There is a woman who belongs to my gym/club that has a super rockin’ body. Whenever she is in front of me on any apparatus in the large cardio room then I am guaranteed to watch her for a bit. My eyes gravitate towards her. And don’t lie to yourself (or me) and tell me you don’t watch some of the other chicks too, because I know you do.
Anyway, she has curves in all the right places, lots of muscles that are toned but not overly so and awesome hair and skin.
Can you tell that I have eyed her a few times? Can you also tell I wish I looked like her?
I described her to Tim one day and he was quite sure he knew who I was talking about. And we agreed that she is pretty smokin’ and well, yeah, who WOULDN’T check her out?!? (somebody without eyes, that’s who). He also looked at me and said, “you know Elaine, guys (and girls) are checking you out too”.
HUH?
“You lie,” I said.
“No I don’t,” he said.
He went on to talk about some of my nice featureS that he really likes (yes, I capitalized that S on purpose) while simultaneously sporting a look on his face that almost convinced me he meant it. And he said that whether I wanted to believe it or not someone was thinking I looked pretty damn good too.
Now we know I have issues with my body since gaining some weight back. I just do.
I was so proud when I had lost that 30 pounds and now most of it is back.
But I look in the mirror and I still see ME.
Right now I have a pretty good tan from the summer and I’ve been lifting weights so my arms look somewhat muscular (although I cannot get rid of the bat wings no matter how hard I try).
But in general my body is not what I want it to be right now. I want and need some of this extra weight gone again.
I am trying to get to the point where I will actually do something about it, mostly in my head…
It felt good to run on the treadmill again. I went farther than I thought I could. There was a woman next to me that was bigger than me running at her own pace.
As I ran I wondered what her own goals were, like the one I have set – to run the local 10K again this November.
I wondered if maybe, just *maybe*, she might be a tad bit envious of my body. Or if she was completely comfortable with hers and just ran because she could.
No matter her specific thoughts, I do believe that someone around there probably wishes they did have my figure, or even just one aspect of it. Maybe someone glanced at my breasts and wished they had a set like mine. Or perhaps they noticed my ample bootie, thinking “if only” theirs wasn’t so flat. Or perhaps they even liked my shoulders as compared to their own.
I also know that even that hot chick on the stair stepper has her own insecurities but I’m not sure what they could be. Perhaps her dark, long nose hairs?
Yeah, I’m going with that.
In the end, I do believe my husband. And maybe I’ll just take him to the gym with me from now on to make sure that what he says is definitely true… 
You are beautiful! xo
I like this. So true. And a good reminder.
And you’ve got a good man.
I do, don’t I? Thank you!
This post really touched me, Elaine. I was just feeling pretty down tonight and was out and looking around at others, thinking about how much better they look, what better shape they are in, how they likely have more energy, and weren’t just feeding their kids leftovers etc. Now I read this, and you are so right. Maybe someone can look at me too! I just need to refocus on the ME and not worry about the next gal. I’m sure she’s got her own list of things she’s envies in someone else!
It’s true Leah, I am convinced of it! None of is perfect but we are all beautiful in our own right.
xo
You have an awesome husband! And honestly I think we are our own worst critics. I think you look great!
Yep, he’s a good one. And I agree, we certainly are our worst critics! Thank you, Michelle.
Ain’t that the truth that we are our own worst critics!
Hon, you are beautiful!
I’m with Michelle. We are our own worst critics. You are gorgeous! What a great post!!
It’s so true… And thank you and Thank you!
You’ve got a gem of a husband. And yes, you are gorgeous!:)
Thank you so much. And yes, my hubby is a good one!
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Your husband is so right, I think sometimes we forget that people may look at us and wish they had our hair or eyes or smile. We are all so worried about our own insecurities that we easily forget that we have so much beauty.
So true, Julia!!
I could almost have written this post! I’m the same way. It’s doesn’t occur to me that others would check me out or wish to look like me, because I’m not where I want to be. My boyfriend tells me this ALL.THE.TIME… that I have no idea that I’m the hot girl in the room. And FWIW, his ex wife is THAT girl at the gym. The one that is in such good shape, but I know here secret: multiple plastic surgeries, so you and I would never look like her unless we did that too!
Yeah, no plastic surgery for me, thanks! I’ll take this bod just the way it is!
And I’m glad your boyfriend tells you that. Sounds like he’s a keeper for sure!
funny you mentioned this because when you took my pictures before we moved, I was like, man, she looks great in shorts…why can’t I look that good in shorts? You look awesome girlie!
haha – the long dark nose hairs! I’d definitely go with that. I used to envy my sister and meanwhile, she envied my body. I just had that “We can’t win” mentality for awhile. Now I realize it’s just that we’re all beautiful how we are, and we often don’t take the time to realize that all of the envying we’re doing? Well someone’s got to be envying us too? Right? Right.
