Find comfort in your skin: boost your confidence and shine brighter this summer - Brief Article - Editorial

Muscle & Fitness/Hers, August-Sept, 2002 by Joe Weider, Betty Weider

It's the middle of July, the middle of summer, and the middle of the most body-revealing time of year. How are you feeling? We hope you're holding your head high, proud of your accomplishments, and letting those around you know how comfortable you are in your own skin.

These are the attributes that make you glow and that single you out from being just another pretty face or a great body in a bathing suit. The confidence that you display makes you infinitely more beautiful than if you cover up shapely assets until you can satisfy someone else's definition of perfection. If your self-esteem has become a lagging area while you've been building your body, it's time to reprioritize how you develop your physique so it includes your self-image.

You work very hard to achieve your training goals. So instead of seeing only your flaws, celebrate your body! Try this tip shared on the forum at www.musclefitnesshers.com: Stand in front of a mirror and flex. Whether you flex your bi's, tri's, abs or quads, admire your hard-earned muscle. (This may sound silly, but we know many of you do this. It feels great, tight?) Your body is strong, and these muscles help you run, swim, bike and just plain move. You could go one step further and share your trophies with your friends and family.

If you have children, you probably delight in how uninhibited they are about showing off their bodies -- concern over our appearance is learned, not born. Take a lesson from the next generation, and shrug off that self-defeating inner dialogue that hampers your discovery of what your body can do. Go ahead, show off those muscles! Reveling in your strength is a 'truly beautiful thing.