I think I was about 12 or 13 when I first noticed that the skin on the back of my thighs, my butt and hips was different. I don’t know when it started, but all of a sudden there were these ripples that seemed to cover my backside. The ripples were a little darker than the rest of my complexion. They sort of looked like little bruises. I asked my mom about them. “Stretchmarks,” she said. “All it means is that you are growing.”
A couple of years later I noticed them forming around my knees. That was also about the time that I started to compare my bodies to the other girls in my gym class. I started to feel a little self-conscious. The stretchmarks on my bum were of no consequence. Remember, I wasn’t allowed to wear a bathing suit without shorts. Nobody was going to see that. The marks on my knees were more visible. Everyone else’s skin was still so smooth. How?! Well, they weren’t growing as quickly as I was or they weren’t growing at all. My young teenage mind didn’t think that way.
During my freshman year of high school I noticed that my assistant basketball coach had stretchmarks around her knees too. She was about 6’0 feet tall and absolutely beautiful. At the time I think I was 5’9” which is considered tall for an adult woman, never mind a 14 year old. I didn’t think I would grow to be as tall as she was, but seeing her stretchmarks made me feel like I was in good company. I had nothing to worry about.
Enter college.
Enter cellulite.
To be honest the cellulite was probably there in high school. I didn’t notice it until I was in college. I think it was after my first spring break trip. We got back to campus and everyone was uploading their pictures to facebook. One of my friends caught a good shot of me from the back. I was on the beach looking out at the water. I was wearing a modest, one piece swimsuit. My butt was HUGE. It stole the show and apparently the bottom half of my swimsuit. You could see every little thing. I told her she couldn’t post that picture. I was exposed and ashamed.
After that I tried countless things to get rid of my cellulite. I tried different creams and lotions. I did all the workouts that focus on busting fat and building muscle. I ran countless miles, stairs and hills, did donkey kicks, squats, deadlifts, etc., etc., etc. Thus far, nothing has ever changed the appearance of the skin on my thighs and bum.
One day I came across this article about Serena Williams, pre-baby. She is pictured on the beach in a swimsuit. We all know Serena has BAWDY honey. As I took in all of her glory I noticed the same little dimples on her bum that I saw on mine. After that I started to care a whole lot less about this so-called cellulite. Once again, I realized I was in good company.
One of my #bodygoals was to have legs like Kathy Drayton, but now it’s just loving my legs a little more just the way they are. I’m blessed with this heavenly body that is capable of amazing things. My stretchies and cellulite will be with me forever. My skin will never have an airbrushed appearance. I’m learning not to care. I’m still eating these vegetables and drinking this water and lifting these weights because I love my body and love is a verb.
Happy Hump Day! Haha – That’s punny
Reva's Remix 