by Sandra Seigle

Created on: August 23, 2007

Here's a question for you - what is a "perfect body," anyway? There are millions of people on this planet, and no two of them look exactly the same.

I remember being a cheerleader for a whole 5 minutes in high school, and watching the amazingly "perfect" girls stand in front of the mirror, pinching skin and comparing what I'm sure only they could see as flaws - and there I was, not having been a size 5 since probably the 5th grade, feeling more and more whalish by the second. I wasn't fat, but I had developed early and had the extra few pounds that come from whacked out hormones and a father who overfed me because he was deathly afraid of my developing an eating disorder.

Today, after having two children and developing a Tae Bo addiction, I still catch myself every once in a while holding myself hostage in the mirror. Then I think - I'd bet any amount of money that even the most beautiful Victoria's Secret models have days where they stand in front of the mirror and fight the urge to scream. Their lives and careers are rooted in the way they look - how many hours do you think they spend sweating and panting away in gyms to look the way they do? How many calories and carbs do they count, ticking away at whatever pleasure they might actually gain from a meal? I say, forget that - that's no way to live.

Perfection. It doesn't exist. What matters is you. Do you feel sexy in that little black dress? More importantly, are you really thinking that much about those imaginary tummy rolls or lovehandles when you're playing with your children or enjoying a romantic evening with your spouse or spending a fun night out with your friends? I'd bet not.

The next time you find yourself in front of a mirror pinching skin or standing on the scale covering your eyes, remember this: the first step to fitness is loving yourself. You are a human being, defined by who you are - NOT what you look like. There is always room for improvement, the key is doing things for the right reasons. Learn to push yourself positively, and don't punish yourself if you stumble once in a while.

Here's to your health.

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