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Happy New Year!
Don't forget that in our lifestyle change, resolutions mean nothing!
It's NOT "New Year, New Me"!!! It should be:
Set intentions, not resolutions!! But, more on that next week!
I just wanted to thank you all for being a part of my life. It's the time of year (among every other day as well) to show appreciation and love to all those who lift you up and make you a better person... Well, guys - you do that for me! You've given me a spark of insane creativity and I love that I'm able to share it with you. I've been fortunate to have wonderful supporters and you followers that make me feel like I contribute knowledge and maybe even just a shared purpose... or simply just relief that I'm not the only one going through this all. The fact that even one person can take something from what I have to give... I'm beyond grateful for that.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, and I'll have more coming up in 2017! (Recipe launch included!)
I’m back! (well, kinda) Did ya miss me?
I’m SO sorry for being away so long, (three weeks! Yikes!) but I’ve been working on getting more goodies for you guys! I took a week off after Thanksgiving, and then had such a lack of inspiration with writing, that it took all of me to gather any source of creativity – that’s when a co-worker of mine told me that she thought it was the season – how we all kind of sink into it and let it envelop us for the six weeks following Thanksgiving (Maybe it's the tryptophan... hmm).
The time for the Holidays is to relax and be with family, and it’s been nothing but a stressful couple of weeks, to be honest. I needed the break.
This slew of Holiday negativity, or even simply year-end, emotions makes us all a little lazy or demotivated. Feelings of exhaustion are normal and the fact that we guilt ourselves into thinking we’re incapable of pushing forward or that we need to be little energizer bunnies all the time makes us feel negative about the whole process – sometimes it’s okay to just BE.
SPEAKING of stew… I wanted to take time away from writing weekly in order to get out the next phase of my blog – the recipe portion of it. I’m working on gathering all of my most recent favorites and compiling a gallery or a library of those resources for you all – my subscribers – to be able to use and try.
That’s right!! All of my recipes can be yours! Simply subscribe for access, and you’ll get updates when I post new ones (Once they’re up and that section of my site is finished).
So for now, I’m going to diligently work on getting those pieces together and prepare juicy food for your taste buds!
There are a lot of cliché sayings in the world… Having heard so many of them, I've begun to lose sight of any meaning behind them.
I’ve been struggling with a lot more than just my weight or my motivation in the gym for the last year, and if I can’t write it out here, what is the purpose of this blog? What is the purpose of having this forum of expression and ability to share things with people who might be feeling lost/scared or any of the similar emotions I am?
Blue is not (traditionally) my color. There have been other factors that have led to my decreasing motivation for the gym and eating proper, and this has cast a light on how important a positive support system is. Not only do they remind you who you are when you’ve forgotten, they most DEFINITELY remind you of why moving forward can be daunting, but with one step at a time, it’s possible.
Post-Workout Post: Just got done with Week 1/Day 1's #kickbutt #workout from @lifestylefitnesscs
Post-Workout That's one #sweaty #gym chick! #kickbutt #workout from @lifestylefitnesscs
Post-Workout That's one #sweaty #gym chick! #kickbutt #workout from @lifestylefitnesscs
Post-Workout from @lifestylefitnesscs
T-4 days until the reunion!
That's what this whole thing is about - working on yourself, making yourself the best version to move with positivity and growth in this life. Oh man, how after-school special do I sound right now?
I think the single most influential aspect of health and fitness is having people that are for you just as much as you are. If you don't have people that cheer you on, you might lose the will or the fighting drive after some time.
I have been dabbling in this blogging world for roughly seven months now, and I've learned a few things. I've been networking and trying to promote this little project of mine, and have gained a couple special connections with fellow bloggers. One of which is an online and in-person fitness trainer named Christian Scott.
This Oklahoma City woman can do it all - not only is she an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, she is a Zumba instructor, fitness blogger and mother! I know how busy I am, and can't even imagine her schedule. Since connecting with her, I wanted to try out her program, and she gave me a schedule of work outs over the course of four weeks, in preparation for my ten year reunion. She checked in with me over the course of those four weeks, and kept me accountable - exactly what I needed! Her program is mostly HIIT (high-intensity interval training) moves, varying from 40 seconds of work with 20 seconds rest sets with kettle bells, ab work and weight lifting mixed in - the best way to maximize the fat loss while keeping your heart rate in it's best zone.
Christian Scott, ACE CPT •Lifestyle &Fitness Blogger•
www.lifestylefitnesscs.com
I had 3 planned workouts per week, with an additional 2 days of my own planning, making it a total of 5 days of activity per week. As long as I was active for 30 minutes on those 'rest' days, then I could choose whatever activity I wanted to do outside of her plan. I have to say, I don't think I've EVER sweat that much during a 30-minute workout... I felt like I'd walked out of the shower with how drenched I was! At my last check in I found that in my month of her program
Check out her website HERE for other plans and pricing - my one month work out was valued at $65/month - SUCH a deal! Right now, she's got a sale going on from November 24th (Thanksgiving) until the 27th for 50% off ALL online training! Check it out HERE - no code required! You can get the same deal I had for half price!
Follow her HERE on Instagram too - she always posts great shots of her clothing, Zumba classes, or motivational quotes. It's a good deal her responsibility that I've been getting back in action these past six weeks! It's made me re-evaluate why I've slowed.
Doctors and fitness minded individuals alike state that teammates or coaches, or simply friends who say 'good job!' are pivotal in the success of your journey. I know, I know - everyone calls this a journey (I've seen that word so many times, I think it's starting to look misspelled)! But it's true! I read a quote from an article that reminded me of a time when I was my most motivated self, and it was all the power of having a gym buddy!
“In my 10 years of experience evaluating what creates long-term health-and-fitness success, the single most important factor is having a support system,” says Wayne Andersen, MD. Exercise partners provide a powerful combination of support, accountability, motivation and, in some cases, healthy competition. “They can play the role of teammate, co-coach and cheerleader — all while working out,” says Michelle P. Maidenberg, PhD." - Strength in Numbers: The Importance of Fitness Buddies
Exercise habits of people you know have a positive influence on your exercise habits. IF they have the same habits, or similar goals to your own. If your accountabili-buddy is at a radically different level of health, fitness or ability, you could be held back, pushed too hard or - worst case - injured. “Having a reliable workout buddy increases your chances of sticking with your program,” says Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD. Pushing yourself beyond your perceived mental ability is tough if you're alone in the gym, and it's also difficult to increase your weight without a spotter to keep you progressing.
Kara Thom, coauthor of Hot (Sweaty) Mamas: Five Secrets to Life as a Fit Mom, says that “during a workout, more than our pores open up. We find ourselves connecting with our workout buddies more intimately than we might if we were just meeting over coffee. Workout partners not only get us through a challenging workout, but can help us through life challenges as well.”
The more people you have actively engaged in supporting your fitness efforts the more likely you all are to enjoy the process as well as the results.
No-friggin-wonder I've been lagging lately (aside from poor choices in diet slowing me down)! I have a boyfriend who doesn't find fitness as important as I do - and that's perfectly okay, I just need to get into my habit again and find an accountabili-buddy again (Kasey, I miss you!).
I wanted to publish this post last week, but it was unfinished on Monday. As everyone knows, life tends to get in the way of our schedules, and I had matters I had to attend to - I'm sorry, but finally, without further adieu:
A couple of weeks ago, I received a message from fellow blogger Isma from Walk in Vogue. asking me if she could nominate me for the Liebster Award… My first immediate reaction was “I want in! Wait - what is that??” I’d heard about the Versatile Blogger award and was flattered by that nomination, but what’s the Liebster? Liebster, in German, means "dearest" or "beloved". This particular Liebster is a Virtual Award, given to bloggers by bloggers to encourage and support each other in our online community. Not only do you get to discover new blogs, but you can engage and interact with similar minded individuals in hopes that it may touch or inspire someone else.
Here are the rules, should someone nominate you and you accept:
I have to say it Isma - Thank you! I'm flattered! I was thrilled to spread the love by acknowledging some of my favorite up and coming writers that I've met in the last several months. Please do me a favor, and go visit her Blog or check her out on Facebook!
I accepted Isma's nomination, so here it goes:
I'm not 100% sure what the catalyst was, to be honest. I wanted to write about what I'd gone through during my struggle to lose weight and finally be at peace with my body, but it ended up being more than that - it became how to help others who might possibly be going through a similar struggle that I went through. I remember how I felt at the beginning; lost, scared, and like a lot of others had said, I had done it so many times before and failed - Why did it work for me this time? Maybe if I shared that 'secret' with others, they too might embark on their own journey of self-love and discovery. The world needs more of that, so here it is.
Oh goodness... Well, I'd have to say, my phone is rather important (for sheer boredom and OF COURSE to get me outta there), but there would be no charging capabilities so that out. I'd say when stuck in that situation, make the best of it! 1 - An unlimited supply of mai tais, 2 - an umbrella, and 3 - unlimited supply of sunblock! Gotta make it work for you!
Pessimistically Optimistical Over-Analyzer
Any woman who is strong, capable and accomplished. Women who lifts others up, never tear them down. Those with convictions and goals who achieve daily success with mini milestones they've set.
I have a couple of favorites... this is the most recent one: "The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." - M. Scott Peck
Now THAT one is easy. I went to London, Paris, and Dublin in September of 2013 and crossed off a couple items on my bucket list. I kissed the Blarney Stone, visited Portobello Road market, and went up the Eiffel Tower. It was an incredibly humbling experience, given how young our United States are compared to the historically rich European cities.
I love being me... As cliche as that sounds, or as pageant-y, it's true. I can be a little selfish, a little insecure, and Lord knows, a whole lot EMO. But I wouldn't trade lives with anyone. EVER.
'Taylor Swift' Red
Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins (for those that don't' know, that's the final Hunger Games book). Oh, jeeze that was last November. Anyone have any suggestions? I should probably start another one.
This one is a tough one... Growing up, I wished I could've lived in the 60's with all of the fantastic music, the beautiful and powerful (now-classic) cars and the ever-free spirit within people. Now, as I head further into my adulthood, I find the 1940's to be more romanticized. I love the hair and vintage dress styles, as well as the bold lip color and the strength women showed during WWII. I love both.
Unfortunately, those that I contacted and nominated did not provide me with a response. I’m following a lot of other lovely bloggers so... anyone who wishes to participate, feel free! You are more than welcome to join in the game! Please find your nominees and answers these following questions:
1. What is your most favorite destination & why?
2. What post on your blog you are particularly proud of & why?
3. Which period would that be and whom would you like to be?
4. What is the place you can call home other than where you reside?
5. Why did you start blogging?
6. What is the best vacation you've ever been on?
7. Describe yourself in 3 Words.
8. What's your favorite quote?
9. If you could be anyone in the world, who would it be?
10. What is the most recent book you read?
I cannot wait to hear responses!
There was a post on Facebook by my friend, the wonderfully vocal Kim Spencer from Crown Yourself, late last month that *really* stuck with me. She was posting about Embrace the documentary by Taryn Brumfitt and the founder of the Body Image Movement. Well, last week I finally got to see a screening of the documentary and I think I cried the whole time with how many moments the film actually hit home for me.
Taryn Brumfitt is an Australian mother of three, whose whole motivation behind The Body Image Movement was the perception her children will have of her, and of themselves or other women if she can’t even love her own body. The powerful message she spends 90 minutes going over in substantial detail comes down to finding out why women all over the world LOATHE some parts, if not all, of their bodies.
“I went through anxiety and depression from hating my body.” - Stefania Ferrario
Interviewing numerous women (Ricki Lake, Mia Freedman, Turia Pitt, Stefania Ferrario, Renee Airya, Jade Beall, Melinda Tankard Reist, The Bearded Dame) and showing statistics on screen (91% of women hate their bodies), she gives reason why “your body is not an ornament” and attempts to show why it’s “the vehicle to your dreams”.
There were several moments that struck a chord with me, but I think one of the most influential minutes of the film for me was when she interviewed (a mother in a red dress). She expresses the following sentiment:
“In an ideal world, I wouldn’t have to constantly play, uh whats the word? Damage Control. I feel like I’m putting out a thousand fires everyday… I’m drowning in a sea of media.”
Growing up, I think as early as age ten, I hated how large or round I was. I took note of how I had a 'kangaroo pouch' underneath my belly button. I noticed in the 4th grade that other girls my age had flatter tummies and i had a roll. That's when I believe it all started. Where I would cry to my mother and throw tantrums in the Limited Too in the mall because things were too tight and I wanted to leave, never to shop for clothing again. It didn't help my self esteem when I was put on Adkin's (even though I was being 'helped' by having someone manage my food intake and weight). I hate to "make my mother the bad guy", because she would see me cry and her heart was ultimately in the right place, but it was very apparent that I did not look like her when she "was my age"; that if I could "just stop eating us out of house and home", I could ignore her snide comments and be thin, pretty and happy. That I had a "pretty face"... being thin became a vessel of which I constantly sought out her approval, to be thin and 'pretty'. To this day, she still hears it as a compliment when she says I fit better into a dress than I "used to", rather than I simply look nice or even that I was smart for an accomplishment outside of my attractiveness.
After seeing the film, I realized that I constantly feel the same way – I feel as if I have to run interference between myself and these images or even my own worst critic - ME. I play the angel and devil on my own shoulders, and it’s exhausting. It wasn’t so much that I’m upset with society for having the schema that makes it so we have these insecurities about ourselves, it’s the fact that I simply want to be happy with what I have while I have it, and that I’m not.
I have had SO many times in the last 20 years where I’ve looked in the mirror and cried; where I’ve felt like my mind, my soul, were trapped inside this particular physical body and that the outside didn’t match its insides. The person in the mirror, that’s not ME.
“I wanted to get an eating disorder, I wanted to get anorexia” - Stefania Ferrario
Another moment that stood out for me was when Jade Beall, a self-love activist and photographer, was interviewed. She said, “It’s a process – It’s practice. It’s like Yoga, you have to practice it to [get better]. Practice seeing yourself in many different lights…” and actually begin to believe it.
The thing that I’ve been striving to write about for the last few months on The Soaring Swine is that however you look, the only thing that matters is how you see yourself – why I said that Re-Framing the Gaze was so critical. I’m not here to tell you to hate your body, and you need to change it – actually, the opposite. I want to love MY body, and I want to be the best version of myself. That includes HEALTHY and HAPPY. To be healthy, I have to exercise and eat right, and to be happy, I have to love myself unconditionally just as I am – EVEN if that includes a few stretch marks or extra skin.
I suggest you find where you can see a screening of this movie and go now. It was wonderful and shed so much light for my own personal growth.
I've been criticized for posting revealing photos and those that show my progress along my journey. I'll never forget one time, a past friend mentioned that her husband was surprised my then-boyfriend 'allowed' me or supported me posting said photos. "I'm sorry, are they of his body? I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to do what I want with photos of ME" is what I wanted to say.
After years of self-body shaming, and hating the extra skin I've EARNED after losing 80+lbs, I am 100% absolutely DONE giving a crap about what people have to say and what their opinion is of MY body and what I choose to share or not share. I love my body for what it is capable of. It's taken me a long time to truly say that I love my extra skin, but it's a badge of honor! It shows what I'm capable of accomplishing and what I've been through in the last three years.
“And so began this journey. This unwavering desire to teach, educate and shout around the world that loving your body can bring you happiness and by learning to do so, change lives forever.” – Taryn Brumfitt
Download Taryn's eBook on how to get to the Body Positivity movement yourself! CLICK HERE for the first three chapters for free!
That was my biggest question when I first started out three years ago. My metabolism seemed to be stalled or that of the speed of a turtle. I had been eating pizza, and practically anything I wanted without minding portions or physical activity, so I had absolutely no idea where to start. So:
Like I said in The Final Straw and 5 Weight Loss Myths You Need to Toss, I was on weight watchers and still had poor habits. I was working with my trainer, and unless I began taking a look at other factors, there was no way I was going to make any progress.
What changed it all was when I took a look at how to manage my caloric intake per meal and output per gym session (my friend is currently testing this theory and data with a burger a day lol). Once I started eating six meals and drinking over 100 ounces of water a day is when I truly began to notice a difference for my body.
So how does one rev up their metabolism? I’ve compiled a list of things that worked for me, someone with no known thyroid issues, below:
1) Eat 5-6 Small Meals a day, including breakfast no later than an hour after you wake up
Now the thing here is that there have been studies done where the number of meals you eat per day doesn't really matter. IN FACT, the study showed that people who ate this many meals a day actually ate MORE than what they should have. The key point is to watch caloric values and intake per meal, regardless of the amount of meals you eat per day. The upside to this number? The longer you wait between meals, the hungrier you get. ““After about 3 hours without food, blood sugar begins to fall. And after 4 hours, your body has already digested whatever you sent down earlier,” says Cleveland dietitian Amy Jamieson-Petonic, RD. “Once you’ve crossed the 5-hour mark, your blood sugar begins to plummet, and you grab whatever you can to refuel.” She says that’s why we need to eat breakfast – after about eight hours of sleep and without food, we need that boost to get us going.
