I don’t think anyone can deny, six-packs are attractive. Ever since I was about 9 I wanted a six pack. I want this
It’s what most people consider, top physical shape. To me a six pack would give off confidence and in my younger years. Although my methods for trying to improve my body are considered healthy, my desire for the perfect self image was not healthy.
Almost every single teen: black, white, girl, guy, gay, straight has probably faced a self image problem. Girls for the most part want to look like Barbies while guys want to look like the models of Abercrombie and Fitch. I was no exception to a self image problem.
All through elementary school and middle school I would gain weight and not get much taller. I was quite overweight, yet with pictures of Abercrombie models everywhere I felt like I wasn’t good enough. I hated having such a fat face, neck, chest. I wanted a six pack to look good and fit in and have a good life, because clearly the Abercrombie models had a great life.
I tried counting calories, and working out but as a 4-7th grader I didn’t have much will power to go through with my intentions. Yet, I still felt like the sub par fat kid. It did awful things to my self esteem. Personally, I’m pretty outgoing but at school I was very shy and quiet and therefore wasn’t very good at making many friends(people still view me as the quiet kid but I’m trying to change that). In 8th grade I began to grow vertically which started to make me look thinner but I still looked leagues away from a Abercrombie model, I had no visible muscle but I was improving.
As I grew older I began to have more will power, I swam more, ate better, my body improved marginally. Still not enough and it still hurt my self esteem thinking I wasn’t good enough, therefore I didn’t improve much in the friend department.
This summer a lot happened. I hung with the right people, in the right places, and somewhat changed how I think. I don’t need to impress everyone and I don’t need to please everyone. This helped me not only come out, but I began working out not to impress others but to impress myself. I wanted a better body for my confidence and health. And with this switch my body changed as well. I began to get leaner and bulked up in the right places like my arms. In turn I felt more confident and it shows.
Although I still don’t have a six pack I’m nearing it. A personal goal of mine is to have a six pack by Xmas. I’ll let you all know how that goes.
I want to adress those who also struggle with their own image. I understand the pressures of having the perfect body. Don’t let them affect you. We are perfect in our own way and we have nothing to be ashamed of. Embrace yourself because you have to live with yourself! If you want to change your image I encourage you to do it for you, not to impress or conform.
Thanks for reading guys! You all are awesome and beautiful!
the transpiration of andrew 