Dooley Noted: 4/23/2014
Fitness professionals love to show their abs as a sort of motivator, I suppose.
I’m not sure I get it.
Then again, I am new to the fitness world. I am first, and foremost, trained as a chiropractor, specializing in movement rehabilitation and clinical anatomy.
As an anatomist, the best quality abdominal muscles I see on specimens are usually on obese cadavers. These cadaver patients had to carry around much weight, so the muscles are supple and strong.
Academically, I know visualizing abdominals is largely about the abdominal bodyfat percentage seen directly under the skin.
It’s not a simple measure of work or discipline. It’s just the rectus abdominis muscles, and how much adipose covers them. Nothing less, nothing more.
This picture is the current state of my abs.
They’ve been more defined. They’ve been less defined.
How do they speak to you?
Some might find them motivating.
Others might call them flabby.
It certainly depends on your own standards.
Let me tell you what I see.
I look in the mirror and I no longer see just a body I am picking apart – abs, glutes, face, whatever.
I see a woman I respect.
I see a woman who lost 1/3 of her bodyweight at age 20 and has never fluctuated more than 7 pounds in 15 years since the loss.
I see a woman that put herself through hell in her youth to be as thin as possible.
I see a woman that almost let this hell kill her.
I see a woman who has survived and thrived, despite inducing hardship upon herself.
I see a woman who is dedicated to helping others obtain a healthy body image.
I see a woman that doesn’t have to break herself to build herself back up.
I see a woman who doesn’t count every calorie consumed or burned.
I see a woman who doesn’t get grouchy if she is hungry, and no longer obsesses about food.
I see a woman who doesn’t get moody if her gym workout doesn’t happen, because she knows her life is the training session.
I see a woman who works out because she feels powerful, not because she wants to burn away things.
I see a woman who eats dessert (gasp!) on occasion, and never feels the least bit bad about it since no evil foods exist.
I see a strong, focused, happy, pain-free, and inspired woman that I love.
Her abs are just along for the ride.
I hope you see yourself as more than a set of abs, no matter how they look.
I hope you look for much more in that mirror.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley