The Perfect Body: Reality vs. Illusion

As I was sipping my coffee this morning, I overheard a segment on one of the morning talk shows examining celebrity moms and how they are in near perfect shape. It would seem that some of these celebrities popped out a baby one day and returned to their rock hard abs and size zero pants the next day.

I’m not the first person to write about this topic (and I’m sure I won’t be the last), but what amazes me is how people strive to get a ‘perfect body’ just like their favorite celebrity, when in reality, these celebs don’t necessarily have ‘perfect’ bodies. I’m not saying that many of the rich and famous aren’t in good shape, they are, but they give off this illusion of perfection with a lot of help. They have trainers, make up artists, stylists, nannies, and often take unhealthy approaches to losing weight.

I’ve encountered many people who become increasingly frustrated with their weight loss struggle when the weight doesn’t come off as quickly as they would like, or in the places they would like. They see people on shows like ‘The Biggest Loser’ drop pounds quickly, or a random actress in a bikini two weeks after having a baby. Although the ‘Biggest Loser' has a good message for its audience, their methods are extreme. Their contestants are sequestered in a house with nutritionists and trainers who work them out for several hours a day; not the slightest bit realistic for the average person. Individuals at home wonder why they can’t have those same results. But they don’t think about how unrealistic these results might be.

So why do we continue to compare our bodies to those of these ‘perfect’ celebrities? Maybe it is because we are bombarded with images of these ‘perfect’ people on a daily basis, or maybe because it motivates us to work harder. Whatever the reason, the reality is that it is nearly impossible to attain this illusion of perfection without all the above-mentioned help (and a little Photoshop and spanx mixed in).

However, this is no reason to feel defeated. Sometimes, imperfections are what make us beautiful. They add to our character and our looks. It is realistic to strive be healthy, to be strong, and to be physically fit. Everyone has different body types and different genes that contribute to the way they look and how they lose weight. Toss out the fad diets, the fake tanning and hair extensions and the unrealistic expectations. Look to ‘real’ people as your inspiration. For example, strive to run as fast as the person you jog next to on the treadmill every morning. Follow your best friend’s example and start eating healthier. Admire the confidence of a friend or colleague.

My feelings are that if you reject the illusion and embrace the reality you will feel much happier about your own self-image.