• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Search
  • About
    • Press
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Oatmeal Recipes
    • Smoothie Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • How To Make Oatmeal + Whipped Banana Oatmeal
    • Overnight Oats
    • Smoothie In A Bowl
  • Nutrition
    • Top 10 Nutrition Posts
    • Healthy Mindset
    • Real Food
    • Weight Change
    • Becoming A Registered Dietitian
  • Organize
    • Shop Our Home
    • How To Declutter Your Kitchen Cabinets
    • Kitchen Organization Accessories
    • 5 Tips for Keeping a Clean House with Kids
    • NERD KERF
  • Beauty
    • My Beauty Routine
    • Products For Brighter Skin
    • How to Apply Skincare in the Right Order
    • Anti-Aging Line Review
    • Safer Sunscreen
    • Clean Beauty Essentials + Beautycounter Promo Code
  • Kids
    • Mazen’s Birth Story
    • Birch’s Birth Story
    • Birch’s Nursery
    • Baby Food Favorites
    • Favorite Baby Care Products
    • My Kids’ Favorite Toys
  • Life
    • Fitness
    • Wedding
    • Charlottesville
    • Travel
  • Shop

Kath Eats Real Food logo

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Search
  • About
    • Press
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Oatmeal Recipes
    • Smoothie Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • How To Make Oatmeal + Whipped Banana Oatmeal
    • Overnight Oats
    • Smoothie In A Bowl
  • Nutrition
    • Top 10 Nutrition Posts
    • Healthy Mindset
    • Real Food
    • Weight Change
    • Becoming A Registered Dietitian
  • Organize
    • Shop Our Home
    • How To Declutter Your Kitchen Cabinets
    • Kitchen Organization Accessories
    • 5 Tips for Keeping a Clean House with Kids
    • NERD KERF
  • Beauty
    • My Beauty Routine
    • Products For Brighter Skin
    • How to Apply Skincare in the Right Order
    • Anti-Aging Line Review
    • Safer Sunscreen
    • Clean Beauty Essentials + Beautycounter Promo Code
  • Kids
    • Mazen’s Birth Story
    • Birch’s Birth Story
    • Birch’s Nursery
    • Baby Food Favorites
    • Favorite Baby Care Products
    • My Kids’ Favorite Toys
  • Life
    • Fitness
    • Wedding
    • Charlottesville
    • Travel
  • Shop
You are here: Home / Nutrition / Body Image Like A Cavewoman

October 9, 2019

Body Image Like A Cavewoman

I was talking with a friend recently about body image. She had said she was “5 pounds heavier than normal” and didn’t know whether she should put the effort in to tone up again or just settle in where she was for a new phase of life.

I said to her: “Imagine you are a cavewoman. Would a caveman think you looked hot?”*

“Hell yes!” she said with a laugh.

Well that’s all that matters!

*or another cavewoman depending on their sexual preference!

Your Body From Their Perspective

Most people see your body as a normal, healthy body.

Would your doctor call you healthy? Fact: Doctors do not care about “the last 5 pounds.” They want to see someone who has a low risk of disease, good cardiovascular health, and a happy mental state. (I’m generalizing, but work with me.)

Would a survey of 100 people check “healthy” for you if they saw you in a party dress or your workout clothes? “Healthy” does not mean low body fat. The definition of healthy in the dictionary is “enjoying good health.” Enjoying is the most important word there.

Would a five year old notice if you put on a few pounds?

And you know that caveman would probably prefer you with some curves!

Think about your body as a human body in the context of the millions of years of humans. It’s only in the last few decades that we’ve gotten so strict with standards of abs and tricep definition and looking completely toned in a bikini. We go to extreme measures to alter the way we look: fasting, omitting entire food groups, saying no to things we crave. All so we don’t have a roll in our bathing suits or a little jiggle when we walk. We need to embrace NORMAL and normal involves some rolls and jiggles. We as a society need to learn to appreciate bodies for what they can do rather than how they look.

Drawing by Kylie @ Immaeatthat who has some great content about disordered eating and body image

Do you notice your pet’s shape?

We don’t look at our pets and critique their physique. Rather, we see them as animals with capable bodies to run, jump, and play. We would want to help our pets if they were so skinny that they were malnourished or so heavy they were having trouble with their joints, but if they are healthy, then we are happy. The middle 50% range is wide for animals. Why is it so small for us?

Change Your Perspective, Change Your Body Image

In 2019, we scroll Instagram, see ads on TV, watch celebs, read magazines. Images (many of them doctored) are coming at us at fast speeds. Cavewomen didn’t have much to compare themselves to. They didn’t even have mirrors (unless you count seeing their reflection in a pond.) They had no choice but to think about their bodies based upon how they felt. Did they feel good? Did they feel free of disease? Comparison will always be the thief of joy – even comparing yourself to yourself 10 years ago. If I feel self doubt creeping it, I just think about my caveman of a husband or my children or my dog and how they see me as ME. And then I go eat a meal that would make a cavewoman feel great!

Other Posts On Mindset

  • Revisiting Intuitive Eating
  • Nutrition: Keeping It Simple
  • Don’t Make Goals, Make Changes
  • What Are You Really Hungry For?
  • The Crossroads Of Happy And Healthy
  • It’s Easier To Add Than Subtract

More posts from Kath:

Filed Under: Healthy Mindset, Nutrition

Reader Interactions

Previous Post
I Like To Cook With Wine + Cozy Weekend Meals
Next Post
Home Neat Home: Manage The Paper

Comments

  1. Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says

    October 9, 2019 at 7:54 am

    Thank you for this post, it really resonated with me! I’m still trying to be comfortable in my own skin!

    Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
    http://charmainenyw.com

    Reply
  2. Lara H. Culberson says

    October 9, 2019 at 8:00 am

    This is great! Also, who cares what other people think. Their opinions are none of your business. I just found a new internist who told me, ‘this is a healthy weight for you’. I cried. I’ve never had a doctor put it that way!

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      October 9, 2019 at 9:34 am

      It’s incredible how one comment can change your life!

      Reply
  3. Leigh says

    October 9, 2019 at 9:04 am

    Best post ever – thanks for that perspective!!!!!! You just made my day!!!

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      October 9, 2019 at 9:34 am

      Thanks! And So glad!!

      Reply
  4. Debbie says

    October 9, 2019 at 9:17 am

    Brilliant and 100% on point!!

    Reply
  5. Laura says

    October 9, 2019 at 9:38 am

    You are spot on !how refreshing to read your blog ! If you feel healthy don’t step on the scale , you are perfect the way you are .

    Reply
  6. Faith VanderMolen says

    October 9, 2019 at 9:52 am

    Love this post! You vocalized a lot of what I’ve been thinking about. My body is changing as a new mom and I’m choosing to focus on intuitive eating and moving and just letting my body settle where it settles. Ain’t no body got time to try to control the shape of their body!!

    Reply
  7. Brooke says

    October 9, 2019 at 10:24 am

    I. Love. This. And I needed this today. THANK YOU!

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      October 9, 2019 at 11:42 am

      <3

      Reply
  8. Jill D says

    October 9, 2019 at 11:13 am

    I love this post. Several years ago I started treating my body as a vehicle for my life. I want it to be healthy and run well but it does not have to be a brand new Tesla.. I am fine with a used Ford :).

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      October 9, 2019 at 11:42 am

      Love the analogy!

      Reply
  9. Maria says

    October 9, 2019 at 12:22 pm

    Thank you for this post! This resonated with me as well, as I am working on accepting that my body will never be exactly the way it was before baby #2, let alone baby #1. I need to be more thankful of all the things it *can* do 🙂

    Reply
  10. Jessica Enck says

    October 9, 2019 at 1:37 pm

    This is one of my favorite posts from you. I LOVE thinking in this way about food and body.

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      October 9, 2019 at 3:20 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  11. Haley says

    October 9, 2019 at 3:17 pm

    Such a great and refreshing blog post!

    Reply
  12. Whitney says

    October 9, 2019 at 3:40 pm

    I feel like this is sort of an atypical post on KERF (not that I hate your usual posts at all!!), and I love it. Refreshing to hear these words from women from lots of different spaces. Thank you!

    Reply
  13. Abby says

    October 9, 2019 at 5:13 pm

    I wasn’t sure where this was going but I love this thought! Really interesting way to think about health.

    Reply
  14. Meghan says

    October 9, 2019 at 7:38 pm

    Great post! “Ideal” body image has gotten so out of wack. I used to be 20 lbs thinner as a result of constantly working out and analyzing every food choice. I was seriously considering getting implants because my chest was non-existent. I was so happy with the number on the scale but not my actual body. A healthy 20 lbs later, I have breasts and feel womanly and sexy. I think back to the pics and stats the plastic surgeons post of past patients, and the majority of the women who get implants are super fit and thin. This society has made us think it’s the norm to be very thin and have naturally giant boobs. (I know there are super fortunate women out there who defy the odds and if you are one, congrats!) I’m so much happier not trying to constantly “beat” a number on the scale, and I know I made the best choice for me to not get implants.

