how do i look?

we've all been hit with some kind of subliminal message about how Gucci can change our lives. the media knows that as women we strive to achieve some perfection because society and our own mother's insecurities told us we were not perfect as we are. and although i am not a man i've known men who go through the same type of body image insecurity, maybe not as annoying as girls are can be but they do have the same issues as women. is my stomach bulging? arms too flabby? sound familiar at all?
i'm all for taking pride in how you look (in fact i'm looking into what it takes to ban people from wearing sweatpants in public) but things go too far when we can never get to the bottom of self-hatred and move into self-esteem. i've struggle with body image issues for as long as i can remember. i use to think that my extra flab was disgusting and didn't know who could bare to look at it. yet, i've finally learned that i'll never be a victoria secret model, or prance down a runway, and the extra stuff here and just makes me softer. i mean really, who wants to snuggle up to bony elbows and pointy ribs anyways? curves are the way to go.
on the other hand, yes you should be happy with yourself but not if happy means living an unhealthy lifestyle. as americans we can take overindulgence to a new level. too many ribs, too much chocolate cake, too much of everything really. life and weight isn't about being as skinny as you can, it's about being healthy. i've have two family members die of cancer and another that has just been diagnosed. i know i don't want to be another statistic in my family. i think if you work to be healthy then the positive body image will follow.
so go live
be healthy not indulgent.
be wise and live better.