Do you think the fitness industry helps create positive body messages for girls?
I think the fitness industry does a very good job of talking about real people with real bodies and how those people got their bodies in shape. Many magazines cover how real girls and women get in shape on their own. I think the fitness industry makes it a point to say that it's not about having a "perfect" butt or a flat stomach; it's about having a healthy body that makes you feel good about yourself.
How can the fitness industry help girls understand that healthy doesn't equal skinny?
The fitness industry can do this through focusing on balance and not all on body. If you only hear about exercises and losing weight it is easy to equate healthy with skinny. However, when the industry focuses equally on the importance of eating and fueling your body, the message is on health over weight. I think visual images are also important, so when the models in magazines are healthy-looking women with toned muscles and some meat on their bones it sends a message that healthy is beautiful.
How did you learn to stop measuring yourself against other girls?
Through fitness I found things that I was good at and aspects of my body that I was proud of. Working out changed the way I looked and felt, and that allowed me to feel in control of my body. I felt confident that I had the ability to get my body in shape and that self-confidence made me feel good about myself. Instead of focusing on things that were out of my control, like what other girls looked like, I felt pride in the ability I had to get my body into shape. Through fitness I started to appreciate my body more and I focused on those aspects of it that I am the most proud of instead of focusing on what other girls have.
What type of exercise do you enjoy most? Why?
Anything with loud fun music is great. I love to run because I can do it anywhere. I also love to take classes because there is great energy when there are other people in the room with you working out. It makes the time fly and it's very motivating.
What other kinds of things would you like to try in the future?
It would be great to write more fitness books, especially ones aimed at young people. I would also love to do exercise videos. I'd really love to get into the media in broadcast journalism or working for a magazine. Eventually I want to get into politics.
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