    Reply
  15. Brandy says

    October 10, 2019 at 7:55 am

    This is just what I needed to hear, Kath. It has been great to watch you grow and share your journey with us over the years. Thank you!

    Reply
  16. Kelli H says

    October 10, 2019 at 9:45 am

    Loved this post, Kath! Such a better message than what I see on Instagram all the time. Women in their work our clothes preaching that you need to MAKE time. Even though they think they have this empowering message I think a lot of women feel guilty that they haven’t made the time for more work outs and it just hurts us more than helps us be happy with our already healthy bodies.

    Reply
  17. Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers says

    October 10, 2019 at 11:46 am

    LOVED this post, Kath!!!!

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      October 10, 2019 at 12:41 pm

      Thank you!!

      Reply
  18. Julie says

    October 10, 2019 at 12:02 pm

    This might be my favorite post so far in 10 years of reading!

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      October 10, 2019 at 12:40 pm

      Wow that’s quite the accolade for this post!! Thank you.

      Reply
  19. Susan says

    October 10, 2019 at 12:04 pm

    I am so confused on that first image… is that you on the left?

    I think cavewomen and cavemen truly never thought about any of this. They ate when they were hungry period. No different than they slept when they were tired.

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      October 10, 2019 at 12:43 pm

      I’m on the right.

      And that’s exactly my point! They didn’t spend time counting macros or thinking about their abs – they lived their lives.

      Reply
  20. Caitlin says

    October 10, 2019 at 12:26 pm

    Love love love this post and you. What a wonderful message <3

    Reply
  21. Barbara Lott says

    October 10, 2019 at 12:44 pm

    A. You had me at the title.
    B. Excellent post.

    Reply
  22. Sarah says

    October 10, 2019 at 1:05 pm

    Yes, agree with everyone who already commented. This was great!!!! Thank you for sharing. I feel sad whenever I hear anyone mention “the last few pounds.” There’s just so much more to life. I didn’t experience this freedom about food/weight until the last few years and now I’m sad about the time I wasted. Know better, do better, I guess, but thank you for promoting this healthy message!

    Reply
  23. Nancy says

    October 10, 2019 at 2:48 pm

    Loved everything about this 🙂

    Reply
  24. Karen says

    October 10, 2019 at 3:07 pm

    Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have had it with diet culture and am so happy to see people with your expertise fighting against it. More of this please!

    Reply
  25. Ashley says

    October 10, 2019 at 3:30 pm

    I really needed this today. I woke up and was three pounds heavier then yesterday and sometimes that just feel so heavy (emotional lifting wise) I am SO tired of defining myself by this number and I know the tricks but a scale does work for me to “keep things in check”, regardless, thank you for this perspective!

    Reply
  26. Natalie says

    October 10, 2019 at 4:29 pm

    I’ve been reading your blog for many years but have never commented until now. I definitely felt compelled to comment after reading this today. Thanks Kath for a great, thought provoking post!

    Reply
    • KathEats says

      October 10, 2019 at 6:20 pm

      Thank you <3

      Reply
  27. Steph says

    October 10, 2019 at 9:58 pm

    A fantastic post!! So true!!

    Reply
  28. Nicole Bur says

    October 12, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    Awesome body positive message! My caveman likes me with more meat on my bones- I’m in the process of learning to like it as well.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Topics to browse >>

Did you miss a post?

New Boss in Town
The Family Zoo
Financial Independence + The FIRE Movement
Overnight Oats
Sardines: Everything you need to know!
Living Room Refresh

Everything kerf delivered to you

    Footer

    hi! Im Kath.

    I'm a Registered Dietitian, healthy eater, and mom of two from Charlottesville, Virginia. Here you’ll find a healthy mix of real-life meals made from whole ingredients balanced with the pleasures of life, including buttercream frosting and good wine. Plus a sprinkle of nutrition, home life, beauty, parenting, and travel.
    about | privacy policy

    Recipes

    • Oatmeal Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Smoothie Recipes
    • All Recipes

    Nutrition

    • Healthy Mindset
    • Real Food
    • Weight

    Life

    • Exercise
    • Wedding
    • Charlottesville
    • Travel
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Copyright © // 2020 Kath Eats Real Food
    Jump to top