As a good friend of mine once said, "Spandex is a privelege, not a right." Before any of you accuse me of throwing stones from my glass co-op, I must clarify. The other day, while making my way from the lockerroom to the classroom, I noticed a gentleman in the same "short shorts" that I always wear when I teach class or work out. I thought to myself, "Man, he has nice legs." A few steps later, I walked by a middle-aged lady also wearing the same "short shorts" that I wear plus a tight sleeveless t-shirt and thought, "She looks good for any age."

As I continued my walk to the exercise studio, I passed a person who was doing bicep curls who also was wearing "short shorts". I took note of his ghostly-pale legs and throbbing vericose veins (not to mention his thick ankles) and thought to myself, "Why, oh why, did I have to see that?!?!?!?"

Just a note: if you are going to wear revealing attire, please have the body for it. I am not advocating placing undue stress on oneself to adhere to some unattainable body ideal. What I am saying is that if you do not have the "body" to wear a midriff-baring shirt, THEN PLEASE REFRAIN FROM DOING SO!

I don't think that the issue is with not having a pefect body. The issue is that there is a better way to show off your assets. I applaud the woman in my step class who is overweight but comes to class in a bra top and spandex shorts - such bravery should be rewarded. What I would like her to do is put on a T-shirt. I am one of those persons who would rather not see her jiggling body. If and when she loses the weight and tightens up her body, she is more than welcome to take class in only a bra top and spandex shorts. Until then, STOP! Which made me think:

Why do we have a hard time looking at people's imperfections? Is it really grotesque? Does it remind us of our own imperfections and the hardships we go through to hide or change such imperfections? Are we offended by the self-confidence they have to put on outfits that don't hide their flaws? Or are we just jealous of it? If these people are confident with their bodies, shouldn't we applaud them for not falling prey to the societal pressure of having a supposed perfect figure?

If you have the answer to any of the above questions, you can find me at the gym working out to keep my "short spandex shorts" priveleges. Later.  ¶ 3:23 PM