Surfing publicity photos and Instagram feeds all the images I
see are smooth and polished forms, not a hair out of place or a wrinkle to be
seen. That is completely understandable. Who wants to air the image of themselves
where they have bags under their eyes and they are in a ratty tank and gym
shorts when they have a polished, posh photo everyone will gush over? Sure there will be the occasional sweaty pic,
this is fitness after all, but a lot of them just look so glamourous.
Recently, I went with a friend to spectate our first fitness
competition. We decided we better go and
see what we were in for in the future.
Having never attended one before I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. In my mind I could picture tons of people at
the top of their game, tanned and glistening.
I found it very reassuring to see bodies that actually had
signs of living life. Mommy tummy’s with
stretch marks, one female competitor without hair presumably battling some life issue, some body parts jiggling
despite the fitness aspect. A couple
ladies where shaking they were so nervous!
I wanted to give them a hug. It helped to see that these women were not air brushed perfection. They lived life and they worked hard to achieve goals.
I still have lots of ladies on my Instagram that look perfectly poised but my favorites look like they are living real life. They are sweaty and lifting and doing more than a perfected duck lip into the camera. I get it. I like to show of how cute I look when I am working out too but I find it MORE reassuring to know there are others out there swearing and struggling through their work out too.May is the month that I will be entering into my first competition. I am going to strive for figure. It's nerve wracking to think about getting on a stage in high heels and sparkly underpants in front of a bunch of strangers I have asked to judge me on appearance but that is what I am going to do. I may not be smooth perfection but I hope to have my hard work shine through. Wish me luck!