Our bodies. We love them (hey, without them, we wouldn’t be here). We hate them (have you listened to your self-talk lately?). Why is it that we can rattle 10 things off the top of our heads that we don’t like about our bodies? You know, the old familiar “my thighs are too big” “I hate the way my ears stick out” “if only my but were bigger/smaller/tighter/…(you fill in the blank).” But when it comes to talking about what we love about our bodies…silence (insert cricket sound here). Why is that? Why is it that we can’t celebrate the AMAZING things our bodies do: get us from point A to point B, give us the vehicle to have a pillow fight with our children, make us feel like a million bucks as we totally get down at our best friend’s wedding on the dance floor (even if it’s TOTALLY embarrassing our spouse/children/ANYONE who is watching), and for crying out loud, those of us to are mothers, we freaking grew a human with them! Sometimes multiple humans at the same time!!!
So my big question for those of you who understand what I’m saying here is What’s Up With That?
In my infinite (or maybe just small) wisdom, I think there are three BIG reasons, and here they are:
- We are conditioned to feel like our bodies are not to be celebrated (after all, that would be egotistical and not at all ladylike).
- We are afraid of ourselves and our authentic power (especially those of us who were taught to be seen and not heard, and never to wear clothing that shows off our assets…that’s shameful! Ring a bell anyone???)
- We fall into the comparison game (the game we “say” we don’t play, but everyone secretly knows we DO, while at the same time understanding that comparison is a JOY thief…and yet we do it anyway).
So how do we get out of that endless cycle that just makes us feel bad?
We CELEBRATE!
Celebrate the scars the imperfections the dimples, freckles, wrinkles, veins, bald spots, moles, unevenness, the list goes on and on.
AND if there is something we don’t like, something we know we can improve, we CHANGE it. Now, don’t misunderstand me here. I’m not talking about getting a face lift, tummy tuck, or augmentation. Although if that’s your jam and you do it for YOU, I’m not one to rain on your parade. What I’m talking about is changing for the better, becoming a healthier version of who you are.
I started my fitness journey after my daughter was born. I believed the falsehood that I now had a mom body, and that I would just be a bit fluffy, especially in my stomach area. And I wasn’t happy with the way I looked or the way I felt. I wanted to FEEL young and energized again. I wanted to feel sexy again, I wanted to put on a pair of tight jeans with a cute tank and FEEL GOOD about myself. I wanted to wear a bikini. I wanted to wear a sundress and shorts, and I wanted to like what I saw in the mirror. I also wanted to feel good about wanting to do all these things. That is wasn’t selfish to want these things.
In walked the Beachbody challenge group, and my coach, my best friend from childhood: Devon Wheaton (The Push Play Mama). And BINGO! I suddenly had the support I needed to actually achieve all those goals, and so many more. Once I started my own journey and got amazing results, I wanted to help others to do the same, so I became a Team Beachbody Coach! Two years later, I’m now home with my kids, leaving a 13 year career as a high school English teacher to become a full time stay at home mom and coach. What a blessing.
Which leads me to my next point. You see, this body, this amazingly beautiful body, got to transform so that what I knew I was on the inside would be reflected on the outside. That’s not selfish my friends, that’s necessary. At least it is to me, right here, right now.
And here I am after baby #2, on that same journey to my best physical self, once again. And the beautiful thing is that I don’t have to go it alone. I have an entire TRIBE of women, just like me, who want more who want better and who also don’t FEEL like we have to apologize for any of it.
That my friends is magic.
And it’s here for the taking.
For each of us.
Light and Love From Me to YOU. <3
You can have the body and the support you deserve.
Ask me how.
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