You don't have a thigh gap?! .... {Gasp}

Hello, my name is Shelby and I do not have, what females are calling in this modern age, the glorious "thigh gap." And I am finally comfortable with saying it and actually meaning it.

A year ago, I secretly wanted it. I saw it on women I was pinning on Pinterest and thought to myself, "if only!" I see girls in the pageant system winning swimsuit preliminary awards and thinking to myself that I will never be able to achieve that because I don't have the best legs. I know now, such silly thinking. I've always struggled with thinking my lower curves are what I needed to lose {hellooo, where my body fat jumps to}. Ha, right. Again, quite silly. Such thinking comes from the pageant territory {I have such a love/hate relationship with the swimsuit competition}. It comes with being a perfectionist. It comes with a desire to join the modeling world {think J.Crew retail model, not runway model}. It comes with being a woman in the 21st century. Heck, it even comes with being a female, period. But mostly, it comes from allowing thoughts of not being "good-enough" to creep their way into my head. 

Its one thing if your natural body shape is more straight, less curvy, or you were born with petite limbs. It's another if you make it your goal {as I have done in the past} to center your whole exercise routine and dieting plan around how to get smaller legs. I use to let finding the perfect pair of jeans be measured by if they gave me slimmer looking curves and the thigh gap. I use to measure my body {sexiness} status by if I has smaller legs or not. And none of that is okay.

Most every 20- to 30-something girl I know have said something about this to or are dealing with it. It's all over my social media dash - Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook. Its a major issue that needs some serious addressing. What is an even bigger issue is the fact that middle school girls are now seeing and wanting the infamous thigh gap. That hit me hard recently. I don't want my little sisters {who are 13 and 15} thinking they have to have it. I am a role model. A role model who is wanting to promote self-esteem and confidence in yourself. Not just to my little sisters, but to every five year old princess, middle school lady, college girl, or business woman I come in contact. How can I encourage them to have confidence in their bodies if I am not doing the same? You too are a role model. Think of at least one person you have made a difference on. Got them in your head? Bet there are at least 100x more than you know about. But even so, that one person makes you a role model. And if you are a role model, what you do makes all the difference in the world.

Do you know who one of my favorite female figures is? Jennifer Lawrence. Do you know why? Because she loves, absolutely loves, her body and is so confident about the way she looks. She radiates confidence. She is my role model. {And come on, she is also Katniess Everdeen. Who couldn't want to be JL}

Also, on a side note... the only way to achieve a healthy body is to eat healthy, be active, and to mentally exercise. Don't let anyone lie to you letting you know diet pills are the way to go. Don't lie to yourself with cheat, quick methods to getting fit or reaching your fitness goals. Don't think skipping meals will benefit you by shrinking your waist - tried that one and trust me, it doesn't work because you body needs that fuel. Cheating never helps anyone, especially not in the long run. Even more so, because you and I are role models, what people see us do and hear us say is hugely influential on how they decide to do things. Trust me on that one too. Have fitness goals, but do not let them swallow you up or control you. It's hard not to at times, but try. Remember, you are a role model. People are watching you... what you say, how you act, what you watch, ect. How do you want to leave an impact on someone, even if its for the thirty seconds you come in contact with them?

I want to be strong. 

I want to be physically strong, but also mentally strong. No more of this talking myself down or comparing myself to others. I too want to radiate such strong confidence in myself. 

I want to have a strength in myself like no other.

After all, strong is the new sexy.

So, let me ask you... how can you be stronger?
What are your current fitness goals?
What are you doing to achieve them?
Who are your role models?
Why are they your role models?
How are you a role model for someone?

Take time to answer these for me! I love hearing how you have been inspired and how you are seeking to inspire others. Just post in the comment section below. And follow my pinterest board [BE: inspired] for more positive encouragement. 

I am good enough. You are good enough. Believe it. Claim it.