No Such Thing as the "Perfect Body" | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

No Such Thing as the "Perfect Body"

Embrace what you were born with because it's absolutely beautiful.

498
No Such Thing as the "Perfect Body"

Every day people read magazines: in their homes, doctor’s offices, or in the check-out line at Walmart. These magazines not only provide useless gossip about celebrities, but they also portray a false reality as to what the “perfect body” looks like. Most articles written on this topic, however, only focus on women and weight loss, but I am going to speak on each sex equally.

For women, it’s all about having large breasts and a huge butt, while still maintaining a thigh gap and small mid-section. The number of women who can actually pull this off is probably about 1 in 1,000. The problem with magazines, TV, and other media is that they give us all a fake reality of what a perfect body looks like, especially for women. Women are known to not only struggle with their weight more so than men, but they are also more insecure about it. That’s why these magazines are so harmful to a woman’s sense of self. It drives all of their confidence into the ground because when a thigh gap becomes the societal “norm,” it also becomes something they constantly compare themselves to. Unfortunately, this alone is why many woman believe they are not pretty enough or good enough to gain the attention of a good man.

However, men don’t have it so easy either. There is constant pressure for men to be overly fit, gym rats. The idea of a “sexy” man in today’s society is one who has the abdominal “V,” massive pecs, and biceps that can bench 200 pounds…but this isn’t necessarily important. Sure, being fit is a great thing to look for in both a man and a woman. It shows that they care enough about their appearance to at least eat healthfully and take care of themselves. However, in today’s world, it has become something we depend upon. The phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover” has become completely irrelevant because that is all we do. We no longer look for the good in everyone, but look for good muscle tone. We no longer look for a good personality, but “does she have a nice rack?” We don’t even care how they treat us any more, just as long as they’re society’s definition of “hot.”

This is what is wrong with our society. What matters is on the inside of a person, not the outside. And not only is this applicable to finding a mate, but also to looking at yourself in the mirror. The purpose of this article isn’t to tell you to settle for average, but it is to push you to be your own kind of beautiful and stop comparing yourself to a Victoria’s Secret Angel or Calvin Klein underwear model. These are people that are physically elite and fit, not what the average person looks like, or should look like for that matter. So please, embrace what you were born with, because it’s absolutely beautiful.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

2485
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less
Jenna Pizzi and her mom smiling by a waterfront with a historic ship in the background.
Jenna Pizzi

There is always a time in the semester when you have about three papers, four tests, five assignments and two projects due within the same time period. Isn't that just the best?

It's almost as if the professors all plot against you just to make college even more stressful than it already is. No matter how many people try to make you feel better, no one ever compares to your mom. Moms always know exactly what to say.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Jobs Your Roommate Has

She's got your back with everything that college throws at you.

2174
Cristina Yang and Meredith Grey in scrubs sit against a wall, smiling and enjoying a break.

If you are anything like my roommate and I, you have a friendship with your roomie. You’re lucky to have gotten a roommate that is easy to get along with and more importantly cool to live with. Whether you found her on Facebook or went random, a roommate is a big part of life in college. This list goes through some of the jobs that a roommate has that help you get through college.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

35 Things I Wish I Learned In My Freshman Year Of College

Just some relatable college student advice! Yes, you aren’t the only one!

1746
Towson University
YouTube

Freshman year can either be the greatest year, or the roughest year. It depends on your transition and how you adjust. For me, freshman year in college was one of the best years of my life. However, looking back, there are a few things that I wish I learned.

Now that I am a sophomore, I can finally do things a little differently. Here are a few things that I wish I learned my freshman year of college!

Keep Reading...Show less
Woman in field with a red heart-shaped balloon under a colorful sky.

Being single can be great and awful at the same time. Yeah, it's awesome to have time to yourself to figure out who you are and make your own decisions. It would also be nice to have someone to go through life with, but it needs to be the right person. I haven't found that person yet and here's a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments