No, I don't have a 24" waist. I like lifting too heavy for that. I don't have feminine hands. I have calluses on my hands that would rival any man who swings an ax on a regular basis. I still have fat on the back of my ass that grosses me out. I don't always feel attractive. I feel insecure at times because I am human. I don't look exactly how I want to. Who ever really does? My migraines scream for me to put the weights down at times, but I scream back, "NO". Instead, go to the chiropractor regularly. I know my limits, my weaknesses, and what work needs to be done. I know who I am not, and I LOVE MYSELF JUST THE SAME. I am in constant pursuit of ME, and focusing too much on anything else is a precious waste of time.
Stop letting the fitness models in magazines, on social media sites, or on T.V. tell you who to be! Don't strive to look like them. Strive to look like you... the best version of you! Fitness is a combination of nutrition and exercise, no doubt, but it's just as much heart and genetics. Our beautiful bodies were created specifically for us; our bone structure, our height, our hair, our "best features", and our curves. When you start the fitness journey to a better you, take a good long and HONEST look in the mirror at yourself. Learn to be mesmerized by the beauty that God gave you. If you see something you want to change, be realistic about your goals and then work your ass off to get it. Fitness isn't some trend like a hand bag, knee high boots, or plaid shirts. Fitness is a lifestyle. It changes you from the inside out. But if you are constantly obsessing over someone else's body, you are not focusing on yourself. Believe me when I say, confidence comes from the struggles and the victories, not the body parts themselves. You will look in the mirror and be proud of your progress. But, your true confidence comes from the work you put in; blood, sweat, and tears. Take a moment to look in the mirror today and say " I AM AWESOME, AND TOMORROW, I WILL BE MORE AWESOME."
Seriously,
Chas
One of the most frustrating things you will ever do on your fitness journey is step foot on that dreaded scale. It starts with the anxiety; "What if I didn't lose anything?" "Oh, I just know those two bites of cake ruined it!" "If I have gained another pound, I QUIT!" You can literally feel your blood pressure rise as you nervously step up on it. Was it one pound down, maybe two? Or worse, was it three pounds up? It's pure torture!! It's time to stop the madness!
Your weight on that scale, as a female, can fluctuate (on average) between 2-6 pounds from first waking in the morning to evening time before bed. I have seen men fluctuate by 10 pounds before and after intense cardiovascular exercise, 10 POUNDS! Your water retenetion, the actual culprit of the fluctuation, is affected by a myriad of things from hormones to stress to high sodium food intake to digestion problems. The real problem comes in when your weight steadily increases over time, instead of staying the same or going down (if you are trying to lose weight).
I am not advocating that you should stop weighing altogether. But, I truly believe you should limit yourself to ONCE PER WEEK, MAX. Otherwise, you are going to go into full on internal warfare with yourself over one or two pounds, and this will, undoubtedly, stifle your fitness journey. It will make you think things like "Screw it! This isn't working!" or "I am working so hard and not getting results!"
This couldn't be further from the truth. Every stride you take in a positive direction is progress! Every clean food you eat instead of a fatty, sugary one is progress! Every time you make it to a workout is progress! Every time you take the stairs instead of the elevator is progress!
Use the scale as point of reference my friend, a progress checker if you will. Apart from that, PUT IT AWAY. Pay attention to how your clothes are fitting. Is the waist feeling baggier than it used to? How about those jeans you've been drooling over getting back into for years? Can you zip those up yet? When you turn around to check out your booty, is it higher, tighter, or fitter? Can you finally see a little muscle tone in your arms? Spend time checking out your beautiful body naked and then with clothes on. That's the clearest indicator for me personally, how my clothes fit and how I feel when I see myself naked.
It's a tough journey, but we're all in it together!
Chasity
