Body Image Issues

Now...I'm a "girl" and admittedly have dealt off and on with issues regarding various parts of my body from my psycho curls to pointy nose to flabby belly and wide hips. Having three children has so adapted my body's shape that I've come to terms with any part of my body shoulders up! (I've adopted the "at least my hair that defies gravity doesn't sag" kind of mindset!) With that said, I don't think I'm over the top and am conscientious about trying to promote healthy food choices over "being fat" with my girls.

HOWEVER!!!!!!!!

I got stuck in the "Fat Man's Squeeze" at Rock City this past Sunday! So...my body image is in the trash...kinda.

If you have driven through east Tennessee at least once, you've surely seen the signs, billboards and painted barns that say, "See Rock City." Well, I saw it up close and personal! If you haven't "seen" Rock City, let me explain. It's a "garden" atop Lookout Mountain, and the paths are built through, over and around rock crevices. There are ceramic gnomes scattered throughout and the hint that a goblin might be around the next corner. It's pretty. (kinda red neck) It's fun. At the top, they claim you can see seven different states.

There are, however, two different "through the crevices" areas that are very narrow: "Needle's Eye" and "Fat Man's Squeeze"

This is me:
You'll notice that I am carrying Jack in a backpack carrier, and had some concern about fitting through the "Needle's Eye." Here is how the conversation went:

Katie: I don't know if I'll fit through there.
Jamie: Oh you'll fit.
Katie: Are you sure? I can't turn sideways.
Jamie: The pack is the same width as you, and if your shoulders can fit through, you can fit.

So, I proceeded through the "Needle's Eye" by squatting down while I walked. (Talk about a leg workout...try walking 15 yards or so with about 25 lbs on your back with your legs bent.) Success. We walked through several other areas and eventually approached the "Fat Man's Squeeze." Jamie and I had a similar conversation to the one outlined above. So, I started through with two or three other families behind us.

So, I'm walking...I'm squat walking...and I'm stuck. I try to wiggle backwards a bit and say in a somewhat frustrated tone, "Jamie, are you pushing me?" He responded, "No." So, I push a little harder and try to lower my body a bit more and walk about five more steps, and I'm stuck again. AGAIN I ask Jamie if he's pushing me to which he answers no, and I tell him with some degree of frantic in my voice that I am stuck. I'm worried about scratching my friend's backpack, and I'm embarrassed that there are about 20 people behind me who now know that someone is stuck in "Fat Man's Squeeze" but not necessarily because of the frame of a backpack.

Jamie holds onto Jack's body while I try to wiggle out of the pack. We finally got the pack off of me and Jack out of the pack so that Jamie can carry him and I can carry the pack near the floor of the crevice to come out physically unscathed but several shades of pink with embarrassment.

Surely some body image or eating disorder advocate group has approached Rock City about the need to have that portion renamed!