Aerobicmom: What it’s all About: Part 3

Posted on 18. Dec, 2009 by Becky in Love Your Body

Okay, this week’s blog posts are actually an assignment from my blogging expert husband, (and actually came from Problogger, Darren Rowse).

And the assignment is this: an elevator pitch.  Basically, an elevator pitch is a concise, but thorough “mission statement” that explains what your blog is all about.  The idea is that if you were in an elevator and somebody asked you about your blog, you could explain it to them in the amount of time you had before either of you reached your floor.  This is something I’ve actually wanted to do for some time, because as I’ve stated before, I believe that the WHY behind we do changes everything.

So, here goes.  In case any of you have been wondering who I am talking to, what I am talking about, and why I am talking in the first place, it all comes back to my tag line.

Aerobicmom.com

Real Moms.  Real bodies.  Real perspective.

Today, we’ll talk about:

Real perspective

For me, the defining moment of my life was my struggle with anorexia.  It caused me to deeply reflect on what health and wellness means, and forced me to acknowledge the role of balance in my life.  I have lived my life in two extremes:

Wisconsin–extremely laid back!

Utah–extremely high strung!

Both of these cultures have good aspects.  I love the relaxed feeling I get when I visit home in Wisconsin.  I take a step off the airplane and feel like I can finally breathe!  People are so friendly, genuine, and easy-going.  I never worry about what others might think.  It is wonderful.

In Utah, I love being surrounded by so many truly amazing people.  It humbles me and pushes me to be more and to be better.  I love that it’s just a part of the norm to see people out jogging and living a healthy lifestyle.  People are quick to serve others, strong in their convictions, and driven to achieve.  It is wonderful.

However, both of these cultures have their health & wellness drawbacks.  In Wisconsin, the drawback is health.  Obesity is the norm.  I grew up eating whatever I wanted, and fully expecting to be fat, because I thought, “Aren’t all adults fat?”  It was just something that happened to you.  I was at the high end of the normal weight range for my height when I decided to take control but went too far and spiraled down into anorexia at the age of 18.  I have since seen my dad, my hero, the guy I respect more than anyone else in the world, balloon to over 400 pounds.  I have seen how this has affected his day to day life, his energy, his spirit.  It is breaking my heart.

In Utah, the drawback is wellness.  There is a pressure to push yourself to the limit in so many aspects, and this includes fitness and appearance.  With my past struggles, I am all too aware of the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical ramifications of pushing too hard.  The fact that Utah has been found to lead anti-depressant use in the nation by almost double is a testimony to the fact that there are hearts breaking here, too.

In the end, both cultures need to find a healthy and livable balance, and so do each of us.  My perspective may at times seem to be at odds, but it’s because you can see I’m coming from 2 different vantage points.

In one vein, I don’t want people to be what I almost was, someone that doesn’t even think twice about what they’re eating, thinks the idea of exercising regularly is ridiculous, and expects to die young from obesity-related illness.

On the other hand, I don’t want people to do what I did, living day to day with so much anxiety over their weight and appearance that it gets in the way of living a normal life.

I’m hoping I can reach at least one of you on either end and bring you closer to the middle, where we can all live the fullest and happiest life we are capable of.

So that’ s my story and I’m sticking to it.  In the end, if I never make a dime from this blog, I will still love it and will still write, because I want you to know that I’ve been there.  And if I can help even one person who has struggled the way I have to know that they are not alone, that they are enough, and that there is hope for a better, happier life ahead, then it’s well worth my time.

So that’s me,

Aerobicmom

Real moms.  Real bodies.  Real perspective.

And I’m here for you.  Please share your perspective and insight on all my posts.  You never know who may need to hear it.