of health and wellness. The general idea behind using fitness beauties in bikinis in the media is to show the average person that they CAN get in great shape and can be the "ideal" picture of health.

Of course, anyone can feel a bit intimidated or feel insecure when seeing something or someone that they feel is the "ideal," and it's extremely easy to feel that we don't quite measure up. Just as we have our own insecurities and self-esteem issues, these fitness models have their own issues to deal with concerning their body images. The important thing to remember about these ladies is, although they are sometimes stunningly beautiful and in great shape, they're still human beings.

Although these fitness beauties in bikinis work very hard to maintain their body weight, muscle mass and maintain their good looks- they each have something about themselves that they have to work very hard on. They often have their own self-esteem or body-image issues. That's part of the reason that they are used in photos so often for fitness and health magazines, because they are usually average people who have gotten fit after much hard work.

These models are used to provide motivation and hope to those who struggle with weight or fitness issues, those who struggle with general health issues, etc. The primary reason being again, that they are usually everyday, average people who have gotten to where they are physically after a very intense program of self-work. This would include changing the way they eat, workout routines, etc.

Changing one's physical fitness and their general health habits is extremely difficult for most people- these ladies are proof that it can be done. The media doesn't intend on encouraging self-esteem issues in average people by using fitness beauties in bikinis, it's rather quite the opposite - they intend for these types of photos to be motivating and inspiring.

One could easily blame the media for the fact that these types of photos can make the average person feel insecure, or even that the media is to blame for society's skewed ideal of the "perfect" body. But most people would rather see one of these fitness models in a health magazine, than an anorexic fashion model on the cover of their teenager's magazine.

Fitness Beauties - It's Not Always What You Think

You see them in fashion magazines, fitness magazines and health magazines- beautiful, ideally "fit" and gorgeous-looking fitness beauties. But are they to be envied? These models you see in magazines, on television or other media aren't always the "ideal" or the norm, nor are they always society's version of what is beautiful or "fit," although fashion and health magazines would have you to believe so. Beauty and fitness aren't always what society considers "beautiful" or "fit." Healthy is beautiful, regardless of actual physical beauty or attractiveness.

When a person takes good care of their personal appearance through grooming, good lifestyle choices, healthy and nutritious eating and following a fitness regimen- this is beautiful, it makes the person beautiful, and this is what should really define those who are so-called "fitness beauties." Healthy is beautiful. It's not about the extent of muscle-definition, how much weight-training one does, how many miles a day one runs, etc- it's about making healthy life-style and nutrition choices, and following some sort of exercise program. When one makes healthy choices for themselves, and dedicates themselves to a healthy life, they raise their self-esteem. Self-esteem is also beautiful.

But by the same token, instead of feeling envy or jealousy when seeing beautiful, "optimally fit" people in magazines, movies, newspapers or other media- applaud their dedication and their ability to stay on the right track with staying fit. Fitness beauties work very hard to maintain their levels of fitness and make those healthy choices, unlike the average person, their financial well-being depends on their looks and their ability to maintain them.

When society stops pushing the "ideal" rather than the "norm" where looks, beauty and fitness are concerned- average people might actually begin to view themselves in a different light and learn to view themselves as beautiful. One should be proud of themselves for any changes that they make and maintain in their lives to become healthy and fit, and even if they sometimes "mess up" when following new diets, exercise programs or other healthy choices- believe and understand that tomorrow is another day, and each day of effort is better than none at all and getting them one step closer to their goals.

Fitness beauties are an "ideal" and an image to "aspire" to, but they aren't society's average persons. They work very hard to maintain their fitness levels, their good looks, and their lifestyles. Again, if they don't, their financial well-being is lost- because their income depends on their bodies. It's much better to be the "Average Joe" making healthy choices and becoming an "average" model of fitness, than struggling and practically killing themselves to fit into some sort of "ideal" that has been thrown at them by the media.

The bottom line- health, wellness and fitness are all very hard work, they require making constant healthy choices and require that one stay motivated and dedicated to those lifestyle changes. But being healthy and fit has nothing to do with looking like a fitness model or any other type of model, it's about being as healthy as possible and being comfortable with your own skin.