Want to drive me crazy? Pin a few of these.

Hey.

Well, I'm not doing so hot on the writing every day challenge.  Oh well.  We'll get through them someday, guys.


Today I not only have permission, I am directed to go on a rant about something that bugs me.  Alrighty then.  Let it begin.  
While I wouldn't call myself a health nut, much to Jered's dismay, or an endlessly dedicated workout junkie, over the last few years, I have grown to care about being fit.  It started out as going on jogs a few years ago, just trying to stay active.  More of a preventative measure.  
During the last year and a half, thanks to Jered and a fabulous family that hired me as a nanny and employee at their gym, my ideas of health, fitness, and nutrition have changed drastically.  I still am not the best eater.  I really love junk food and pop.  However, the other day, rather than going for some ice cream, I opted for a green smoothie.  (Internal fist pump!)  
And while my lifting has dropped off drastically since moving, I am always conscious of how I treat my body, how quickly it returns to the pre-workout days' state, and am generally more in tune with what's going on with my body.  It really is a different world- a lifestyle.
So, this brings me to my current biggest pet peeve: Pinterest "thinspirations." 
Ugh.
The ones that I really, really loathe?






Ok- the first two aren't that bad because they're about getting "fit."  Bravo.  But, just "for summer?"  
You want to know what I knew, but nonetheless have experienced this last year?  If you're just trying to get fit for summer, you are literally wasting your time.  It's much better to make it a year round, non-stop lifestyle.  I'm finding that the treadmill would have made a world of difference if Jered had found it in the fall.  A tight pocketbook, and laziness contributed to far less working out during the colder months, and essentially undid much of the work I did last year.  (I'm well aware that I only have myself to blame though.)
Those last four pins, boy, they push my buttons.  I admittedly have very often fallen prey to that mindset, and that is why I'm so grateful to my Skokie family for continually pounding into my head how much better and more important it is to be fit, healthy, and strong, rather than skinny.
I also really hate when people continually pin grossly skinny, unattainable, and unhealthy looking bodies to their "thinspiration" boards.  Maybe it's a little hypocritical of me to say all this since I'm a fairly new convert to the fitness-minded world, and not necessarily a strong follower.  If so, I apologize.  However, I suppose part of the reason I hate those pins so much is because they are so easily influential, and it is so easy to fall back into having a horrible self image.  
I struggle horribly with that, but you know when I have felt the most confident?  Not when I was in my smallest jean size ever.  It was when I was my strongest.  My fittest.  My sweatiest.  
I even follow a couple fitness blogs.  However, I'm teaching myself not to get caught up in comparing myself to the writers, but to simply learn from their tips and practices.  I'm finding it a much healthier way of thinking.  (Although last night, I did in fact ask Jered if my, excuse me, butt looked wide in my jeans.)  It's a constant struggle, but I'm learning, and I don't need any of those stupid "skinny" pins to get in my way.  
So there, take that thinspiration pinners!  Knock it off!
Whew!  I feel better.
Ok, enough ranting.  Have a nice day!
Aim