Katy Mixon, star of American Housewife on ABC, is all about being body positive in her personal life. But playing a conflicted and confused character on television may give you the wrong idea about her.
Mixon plays Katie Otto on the show, a housewife trying to keep up with her perfect neighbors in a perfect neighborhood. But in real life, Mixon says she’s not looking to the left or right to see how she fits in. So whether she’s rocking a size 14, 8, or 2, she will be comfortable and happy with whom she is. No juice diets or 5-hour workout sessions for her!
Katie Mixon Enjoys Her Life and Healthy Lifestyle
To stay body positive, you have to be happy with your life, and Katie Mixon definitely seems like she is. She maintains a healthy lifestyle by hiking, bike riding, and taking her dog on long walks with her Olympian and American champion javelin thrower fiancé Breaux Greer. By making exercise a part of her lifestyle—and not a chore—she’s able to enjoy the benefits of activity without feeling the pressure.
Playing the Anti-Stepford Wife
Just like the character she plays on American Housewife, Katie Otto, Mixon’s body stands out in a world of size-zero stars and celebrities. She might be a little bigger and fuller than what we’re used to seeing on the television screen, but she’s definitely more reflective of the general population. Her genuine attitude, body positive image, and joy in expressing who she is and loving it is truly a breath of fresh air.
Shutting Out the Haters
Mixon’s previously taken slack in the media for not fitting the mold of a television star, but that doesn’t bother her at all. Nor should it—body shaming and living to impress others is no good for anybody. Although body shaming is terrible and should have no place in our society—after all, who is anybody to tell someone else how to live—it’s important to understand the health risks of being overweight.
Nearly 71% of American adults over 20 are overweight, and more than half of those people are classified as obese. That’s not good, and the Standard American Diet (SAD) and typical American lifestyle are major factors. Being overweight or obese heavily increases the chances of high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, heart attack, and type-2 diabetes.
Making better food choices—like limiting how much soda and processed foods you consume, and eating more vegetables, fruit, healthy fats, whole grains and lean proteins—can help keep weight in check and limit the risk of chronic illness. I’m not saying you need to be supermodel skinny or pro-athlete ripped, but every pound you lose has major health benefits—for example, losing only nine pounds can lead to substantial improvements in blood pressure.
Sources:
Cohn, P., “’American Housewife’ star Katy Mixon talks body image: ‘I’m just who I am’,” Fox News web site, October 11, 2016; http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2016/10/11/american-housewife-star-katy-mixon-talks-body-image-m-just-who-am.html, last accessed October 13, 2016.
