So Lucky? Naturally slim? 

Firstly I would like to start this post by saying that this is not in anyway meant to sound arrogant. I am not the thinnest person, or the fittest person, or the most toned person. I definitely have my 'problem' areas...or 'work in progress' areas as a like to refer to them...these are mainly the 'mummy tummy' and the pancake bum. But I am a slim person, I currently wear a uk dress size 8 which is what I was before I had my baby.
People have often felt the need to remark on this, saying things like 'You are so lucky you are naturally slim' now this is a pretty nice thing to say and could be taken as a compliment, but I don't really think my size or shape is anything to do with luck. I also don't believe there are many people (obviously people with medical conditions may be exceptions here) who are either 'naturally fat' or 'naturally slim'. Yes some of this is down to metabolism and there are people who do seem to burn calories faster than others, but for the majority of people I personally believe whether you are larger or slimmer is entirely your choice.

If I ate exactly the unhealthy foods that I wanted all of the time and if I didn't exercise reguarly then I don't think I would be a slim person. Being fit and healthy is about making the correct choices which aren't always the easy choices. Now I'm not for one minute saying slim equals healthy, it doesn't and everybody has a unique body shape, but if a person eats clean and the correct amount of calories and engages in physical activity regularly it's almost impossible that they will be fat.
When people say your body shape and size is purely down to the fact you are 'lucky' it disregards the effort that you know you put in to look that way (and be healthy). It also removes that persons accountabilty to themselves. By saying someone is slimmer or fitter than you because they are solely 'lucky' means that you don't believe there's any way that you yourself could achieve that, which is wrong. Anybody, can be healthy if they want to be it just takes some hard work and commitment. For some people, minor life changes like altering their diets and cutting out junk food would be all it takes. For others a complete diet and exercise overhaul would be necessary but I believe that we all choose the body we have with the food and exercise choices we make. Obviously anybody with a medical condition is an exception here and I know that nobody chooses to have this. 

I also experienced these comments when I became pregnant. People would remark on how little extra weight I put on during pregnancy or how I would just 'ping back' after I had my baby. Again I think people meant well saying these things but I chose not to use pregnancy as an excuse to eat whatever I wanted, for two reasons; firstly I wanted to eat really healthy, nourishing foods for my developing baby and secondly I knew after I had given birth I wanted to spend time recovering and enjoying being a new mum. I didn't want to have loads of excess weight to lose. I also believe that by exercising and remaining active whilst pregnant your body recovers quicker and I was able to start working out again two weeks after I had Rafe. Now I am lucky I had a pregnancy with no complications, and I know some women are not able to be too active during pregnancies or have to be on bedrest and I am not criticising anybody who either chooses or is unable to have an active pregnancy. I just want to make a point that before you look at somebody and immediately assume that they are just 'luckier' than you because they might be a bit fitter or a bit slimmer realise that you can achieve everything they have and even more if you want to. It's entirely up to you.

There's a phrase that 'you make your own luck' people who are successful in any way whether that be in their careers, in their physiques or in anything else in life have, the majority of the time worked hard for it. They have a clear image in their mind of where they want to be and they put in the effort and the commitment to achieve that and get there. I wouldn't say I personally am hugely successful in all areas of my life but the reason I love fitness, exercise and healthy eating is because it's something that if you commit to it and work hard at it, you will get results. I am a long way off where I want to be, but literally with every workout I do I feel myself getting closer to me goals. Taking progress photographs are an amazing way to show this and motivate yourself to carry on. 

So before we look at someone and judge them for being lucky for their achivements whatever they may be, just consider that person started somewhere too. They weren't always that fit, or in that job position, they more that likely just worked really hard to get there and you can too. It all just depends on how much you want it.

Jx
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