F*** Thigh Gaps!

Who all out there believes that having a thigh gap is a form of self worth or beauty?

What do the men out there think: are thigh gaps truly sexy to you?

Beyonce's recent Instagram picture sparked much controversy when fans were left wondering if a thigh gap had been photoshopped in and Old Navy's poorly photoshopped "thigh gapped" ad made headlines just the other day. It seems that there is so much focus on how skinny a woman can get her thighs. But why haven't beauty standards changed and why are we still dragging ourselves through the same vicious cycle of hating our bodies?

As a new mother, I can't imagine how difficult it must been for teenage girls these days who are facing the pressures of social media. Countless Tumblr accounts such as Thinspirationforyou, Welcome to Skinnyville, and Stay Thin This Time teach women that being skinny is the equivalent of beauty. Many of us fall victim to these false ideas of beauty & glorified eating disorders and the message that starving yourself is the only way to achieve this. Though I am a mother to a son, I am frightened to think about the pressures that my future daughter would face with how the trend is going. Where have all the role models gone? Why are companies still putting these ads out there, giving us the idea that if we want to wear their clothing, we must look just as the photoshopped model does.

Studies show that 80% of teenage girls dislike their bodies by the time they are 17 years old. Up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the US alone. 69% of girls in 5th-12th grade reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of a perfect body shape. 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat (Mellin et al., 1991). These are just a few of the very real and sad statistics. Though there is something about seeing those pictures or ads in high fashion magazines, suggestions from peers or parents, or #thinspo quotes and messages telling us that if only we would lose just 5 more pounds, we could be something special, too.

What bullshit!

I am so thankful to have turned to sources such as BodyRockTv or BodyBuilding.com that teach you that eating clean and working out is the way to achieve the body you have dreamed of. Their models have abs, arms, legs-MUSCLES! I honestly wish there were more positive reinforcements out there. Women are so afraid of lifting weights out of fear of looking like a man and they have this idea that having muscles is "gross."

We should be teaching that strong should be the new skinny. 

As a fitness enthusiast, so many people ask me these days about how to get a "thigh gap." My first question is "Why the hell would anyone want a thigh gap as a goal?" Since when did thighs that touch determine our beauty, our worth, and who we are? My thighs touch and I am totally okay with that. This gap between our legs does not determine how fit or healthy we are-it is simply our bone structure so not every one can have this feature and that is alright!

If you are not happy with your thighs or lower body for that matter, then try some of these workouts.

Also, check out this hilarious video that one blogger made on How to Fake a Thigh Gap. I love the sense of humor she has and how the trend does not seem to affect her in the least bit!

Always remember that your reflection does not define you-it is what's from within. Cheesy and cliche as it may sound, I realize that. However, there is proof that we are not being told this enough. Just as Bruno Mars said, "You are amazing, just the way you are"-thigh gaps or not.