Personal story: “Good legs”

Lucy Newport • April 21, 2024

Reading time: 2.5 mins

Taken from my daily email list, Inbox Reflections.

While spending time with loved ones recently, someone commented how a particular female celebrity had “such good legs”.

A few years ago this comment would have thrown my mind into a downward spiral, making it mean something about me and my own legs.

2014 Lucy’s thoughts would probably have sounded like; “My legs look so short and dumpy compared to hers… I could never wear what she’s wearing… My cellulite would be on full view… God my thighs have gotten wide… I wonder what their training routine is like… I’ll Google it… Maybe if I cut my carbs and get stricter with my workouts my legs will look more toned… Urgh, summer’s not that far off, I should have started this weeks ago…"

And the underlying feeling would have been “I’m not good enough”.

However, in that moment I noticed how far my mindset had shifted and the comment seemed such an abstract thing to hear.

It’s hard to explain, but it just seemed a strange thing to say and I wanted to ask “what do you mean by good?”.

Of course, I understand that they were pointing out and praising her physical appearance. Her legs ARE beautiful and attractive!

I want to be clear that I’m not saying that beauty and attractiveness are wrong in any way. To be able to see and admire beauty in its many, many forms is a wonderful thing.

I’m saying that when you’re secure within your own worth, someone else’s beauty doesn’t have to change how you feel about yourself.

From this place, you don’t get thrown into a state of judgement, food restrictions and over-exercising that just reinforces your binge eating patterns every time you come across someone who has a “good body”.

Instead, you can see how they’re just another being, like you, living out this human experience as best as they can. And that’s a far more freeing and compassionate place to live from.

What does having “good legs” mean to you?

My loved one’s comment also got me thinking about how “good legs” could mean something so different to each of us anyway…

When my disordered eating was at its worst, I was running most evenings, pounding the London pavements so hard I gave myself knee pain for years to come.

My legs may have been a little slimmer and more toned at that time, but my knees hurt and it affected both my work and the things I enjoyed doing.

(I was also deeply insecure, anxious and bingeing every night. So, not great.)

These days, my legs are larger and softer - yes. But they’re also strong and my knees are pain free.

My legs allow me to enjoy long walks, to have fun on my roller skates, to dig veg patches on the allotment, to connect to myself during my yoga practice, to stand (and dance!) for hours seeing my favourite bands play…

From that sense, I would say that I love my legs and couldn’t ask much more from them!

So, what does having “good legs” really mean to you?

And what do your legs allow you to do that you’re grateful for?