I’m going to discuss fitting the “acceptable body mold” for moment.... So bare with me as I try to organize my thoughts and hopefully provide some insight to this topic, and remind you to freaking EMBRACE ALL THAT YOU ARE! A little background on me: Since childhood, I LOVED feeling strong. The more weight I could pick up, the more excited I was. I took pride in being able to do more push ups and pull ups than the boys in my class. But it wasn’t socially “acceptable”. I was continuously pushed to “lose weight”, “to be skinny”. “Guys don’t want to be with a muscular girl.” “Guys only like the skinny, petite girls” “Be more lady-like.” “Don’t get too big.” “Your legs don’t fit into the cool Hollister and Abercrombie jeans.” “You’re legs are too big.” “Stay away from the weights and only do cardio.” “Muscles are for men. Women aren’t supposed to be strong.” “If you keep lifting you are going to look like a man.” “You should lose 15 pounds. Your legs shouldn’t be bigger than mine.” - signed, a very insecure little fellow. I remember in 7th grade performing a dance, and while sitting on a prop chair, someone mentioned how large the bottom of my legs (hamstrings) were and that they hang so much lower than the other girls. Well, OK! That immediately made me feel somewhat insecure. I remember a boy telling me “your legs are too big. Why are they bigger than the other girls. ‘So and so’s’ legs aren’t as big as yours.” Welp, THAT fucked me up at the vulnerable age of 13. Another boyfriend later on in life didn’t want me to touch a weight. He HATED when I attempted to lift, and would force me to go over to the treadmill instead. After letting myself go in college, drinking, partying, and gaining a lot of weight, (because somehow that was more acceptable than lifting weights), I tried to “get skinny” to be more attractive for him. I did. I lost the weight. I tried to fit his mold. Turns out he would be messing around with many of the other girls I knew behind my back for years anyways, but I digress. MY POINT CONTINUED IN COMMENTS....