I agree, we are all beautiful the way we are. Now if we could all just realize it AND without someone else having to tell us!
Uh-huh. Yup we all look around. I know it is true. And so do men… They probably won’t admit their insecurities as readily. I like the idea that while I’m admiring what someone else has worked hard for or God has naturally given them that somebody else is thinking the same about me. I have NEVER thought of it that way. Never… What does that mean?
I had never thought of it that way either until my husband brought it up. Funny, huh?
This is so true. And your husband is awesome.
yeah… he is pretty awesome.
This is a great post, Elaine! And people do check you out because you are gorgeous and you radiate joy. Plus you have great bewbs and awesome hair. So there’s that. I like the idea that people are admiring something about me rather than picking me apart. I’m going to try to think this way from now on
I hope you will. And thank you for your awesome compliments Katie! WOW! xoxo
You look great! I sometimes think the same thing, especially when I was training. I am nowhere near the perfect physique, but I would pass so many women who would avoid my eyes or look at me sheepishly when I was running. And I wanted to tell them that what they were doing (walking, running, whatever) was AWESOME, and that even though I’m 5 miles in, every step for me is work. Also, when I pass someone, I totally suck it up and stand up straight and put on my best “This is awesome look how easy this is!” face. Then I slouch over as soon as we pass.
You do that too? I thought I was the only one…
Keeping good posture is hard! lol.
And every step for me is work too girl, I hear you on that!
xo
Girl… he is so right. I would LOVE to be where you are right now. Also, if there is someone out there that doesn’t envy your hair then I don’t want to know them.
thank you, my friend. You make me smile big with your comment.
Umm you totally opened my eyes to something. I tend to look at the hot girls and their bodies and think, “WANT!” (their bobies…not them
) and I guess there are people doing the same thing for me. It’s weird to think about but I know it’s true. We are all just in different parts of our journey. Good thoughts from your hubby 
Glad I opened your eyes, Katie. And you look amazing these days, my friend!
And yeah, the hubby has good ideas once in a while…
I love this. Such a powerful and important message. Love the skin you’re in!!
I’m totally envious of your rack
Great post on body image. I can look/weigh exactly the same, but on days I exercise I have more confident – no matter who looks better at the gym. (Though now I’m going to be scoping out for nose hairs.)
I definitely have more confidence then too, Poppy, so true! And thanks, I do have a pretty good rack.
Your guys sounds like a superawesome keeper.
And yeah, he’s smart, too.
You know what? That’s true. There’s always someone who looks at you and wants what you’ve got. And why not? You’re beautiful.
Good for you.
I am beginning to believe it. Thanks Robin, really.
Elaine, I wish I could have seen you longer in person last week but I must say, you are stunning. Yes!
Steph
Oh, you’re so sweet, Steph. And I wish that too.
xo
You look awesome! I have no doubt that you are being checked out at the gym.
I love your husband. And he is totally right.
I am feeling off lately. I gained a bit of weight back too. I haven’t been running (it is just too difficult with all 4 kids home 24/7 to find a time when I can go so I’m waiting until they are back in school) and I’ve been eating like I’m on vacation. AKA- not good. This post is a good reminder for me and a great thing to keep in mind. Thanks.
Thanks, Kat. And it’s definitely harder to work out in the summer with all the kids home. NO doubt about that! I am looking forward to getting back to my gym routine in a couple of weeks!
You are so right, we look at others and are envious never believing anyone is looking at us!
And I think you look wonderful!
Love this! And you can’t do much better than having a husband who loves you exactly how you are!
aw, I think you’re beautiful. I’m always people watching. always. Without sounding creepy, it’s kind of a fun think to do
Love the selfie 
It IS a fun thing to do. And thank you, Sarah! xo
Your husband is correct. There is always going to be someone who thinks your body is the body they want, for whatever reasons. And who cares what those reasons are. We all want things we think we have to have. You look wonderful and most of all healthy! There is nothing better than that!
Barbara @ http://www.allmylivesnow.com
You are gorgeous with beautiful hair and nice boobs. Yes, I was looking. I know that hot woman in the gym has something about herself or her life she dislikes. We all do. All you have to do is get to where you want to be for your own reasons and believe your husband when he says there are definitely people who look at you and WISH.
If only I could truly get there. But yes, I do like my boobs. Glad you do too.
Oh, how this post spoke to me. I put on 10 lbs since last September and I have really allowed that weight gain to mess with my self confidence. Ironically, I know that the faltering confidence will NOT get the eight off (I’m not a big believer in diets) but when I am feeling great about myself, the weight just seems to come off by itself. Everyone with a body image issue needs to read this post – and that would be 99.9% of all women I know.
It’s so interesting, this body image stuff. It took me so long to be Ok with even talking about my body on my blog.
Your hubs said just the right thing!
Right there with ya on this post!
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