Sports Illustrated 2011 Swimsuit Issue--- Thoughts on "Curvy" and Body Talk

This weekend, Candice and I went and saw "Just Go With It," and I have to say, we laughed so hard we cried during some scenes.  It was that funny.  Jennifer Aniston, Adam Sandler and movie newcomer, model Brooklyn Decker were awesome together.  Definitely a feel-good and hilarious movie. 

I was thrilled when Sports Illustrated released their 2011 swimsuit issue this week and even happier that Brooklyn Decker, one of my favorite models (ever!) was in this year's issue (she was last year's cover girl, but it seems SI is switching out some of their regular models lately so I was hoping she would still be in it).  Speaking of which, where the heck is Marissa Miller? She's not doing Victoria's Secret or SI anymore?

Here's a few of my favorite Brooklyn shots (all images are from si.com)

Obsessed with this bikini!  I tried to find it online but it's not part of the current collection.

Now, the real reason I wanted to post about the SI issue is because of a debate that went on today on a message board about the SI models and their bodies.

I always loved SI's approach of selecting their models, because, from my perspective, they have more achievable and athletic bodies than runway and high fashion models. What I should clarify here, is that I mean their bodies are relate-able/achievable/realistic for me. I'm tall, I have a long torso, I have wider hips, I work out regularly. For me, these model's bodies are a representation of what I feel I could accomplish with a lot of hard work and healthy eating.

It seems my comment sparked a little bit of debate, especially when I said I liked how curvy the models were---particularly Brooklyn Decker, Esti Ginzburg and Jessica Gomes. 

Here's the thing. It's all semantics---everyone has a different way of assigning meaning to a word.  For some, curvy means thin girls with boobs and hips, for others it means a plus-sized woman and for others, Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez would fit their definition of "curvy."

The point is, because we have different definitions of the word, people can have strong feelings when the word is used in a way they can't relate to.  For example, I always considered myself curvy because I tend to carry my weight in my lower body.  Some people would think I'm crazy to define myself as curvy, but that's how I feel about my body. I think a lot of the SI models have gorgeous curves. Yes, they are all thin---but they have larger breasts and thighs and stomachs that aren't ripped with visible 6 packs (or so bony that they look emaciated.)  Is that everyone's definition of curvy? No. But it's part of mine---I believe that everyone from some of the SI models to Beyonce to Jennifer Lopez to Kim Kardashian to Crystal Renn are all curvy.

There isn't just one definition to me. "Curvy" encompasses too many body types to make one body the definition of the very word.

I was reading an article featuring Allure Editor Linda Wells in the New York Times recently and she was quoted saying:

“I don’t want to photograph skinny models,” she said, “but they’re always going to be thinner than everyone else. They’re models. We recently shot Bar Refaeli, who’s more of a Victoria’s Secret kind of model, for the April issue, and she’s a woman with a body. She’s got curves. She’s got thighs.” 

I have always loved Bar Refaeli and also think she had a gorgeous, curvaceous body.  Some women would look at her and feel differently and that's okay. Remember, it's all about the meaning you assign to the word.

The debate also spun off into another topic---how women talk about their own bodies. I had someone contact me on my formspring page telling me that it offends her when I say that I am insecure about the size of my hips, because she is larger than me. You can read my response here.

I was taken aback by the comment because ALL women have body insecurities. As women, we need to support each other through those insecurities and not deny ourselves the right to express them.  Whether a woman is a size two or 22, she has the right to feel insecure about any part of her body. It would be unnatural NOT to have any insecurities. My major insecurity is my hips.  I don't hate my body or my hips, but I do wish they were a bit smaller.  It's just a little insecurity that doesn't affect my day to day life.

What's your take on the word curvy?  What do you think about women expressing their body insecurities?  When someone who is thinner or in better shape then you tells you about one of their insecurities, does it make you feel worse about yourself, or does it motivate you to work hard to reach your goals?  I'm obviously in the latter category.  When I see someone who I feel has a body that I would desire for myself, and it's someone who has similar proportions to me, I like to use that as inspiration to motivate me to keep working hard at the gym.

Please share your thoughts with me below!  I love reading your comments and appreciate everyone who takes the time to participate :)

xoxo,

Veronika.

Motivation Mondays: P90X Has Arrived & Clarisonic Update

Today, I froze my gym membership for 6 months (gasp!)

But but but...it's not because I'm not working out anymore, it's quite the opposite. I actually plan to work out more. Ever since January 1st, the 24 Hour Fitness I go to has been an absolute cluster. When I do attempt to go after work, I end up driving around the parking garage for 20 minutes circling around and around as me, and 20 other people look for parking spaces. Eventually I get frustrated and I leave.

Since I started doing Pilates at the studio I go to and seeing my personal trainer, I have found myself not missing the gym at all. I don't pay a ton for my monthly membership, but I thought it would be more productive to invest my fitness dollars into workouts I enjoy doing and that don't leave me circling a parking garage for 20 minutes only to not get a workout in anyways (because, trust me, driving in circles is not a workout no matter how many times you circle 'round.)

My husband started a new job, so he's also been finding it hard to get a workout in during the week. He ordered P90X and we are going to do it together at home. The DVD's arrived today and we did one of the UML workouts (and by "did" I mean "attempted to do 40% of it.)

We watched the P90X introduction DVD and I did some of my Pilates moves while I watched it, trying to be as productive as possible. Then we popped in the UML workout and like I said, tried to do about 40% of it. P90X has a lot of reps. Like 30. It was difficult.


To make the first workout even more difficult, the host (Tony Horton) is completely annoying. He has these stream of consciousness-type thoughts and expressions he spews out during the workouts. I don't know what the other videos are like, but the poor guy is kind of annoying, and I just want him to stop making random comments. He also likes to take jabs at people like "...and if you get fat, then you'll feel depressed, and then you'll eat bad foods and then you'll get fatter and die sooner." Thanks Tony.

Here's the other thing about P90X- it's definitely NOT for beginners. You definitely have to already be in somewhat decent shape (IMO) to start these videos. They are very challenging and fast-paced. It is an intense workout (I work out pretty regularly and I couldn't do the entire workout.) I guess you could try to do them as a beginner, but you'd probably feel like you were hit by a bus for several days after doing just the first workout.

Having said that, I think these workouts are great to have for that same reason- they are intense and you can do them at home. It's like learning all these great moves from a trainer but on your TV. I will give updates on how I'm doing with the P90X.

Keep in mind that I probably won't follow the workouts daily. I still want to do Pilates at least twice a week, so I might sub that in on the days I don't do P90X workouts.

I also wanted to provide a Clarisonic update for anyone who has been interested in my progress. I really enjoy the Clarisonic. Now that I've been using it for nearly a month, I am finding my skin if softer, smoother, makeup stays on better/longer, and pores look smaller. I also just find my face feels cleaner, like it's more deeply cleansed. The only thing it has not cured (but has improved) is occasional redness/blotchiness. I still get that sometimes in certain areas. I am happy I got this brush and love using it at night before bed. Is it a must-have? I'm not sure because it's so pricey. I think after having used it, I can't imagine cleansing without it...but if you don't use it, then I guess you don't really know what you're missing, right?


It is part of my routine now and I can't imagine cleansing without it (kind of like when you start to use an electric toothbrush- you can't ever go back to a manual, it's an inferior teeth-cleaning experience.)

Have you tried P90X? Do you find Tony Horton as annoying as I do? Let me know in the comments below (by the way, I don't mean he is annoying in a disrespectful way, I think he is talented and puts together great workouts. I could just go without his random comments...oh and one of the girls in the video is named "Veronica" so he's always saying my name too...ugh!)

xoxo,

Veronika.

P.S. - On Sunday at church, the sermon was so incredible that I had to share it with you all. Sometimes I really feel like God is listening to me and he knows exactly what I need to hear. Basically the sermon was about avoiding letting negative people into your life, and remaining positive no matter how negative someone is, day in, and day out. It also talked about blossoming (like a flower) even if you are amongst weeds. So keep positive, happy and be kind even if someone is not this way towards you. The pastor also said "some people just don't want to be happy" and I finally realized that was true.