For those of you who have 6-pack abs, I commend you. Really. Nothing screams “hard work” like washboard abs. However, for the other 99.5% of the population, including myself, we have never had perfect abs and never will. Maybe I had them once because I was 14 years old but I can barely remember that far back.
I have noticed that some of the young athletes out there are working toward a goal of 6-pack abs. To which, I ask: Why? I mean, why are 6-pack abs even a thing? A person can be perfectly healthy and physically fit and never have “abs.” I, for one, say let’s do away with unattainable goals, especially for our youth. Let’s replace it with reasonable goals like cutting out sugary foods and drinks; moving around every day; and trying a sport you’ve never done before.
Here is what a review of my Pinterest feed on “abs” tells us one must do in order to get a 6-pack, and I am summarizing: First, follow a clean diet. Ok, I am supposed do to that anyway because of my high cholesterol. But “clean diet” translates to 3 oz. of chicken and a giant tub of kale. Pass. If “eating clean” means giving up tamales (it does), then count me out.
Next, “Perform cardio in the morning for six consecutive days and lift most afternoons or evenings. For the best results, do it first thing in the morning before breakfast.” Listen, I love rowing, and rowing is cardio, but I am not going to do it every day before breakfast. I LOVE breakfast and I especially love coffee. Give that up to do cardio? I can’t even contemplate that kind of negativity in my life.
As for lifting: the most lifting I am going to do, other than lifting boats, is hauling my 11- year old’s ridiculously oversized backpack into the car twice a day. Seriously, what the heck is in that thing? I have always secretly wondered if Lands End sews weights into their backpacks to prank the parents of America.
But wait, there’s more. There is then a list of all kinds of abdominal exercises I have never even heard of, like the “hack squat” and the “decline incline reverse Smith machine jackhammer blah blah”. I’m sorry, but these sound like they are dangerous to your health. Yes, if you are on a varsity team, you are going to have to do that kind of stuff. But for the rest of us, be serious. From the moment I wake up all I can think about is when I can go back to bed. Second choice is when can I sit down and rest. After a long row, I do not want to do incline decline reverse anything. I want to take a hot shower and plant my butt in my easy chair. At which time, I will turn on my heated massage pad and then read a book on my iPad or watch Netflix. I tend to read and watch things that make me laugh. Out Loud. While eating tamales.
I would like to be able to press a button where I am not inundated with images of other people’s unattainable 6-pack abs. And I would especially like it if kids weren’t bombarded with those images as well. To the youth of America, I say: Eat the Tamale! Because you can be physically active and eat your tamale too.
Have a great day everyone and, as always, remember to Count Your Blessings! <3 Mrs. Lo
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