Why do you do what you do?

Smile. Let the light within shine. ~ self-portrait project by PJ Schnyder on Tumblr

It was interesting to see an old email pop up all over FaceBook, with various reactions from the people posting.

The email itself had an important message: a woman's choice to embrace her curves and that while the media might label her a whale, she was ok with it and why.

Some pointed out, it could put the idea of going to the gym and working out in a negative light. It could be seen as critical towards those who pursue an active and healthy lifestyle working toward a specific physique. It dismissed the lovely as lonely and sad with no sex life, prone to split personality and even smelly.

Others strongly supported the main message – curves are beautiful. It's true that the media promotes an unrealistic, mythical image of extremely thin airbrushed bodies.

What bothered me, honestly, was some of the supporters – people who often posted about the work out they hated to do, but had to, or the latest trendy diet they were going on. The ones who posted in a grumpy way about how it's a f*'n diet, so please stop trying to get them to refer to it as a lifestyle change. The message wasn't for them really, because they're not okay with what they are. They're using the very beautiful message as a defense, an excuse for why they're still not happy with what they see when they look in the mirror.

I work out to stay as healthy as I can, try to get fit to feel good inside – outside is a side effect, and I train in mixed martial arts because I'm a fighter. If someone says, "You don't look sick." It's a WIN.

No defense. No excuse.

I'm not as worried about how I look, but how I feel. And pursuing a healthy lifestyle makes me feel good.