Abzzzzzz

Hey, you know what I’m grateful for? Abs.

Abs are a THING for me—this long-standing goal, this pursuit of perfection, this symbol of a better life.

It came to a frenetic finale as my quest for abs went public, with Cali and I proclaiming that we’d have abzzzzz for Puerto Rico. We procrastinated on the execution of the dieting necessary for abs—everyone knows you cannot get them through exercise alone—to the point that I asked for an “8-Day Abs” meal plan (fish and veggies. not even chicken), which I loosely followed but also joked about with everyone … as I forked wedding cake into my mouth in New Orleans the week before the trip. We ventured so far as to get spray tanned with Joanie from Tanning Couture (see her—she’s profesh!) and that definitely enhanced what we got, but I’m pretty tan naturally and from days spent playing sports on the beach, so it wasn’t as dramatic as I’d hoped.

But you know why that is?

Because I actually have abs.

Abs you can see.

See?

You know what else is crazy about this? I KNOW THIS. I took fitness model photos for goodness sake. But that was after the crazy HCG diet whereas this is just … normal. (Well, as normal as a mirror selfie can be … and I’m so nervous about posting this pic!!) This is taken in Puerto Rico, after indulging in the best steak of my life, a steak so good I ordered more (amazing) bread to sop up all the sauce on my plate at the aptly-named Fat Cows in Rincon (if you go, you MUST go, although this link is telling me that the restaurant formerly known as Parrilleria Vacas Gordas (Fat Cows) is now Parrilleria Vacas Gauchas, which is a damn shame).

Someone told me I have strong girl abs, not skinny girl abs.

I didn’t know if I should be offended or excited (it’s been awhile since we’ve had a Compliment or Insult? story).

But I should be excited.

Could they be flatter, me be skinnier/trimmer/tighter/toned-er? Of course.

Could I learn how to pose better for mirror selfies? There are plenty of chicks on instagram for that.

But do they look fucking great?

Yep.

And do I get to feel good, work hard, play hard, while looking great? Yep. I’m giving up this particular pursuit of perfection—that skinny abs are somehow a symbol of a better life. Life would not be any “better” if I had a skinnier set of abs. It might be worse—no wine?!—but I wouldn’t be happier, or healthier, or more successful. I’d just have skinnier abs.

Consider #5 crossed off my 30 Before 30 list.

*this is not specifically part of the Love Your Body Challenge, but it’s all part of raising awareness and love for our bodies!