Fit Villains: Selfish, Shameless, Sassy, Fitness.

Oy…

I’m not someone who likes to comment on other people’s appearance. Basically, I’ve taken a stance that if we want to help body image issues, we need to stop talking about people’s bodies all together. And while there are a TON of comments on this story that comment negatively on how this woman looks after years of tanning, you won’t find those kind of comments coming from me. 

I DO have my own opinions, but I won’t focus on her appearance. Instead, I ask that we focus on health here. It’s enough of an issue on its own without resorting to name calling, right?

For YEARS, the downsides to tanning have been reported and cautioned. Despite a decline in popularity, MANY people still opt to fry their skin under the UV bulbs to get a healthy ‘glow’. There’s nothing healthy about it and tanning beds ARE addictive. It’s hard to break the habit and many people need more & more to get their ‘fix’. Skin cancer rates are CLIMBING and that ‘healthy tan’ desire from decades of beach babery is something we can now get with a spray or a bottle.

While the mother claims the child did not actually go under the lights, setting healthy examples for your children is not just a matter of what you tell them to do (or not do). It’s also a matter of being an example for them and making choices that mirror the lifestyle you want for them. Telling your child she’s beautiful, while simultaneously criticizing your body all the time can still send the message that bodies are things to be criticized.

Tan responsibly. Wear sunscreen outside. Get your glow from bronzers, spray tans and other non-cancer causing options. LOVE the skin you’re in.

Mom Taking 5-Year-Old Tanning Is Disturbing, But Her Tanned Face Is Even More Disturbing