2) Make sure there’s plenty of protein in your meal
Ensuring you’re eating enough protein doesn’t ONLY make sure you have a balanced meal, it helps your muscles recover from your workouts and maximize the body’s muscle production. “People who ate [up to] 30 grams of protein at breakfast lunch and dinner saw more muscle protein synthesis—or the building up of muscles—than those who ate less at breakfast and loaded up on the nutrient at dinner, according to a study last year in The Journal of Nutrition.” My advice is just to make sure it fits within your daily/meal intake of calories and protein grams especially if you’re tracking your macros.
Click HERE for 10% off IdealLean Protein
3) Drink half your body weight in ounces of water a day and NO Booze!
When you sweat, you lose tons of electrolytes and other elements (potassium, chloride, and sodium, to name a couple). They say when you start to feel thirsty, your body is already feeling the effects of too little water and mild dehydration. Health USA’s Yuri Elkaim says “The first thing you need to do is calculate how much water your body needs at rest. That's working at a desk, puttering around the house, reading and doing all of the other things you do throughout the day. This is your bare minimum water requirement – what your body needs to function. The basic equation for determining this is by dividing your body weight in half.” He goes on to explain that if you’re active, you need to drink an additional 30 ounces, and maybe add a teaspoon of sea salt for electrolyte replacement. Yuck, just get something with electrolytes added, like my favorite hydration tool, Nuun.
As far as alcohol, it’s empty calories with zero nutritional value. It slows your metabolism (for long long LONG term drinkers) and impairs the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. They say in certain studies that one glass of red wine is ‘good for you’ but so is dark chocolate… in moderation. You can’t expect to reach your goals seriously if you drink like a college sorority girl (which, I’ve been)! It will do nothing but help you reach your goals *faster* if you pass on the cocktails since most are loaded with sugar and disrupt your sleep – two factors that are important to your journey.
4) Eat *Healthy* Fats
Anyone that ever told you Low-Fat anything was better than the full-fat version of it was WRONG (see the explanation here). *Many* foods low or void of fats are mainly high in sugars, refined carbohydrates, and calories. If you look at the last 25 years and read myths regarding the Low-Fat Diet fad, you’ll find that obesity doubled in America since it began. You NEED healthy fats, aka fats that are unsaturated (mono and poly), like extra virgin olive oil, nuts, and avocados in your diet to help you manage your mood, mental balance, fight fatigue AND – whoa! – control your weight. Our brains are 60% fat, so it’s *vital* to our body’s physical function to have and absorb healthy fats. The answers aren’t to CUT the fat out – it’s to make the best choices for your body.
5) Spinach, Cinnamon, and Cayenne are the secret ingredients
Spinach has a lot of fiber, iron, and calcium to support muscle performance. They say three servings a day increase fat burning by 30%, maximizing the benefit. Cinnamon controls your insulin levels and has the ability to alter your carbohydrate metabolism. The sheer consumption of cinnamon causes a metabolic reaction, similar to that of hot peppers, that requires more work and energy to burn more calories. Cayenne, a favorite spice, and pepper, causes your body temperature to rise and kick starts your internal AC, burning calories as it cools you down. Even if it’s just a pinch, it’ll do the trick.
6) LIFT HEAVY SHIT
This one I cannot stress enough. The more weights you lift, the more muscle you’ll have. The more muscle you have, the easier it is to burn fat – EVEN AT REST. Yes, I said at rest. MyProtein says: “Often when people want to lose weight, they increase cardio and slack on their weight training. This is a big mistake, as maintaining your muscle mass will keep your metabolism strong, even if you are in a calorie deficit which you will be in when dieting.” Even Women’s Health online says that you’ll lose weight either way, but those who lift will convert six pounds of fat into muscle, thus displacing fat and fitting into their clothes better. I’ve never experience a whole body change like I did when I started lifting weights – I weighed the same, but could fit into my high school cheer leading uniform again. So, your answer to “Do you even lift, bruh?” should be “HELL YES”!
The thing that’s hard for me to really get behind (because I LOVE French bread and Cabernet) is that for women, 80% of this whole journey is in the kitchen and only 20% in the gym. You cannot out-exercise a bad diet, no matter what you do. That’s why I didn’t lose anything on weight watchers –I wasn’t eating right and was hitting a wall with the gym, mostly due to not lifting and spending 45 minutes on cardio a day.
Okay, so the takeaway here should be to watch your macros, eat protein at each meal, and lift. That’s what has worked for me. Every body is different, but if you find what works for you, stick with it.
