Recently, while getting ready for the day, my 7-year-old daughter, Ava, gazed at the back of my legs with a look of utter shock. As a natural worrier, I exclaimed, “What’s wrong?”
“There are bumps all over your legs,” she replied. “Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“Oh, that’s just cellulite,” I chuckled. “It runs in the family.”
Unfortunately, my attempt at humor flew over her head. Recognizing this as a moment to teach about body image, I found myself distracted by the stark bathroom lighting, questioning whether I needed immediate medical assistance.
“What is it, and why do you have it?” she pressed.
“It’s actually a good thing. It’s stored energy for when you might need it,” I explained.
“Stored energy?” she seemed doubtful.
“Um, well, it’s kind of like air bubbles under the skin.”
“Air bubbles?”
“Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what it is. Let’s just drop it.”
But Ava was clearly concerned, and her anxiety was now affecting me. Suddenly, I felt compelled to address something I had previously ignored.
“Is there a way to make it go away?” she asked.
“I suppose I could go to the gym,” I admitted.
“Why don’t you go to the gym?”
“Because…”
“We have a gym in our building, and you have workout clothes. You can go while I’m at school.”
With that, I realized I had just been handed a reality check by my own child.
Reflecting on my excuses for avoiding the gym, I remembered my NutriBullet is in storage, exercise exacerbates my rosacea, I need to shed ten pounds to fit into my fashionable stirrup leggings, and I lack a chic water bottle. The list went on—unshaved legs, the need for supportive sneakers, the absence of a workout playlist, dog walking duties, errands at Target, and of course, the never-ending laundry.
I thought about admitting that I wasn’t convinced the gym would solve my cellulite issue. But then Ava’s words echoed in my mind: “I have the biggest legs in my class, even bigger than the boys.”
This territory is fraught with danger and heartbreak. She’s starting to compare her legs to others; I never did that. She is concerned about her own body, unlike me, who rarely considered mine—hence the unexpected situation developing behind me.
I reassured her that everything is fine, that both of us are okay, and that everyone is perfect as they are. Nobody is suffering from cellulite.
And so, I laid out my gym clothes for the next morning.
For more insights into fitness and health, you might find this article on pregnancy and home insemination helpful, as well as this resource that focuses on self-insemination. If you’re curious about home insemination, check out this post for more information.