Even the Elite Find Flaws

I've been struck by an article I read last week by Olympic gold medalist, Shawn Johnson. We often look at elite athletes as being in such awesome shape that they must be proud of their bodies. It seems that the struggles with body image extend to many people, including Shawn.

Here's an excerpt:

Four years ago, I was standing on an Olympic podium, wearing a gold medal, and still thinking to myself how I could have been better. It had nothing to do with my performance — it was all how I looked. Back then, I always felt like I could have been a few pounds lighter. But the irony is, when I look back at the pictures, I look unhealthy and too thin. It's easy to get into a trap as an elite athlete, because you're made to feel that you're never perfect, that you can always be better. That's how you improve in your sport, but it's also tough because you aren't satisfied with yourself ever — it's second nature not to be. I'd always think, "Just get a little stronger, a little lighter," until it was completely ingrained in my mind. (Read entire article here.)

What struck me even more is that she goes on to talk about the scrutiny she had over her weight when she appeared on the television show, Dancing with the Stars. It's easy for us sitting in our living rooms to silently judge what other people on television look like, yet it's not always easy for us to remember that we would be devastated if people were to say the same things to our faces in real life.

Source: Uploaded by user via Daniell on Pinterest

We spend so much time nagging ourselves about our bodies, it's time we start recognizing what we DO like. So please share if you feel so inclined: What is one thing you love about your body?