Back in college, I took a sociology class where the professor was fantastically off beat and got us to think outside of the normal thought pattern about life and certain schema to do with body image. I'll never forget that class. Her main saying was to "re-frame the gaze" in which we look at the world, and I've thought about it ever since. Roughly two months ago, I read an article and I wasn’t surprised at all with what it had to say. It wasn't as enlightening as it was depressing about society and the nature of women's thought patterns regarding their body image. It stuck out in my mind and has since inspired tons of thoughts and #sagaciousstatements, but I thought it really applied to this week’s guest post from my friend, Dee.
“Roughly 90 percent of women are unhappy with the way that they look” and the author of the post said she didn’t personally feel good about her appearance until she hit 40. FORTY!!! As unsurprising as the data is about females who loathe their own bodies, it’s a terrible thing for you to go through over half of your lifetime trying to fix something that isn’t even wrong.
What does the 90% mean? It means that even IF you are categorized as ‘thin’, you hate something ELSE about your butt, thighs, arm fat, *whatever* it is. HOW SAD IS THAT? That ALL of us, for the most part, have such a negative perspective to find something wrong with the vessel of life we walk in everyday… I don’t want to be one of them anymore. Neither did Dee – all it took was one defining moment, and now she’s more focused than ever before.
“When everyone in kindergarten were sticks, I had large calf muscles and defined arms. I was always a larger size and felt so out of place. I used to ask my mom if I could shave off some of my bone so I could fit in. Apparently, that’s not an option. As a result, I bounced around from using diet pills, battling anorexia, bulimia, and joining intensive exercise programs. Those ‘solutions’ only led to fostering more hate towards my body and created a cycle of love/hate for food, increased my self-loathing, and my eventual desperation.
It took a challenging and grueling breakup for me to look myself in the mirror and truly take it the phrase "love thyself" to heart. It consumed a lot of my time but I reached out to friends and family who supported my healthier life changes. I started joining walking groups, continued running daily, stopped eating out so much, stopped going out to bars, and created better eating habits. I learned to say “no” to foods that I didn't want to eat and “yes” to foods that were healthier.
I still struggle with my weight and there are days I still feel gross by what I see in the mirror, but I say "Hey... This moment is the only true moment. Everyone has a past and a present; but there is no promise of a future; no promise of a new moment to come.”
Give yourself the same compassion you show everyone else and you will be so deeply loved each and every moment no matter what you think you see in the mirror. You are beautiful."
What I’m getting at here is there is no room for negative thoughts on your journey. NONE. Reframe your gaze – zoom out and see the bigger picture! Change is always scary because it’s new and uncomfortable. It’s about learning to take that awkward feeling and channel it – use it to boost your motivation that you’re making positive steps towards your goal. I have to work on that myself.
Regardless of what it is, a body insecurity, friendship issue, a relationship ending, or a co-worker getting on your nerves about competency - why spend so much energy on the things that bring you down? Life is too damn short to spend it unhappy about your appearance or any other temporary situation.
Commit to the positive! Get up, get moving, live life and love it!
I find it funny that as my ten-year high school reunion comes up and is around the corner, I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard “if I only knew then what I know now.” My boss and coworkers were talking about what they would do differently in teaching their Kinesiology and Health classes, my mother and aunt were talking about their past and childhood, and I know I’ve reflected about a few of my growing and learning experiences.
It’s true, though; situations, where we feel as if we wish we would've done or said something better than we handled it, are a part of life. We all have those moments where we knew we could’ve done it differently and could’ve flourished where we floundered.
I reflect on that this week mostly because I received a very illuminating story from my friend Athena. There’s not a whole helluva lot we can do about the past, but careful consideration can certainly help you move forward in a positive direction. I asked Athena some questions about her journey and this is what she had to say:
Last day of my six-week challenge and I feel like I've come a long way. I did 6 rounds of 15 lb weights thrusters and 8 burped. In the beginning I could barely do 8 burped, forget 6 rounds of 8 burpees. So excited to continue my membership!!
#goodmorning #bestwaytostarttheday #crossfit
Jaycie: What are some things you wish you had to opportunity to say to your younger self?
Athena: Find a workout that you like! I feel like this made all the difference for me. I had worked out in the past but then I found a martial arts class that pushed me and I enjoyed it so I kept it up and went from 180lbs to 145lbs in about 4 months.
J: What worked/works best for you as far as routine and diet?
