I recall at some tender teen age standing in front of the mirror trying to discern if I had the coveted "thigh gap" -- daylight between the thighs when feet are together in a standing position. I think there was supposed to also be a gap between knees and calves as well as calves and ankles. I generally felt good about myself on this one. I have slender legs. That's because every calorie I eat rushes directly to my waistline and builds a permanent home there; A McMansion, so to speak.
So when I saw this story online today, I knew I was in trouble. There are certain Yoga poses where one reaches around to grab some other part of the body and I never quite make it. I've blamed it on assuming I have extraordinarily short arms, but if this story is correct and a woman's average arm length is 24 inches, well, that turns out to be my precise inner arm length from pit to longest middle fingertip. Still I was 9-1/2 inches short of successfully tickling my navel on this Belly Button Challenge. http://www.kirotv.com/news/lifestyles/health/people-are-taking-belly-button-challenge-see-if-th/nmdLs/
Isn't it crazy that this "test" is touted as indicating "good health" when it likely means anorexia, hyper-flexibility, or maybe a slender body with decent range of motion -- a body that just happens to be slim and bendy, but not necessarily healthy.
I'm glad I don't use these measures to determine my self-worth. I'm troubled that I even felt moved to try it. (NOTE: That naval piercing would likely go unnoticed on me....lost in the culdesac.)
At least, that's the view from here...©
That is crazy, unrealistic! The girl in the photo looks like she's got a dislocated shoulder. LOL
ReplyDeleteI feel as if these "health challenges" are in the same league as the "what is your wild animal personality type" quizzes that are on Facebook. Fun to take but really not meaning much. My latest "take the longevity quiz" Facebook challenge said I'd live to 114! Hah! I am waiting for the yoga pose - "kiss your elbow" . Even though I don't participate in Yoga - flexibility is important to me and I try to be sure I can stand erect then put my hands flat on the floor (my athletic triathlon son can't do that - because of inherent IN-flexibility - and I do a few similar stretches...but that is because I want to be strong - no beautiful. Thanks for posting this...always good to have a snicker or two among the awesome food-for-thought.
ReplyDeleteAccording to "the Atlantic" - as posted on MSN - It’s actually a test of shoulder flexibility, not fitness. The shoulder has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body. If you’re looking to impress people, just tell them that fact. (the rest of the article is humorous but I did like this factual explanation a lot)
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