Why does it always have to be about extremes? For years, we've been frustrated by models being extremely and unnaturally skinny. We talk about how it portays an unattainable "ideal" body for women and young girls. Although I understand that there are some women out there who are naturally skinny, most women of that size go to extremes to make themselves skinny - anorexia, bulemia, diet pills, etc. I am happy to start seeing more "real" women in ads and in magazines. Studies have shown that the average American woman is a size 14. When Ashley Graham - a women who wears a size 14 - was featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition I thought it was great. She represents a healthy, attainable body for women and young girls to look to. What bothers me, though, is the recent emergence of glamorizing obese women.

While I do agree that you should feel comfortable in your own body and love yourself at any size, I do think it's dangerous to glamorize either extreme. In fact, as someone who is working hard to better my body, my health, and my life, it almost makes me feel guilty when a size 22 woman is out there claiming that she's what a real or normal woman looks like on the cover of People. There is also a show out there called "My Big Fat Fabulous Life" that focuses on obese women. Admittedly, I haven't watched the show, but the ads I've seen are enough to make me never want to watch it. I'm sorry, but obeseity is not "normal" it is unhealthy. Just as someone who is severely underweight has added health risks (weakened bones, fertility issues, weakened immune system, etc), so does someone who is severely obese (diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc). I truly do not feel that we need to be glamorizing either extreme.

The same goes for losing weight. You don't have to starve yourself, you don't have to deprive yourself, you just have to practice moderation. It's about making healthy choices and staying active. It takes time. It takes effort. It sure is a lot easier to eat whatever you want, get fat and then play the "It's too hard to lose weight" card when people (like your doctor) call you out for being obese. To keep the weight off, you have to keep up the good habits. You can't live a healthy life comsuming only Diet Coke and diet pills (as I heard one now plus size woman insist she did when she was modeling), but you also can't live a healthy life eating fried food and pizza for every meal.

Here's the thing, you don't HAVE to give up carbs or sugar or gluten - unless you have an allergy or adverse reaction (if that works for you as a diet, fine, I'm not judging). You can eat all of those things in moderation. I am an example of that, as are many other weight loss success stories. I can tell you that the difference between me at 20 and me at a size 12 is that everything is better. Climbing stairs - easier. Sitting in an airplane seat - so much more comfortable. Joint pain - greatly decreased. I have more energy. I'm happier. It didn't happen overnight. It took 10 months of work and discipline to get to where I am now, and I'm still working on it. Did I have pizza occasionally? Sure did! Did I have cake at my niece's birthday party? Yep, I did. The key is that I have pizza occasionally (and it's a slice or two) and I had one slice of cake without bringing home leftovers to snack on. My goal is not to be a size 2 or 4, or even a 6. I'm not trying to have 6 pack abs. I'm trying to be the best, healthiest me I can be - and that definitely isn't a size 20 and it wouldn't be a size 2. For the record, I'm 5'10.5" tall and my build would NEVER support being a size 2. I'm comfortable with that, but I'm also not built to be a size 20. That's simply too much for my body to support.

It's a shame that the media has to try to make me feel guilty for losing weight as much as they did when I was obese. Let's stop with the extremes and promote being healthy!