A: I worked out for an hour 3-4 times a day through martial arts and kickboxing.
J: What was the most positive thing you've noticed at this current stage?
A: I was able to do 3 pull-ups - which were huge since I'd never done even 1 before!
J: What's your biggest vice? Mine is wine and it's hindered a lot of my progress
A: Social events and wine as well. Since being diagnosed with cancer and going through menopause, it has hard to get the weight off that was gained during surgery. I have gotten back into working out and am watching what I eat minimizing what I eat during social events that I expect to be back to 145 in about 6 months!
I thought a great deal of what she said and how it applies to all aspects of this journey we call life. Situations, sometimes out of our control, tend to get in the way of our progress and try to derail us. It’s the choices we make based on these past reflections and how we remind ourselves to make healthier selections to better ourselves. Most people that start with weight loss and clean eating don’t understand that it never subsides – the cravings, the constant battle for self-control (for me, at least) has never stopped. That’s why I asked what she would tell her younger self. A friend shared her perception of this with me once and it hit me like a ton of bricks. It subsequently stuck. She said:
“Imagine yourself at 10 years old. Your little adorable face, tight ponytail, and scrunchy – and she’s crying. She hates her body and is so sad. What would you say to that little girl?”
That’s what I try to remember while I’m tearing my mirrored reflection apart because I hate my armpit fat… I’m doing this for that little girl - her. I’m making positive changes for her. I don’t get a do-over, but I’m going to make every future day count FOR HER.
There are a lot of things I would have told my younger self while in college and eating everything in sight. "Don't eat five slices of pizza in one sitting", "lay off the soda", "cool it with the binge drinking", & maybe "go for a run tonight"... But, you can only move forward with the information you’ve collected over the years. Move forward with power, perseverance, and prowess!
In this life, there are the givers and the takers. I am PROUD to be a giver (that’s actually one of the reasons I started this blog). It’s come to my attention lately that I know a LOT of takers.
Most everyone I’ve encountered in my short 28 years on the planet, I’ve found they aren’t necessarily *against me* but they are FOR THEMSELVES. They say the generation of millennials are a selfish generation, and I’ve come to find that I feel a lot ‘older’ in soul than my same age counterparts. Do I have moments of immaturity? I think it’s fair to say that of course, I do; I’m growing and learning with every passing day. However, I’m pretty sure that in the generation full of those who expect the world to owe them something simply for existing, I have always thought of myself as one who knows I deserve nothing and have to work for what I earn.
That’s what I’ve applied this fitness thing to – working hard for something, bringing the work ethic of a goal back into practice. A lot of times, I feel like giving up, but it’s not what you want right now – it’s what you want most.
This week’s story comes from my friend Brian. He’s been on this road a long time, and every step he’s made has been forward. Five years of control and maintenance over one’s comfortable habits is a long time and can feel waning - tiresome and can be taxing, even. Here’s what he had to say:
"193.8...haven't weighed that in over 5 years. Not as long as some people who've been putting in countless hours of effort to feel better about themselves, but still a milestone of sorts. I told myself I'd be at 190 by the end of the month. I've made a decent amount of progress from almost 240 til today, but I'm still keeping on.
For everyone that wants to see a change in themselves, the most difficult part is to make that conscious decision to alter your lifestyle, even slightly. Whether it be deciding not to finish that ENTIRE plate of pasta in one sitting or choosing to take the stairs on the way to work or going 1.25 miles on the treadmill instead of the normal mile, even though you feel like you don't have it left in you. Or a combination of all of it. At the end of each day, think about the decisions you've made to inch closer to feeling better and it will start to fuel you; you'll crave that feeling of satisfaction and pride and determination each day you get out of bed.
You can climb mountains without getting winded, lift heavier boxes with ease, keep up with children and continue to surprise yourself at every turn. Inspiration is all around you; there are so many people, often seated right next to you, who are on the same journey. Talk to them, ask them what THEIR approach is, ask them what motivates them and encourage each other through every success, however, small it may seem. Because in the end, I guarantee you will feel incredible."
I've had a lot of positive support in my journey, but I've also dealt with skepticism and eye-rolling too. I've had the uniformed body shamers that don't want me to get "too big", as if I could ever do that; the ones that try to teach me things that are so incorrect, it would make my trainer cringe; the know-it-alls who want to say you're doing it wrong... All of the various people and types of gym.
People aren’t against you; they are for themselves… YOU have to be FOR YOU, too.
