Do You Know What the Average Woman's Body Really Looks Like?
By: Jen Mueller,
SparkPeople Blogger
6/23/2009 2:17 PM
: 236 comments
I've blogged before about my struggles with a post-baby body. Even though that was in February and my son is now 6 months old, I continue to have body image issues. The tradeoff is worth it, but it's still hard for me to accept that my body will probably never again look like it did before I had 2 children.
One area that's particularly frustrating is my belly. And judging from comments and questions I see on SparkPeople's Message Boards, I'm not alone. Every day there are lots of people (mostly women) asking how they can flatten their tummies. Many have had children, but some haven't. Most aren't expecting a 6-pack, but they would like to be able to button their jeans without the "muffin top" coming out over the top of the pants. I would put myself into this category.
Two health educators have started a blog called The Belly Project. The idea is to help women gain more self-acceptance of their bodies (specifically, bellies) by sharing anonymous pictures for the whole world to see. The pictures of their bellies are accompanied by information about them (age, and number of pregnancies, miscarriages and abortions they have had). When the project began, the originators asked family and friends to show their bellies and pose for the camera. Many were hesitant, but as soon as they saw some of the other pictures already posted, they felt more at ease.
For some reason, I'm fascinated with these pictures. Maybe it comes from my fixation on my own belly, but it's nice to see that bellies come in all shapes and sizes. I can identify with some of them more than others (because they look more or less like me), but in the end, everyone is unique and no two bellies look exactly the same. So instead of being upset that I don't have the abs of a fitness model, maybe it's time to embrace my belly for what it is- my own.
I think I'm also fascinated because I'm not used to seeing what real women's bellies look like. We've become so accustomed to the airbrushed and Photoshopped pictures on the covers of magazines, that it's easy to forget those images aren't real. Stretch marks, loose skin, some extra weight--that's what the average woman really looks like. It's no wonder we feel bad about ourselves.
What do you think? Is your belly a source of frustration for you? Does The Belly Project help you embrace the uniqueness of your body?
One area that's particularly frustrating is my belly. And judging from comments and questions I see on SparkPeople's Message Boards, I'm not alone. Every day there are lots of people (mostly women) asking how they can flatten their tummies. Many have had children, but some haven't. Most aren't expecting a 6-pack, but they would like to be able to button their jeans without the "muffin top" coming out over the top of the pants. I would put myself into this category.
Two health educators have started a blog called The Belly Project. The idea is to help women gain more self-acceptance of their bodies (specifically, bellies) by sharing anonymous pictures for the whole world to see. The pictures of their bellies are accompanied by information about them (age, and number of pregnancies, miscarriages and abortions they have had). When the project began, the originators asked family and friends to show their bellies and pose for the camera. Many were hesitant, but as soon as they saw some of the other pictures already posted, they felt more at ease.
For some reason, I'm fascinated with these pictures. Maybe it comes from my fixation on my own belly, but it's nice to see that bellies come in all shapes and sizes. I can identify with some of them more than others (because they look more or less like me), but in the end, everyone is unique and no two bellies look exactly the same. So instead of being upset that I don't have the abs of a fitness model, maybe it's time to embrace my belly for what it is- my own.
I think I'm also fascinated because I'm not used to seeing what real women's bellies look like. We've become so accustomed to the airbrushed and Photoshopped pictures on the covers of magazines, that it's easy to forget those images aren't real. Stretch marks, loose skin, some extra weight--that's what the average woman really looks like. It's no wonder we feel bad about ourselves.
What do you think? Is your belly a source of frustration for you? Does The Belly Project help you embrace the uniqueness of your body?
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Comments
I MUST get my photos upped to the Belly Project!
I would like to see more women post photos who are older and whose bodies have gone through a lot of life.
Very refreshing, and makes me feel more accepting of my body which is NOT the type we see in film and on magazine covers. - 5/10/2013 11:10:12 PM
Whether a belly is fab or flab, I think we need to focus on what we CAN do to change the situation and accept what we can't.
I had 3 kids (youngest is 17) and recently lost 20 lbs. I am working out and focusing on core exercises. I haven't felt so good in 15 years and I'm not sure I looked much better then. My belly has improved a lot with exercise but excess skin sometimes needs surgery or just acceptance. No point in comparing. - 11/3/2011 5:42:49 PM
- 11/2/2011 9:23:32 AM
i hate how the world runs on all this crap, making every girl, and possibly guys (i dont know), feel self conscious and hate everything about themselves. i know for a fact that i would feel so much better if people used these photos instead. that model on the top right of the site, i mean really?! go away! i hope that i can help get things like the photo above more famous. i dont understand why no one has done that yet. well maybe someones tried, but still. come on everybody! - 11/28/2010 1:30:29 AM
I LOVE MY BATTLE SCARS - 5/2/2010 11:54:05 PM
I hate my belly and I don't think pictures of other people's bellies will help me love mine! That's how I feel about mine. I glad others are able to embrace and love theirs but I can't save money fast enough to get rid of mine. - 5/2/2010 2:21:01 AM
In times past, a round, full belly was considered most beautiful, a sign of vitalty and health!
This is why paintings such as Botticelli's Venus have women depicted with protudIng bellies. - 4/30/2010 9:03:15 AM
I also like to look at classical art to make myself feel better. Nothing like seeing the picture of Venus and realizing not even her belly is perfectly flat to give you a self esteem boost. :-) - 4/28/2010 10:51:34 AM
When I was pregnant with my son, I was told by the doctors at my clinic that if I did not gain at least 20 pounds they would not deliver me, but turn me over to the residents at the hospital. This scared me to death, but try as I might, I could only gain 19 pounds. Needless to say, they did not turn me over to the resident, but told me that they often needed to scare women into gaining a healthy weight durning pregnancy. I lost my baby weight fairly quickly but then I turned 30 and it has been a major strugle since then.
I have gone from a woman's size 18 slacks/jeans to a juniors size 14, up from a size 12 a year ago. I am still a 1 or 2 XL in tops (maybe my big tummy is good - it gives my boobs a place to rest when I take my bra off at night!).
I can see from the photos I am better of than some in the belly area, but worse of than others. - 7/3/2009 11:38:19 PM
for now i need to love this one... no kids but it's not where i would like it to be...
thanks for this site... i do want to share two photgraphy books that i have that show case naked bodies of all ages and sizes and they have really helped me work on accepting myself as I am... highly recommend them:
Bodies and Souls - The Century Project
This Is Who I Am
- 7/3/2009 9:42:55 AM
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