Do What Works For You
Staying Fit…
Easier said then done right?!
I want to take a minute to open up about some of my struggles with my own body image. I’ll be the first to step up and say, putting yourself out there is HARD! Any woman that shows up to a professional dancer audition and gives it her all deserves a LOT of frickin’ credit! To be judged on your body no matter what size you are or what position you’re putting yourself in, is difficult! As a former NBA dancer, I admit that we put ourselves out there to be judged, that’s part of the gig! But, when it comes with criticism from complete strangers in the crowd, it’s still a tough pill to swallow.
I learned over the years how to have some thick skin. How does that saying go? “Nobody makes you feel inferior, unless you let them”. This is important to remember. It’s tough to be criticized, others words/opinions can be hurtful, but don’t let this stop you from your goals.
Last year I was working at an NHL game and I had just been on camera doing a promotion. I walked to the elevator to go down a floor, when I stepped onto the elevator, there were two women (guessing a little older than me) who stood in front of me staring at me. All I heard before the elevator door closed was one woman say to the other “Wow, she’s a lot prettier on the jumbotron.” Ouch. That one stung a little. But, did I run away and let their opinions stop me from jumping right back in action during my next promo, absolutely not!!
Be open to constructive criticism, and if it’s not constructive, don’t let it ruin your whole day. Again, nobody gets to rain on your parade if you don’t let them.
Even now in my 30s, I still struggle with my own body image and I like to think I’ve got some pretty thick skin. Just because I put myself out there and post pictures of myself on social media doesn’t mean I don’t have insecurities of my own. To make matters worse, my metabolism is not the same as it was 10 years ago, even 5 years ago! It’s a constant battle, if you’re relating to any of what I’m saying just know, you’re not alone!
With the ever growing social media craze, it’s becoming harder and harder to separate what’s normal and what’s filtered. So give yourselves a break and know that everyone has their own struggles. Also, the instagram model that’s holding a box of pizza and eating a slice in bed, yes she may actually be doing that, maybe her metabolism is crazy, maybe that’s totally fake and she only had that one little bite, maybe she sat there and ate the whole box?! Who knows, but don’t judge her or yourself because that same idea doesn’t serve you.
If the scrolling has got you stressed out, take a break from social media! A social media cleanse will do you good. Don’t forget to live in the reality of our world, you’ll miss a lot if you’re always in your phone!
A few things I’ve learned along the way
I recently read an article that talked about women’s negative relationship with working out, and more specifically with running. I hate running, and I’d pretty much rather do ANY other workout if it means I don’t have to run. Anyway, the article was discussing the fact that we force ourselves to do certain workouts because they’re advertised to us as super-cures or a quick way to get fit. But what if you walk out of those workouts hating life every time? Do you think you’ll want to go back and do it again tomorrow? Not without an internal temper tantrum!
Moral of the story: find things that work for you! I’ve found that spin classes (Rush Cycle is my favorite!) and Yoga (Corepower C2 & Sculpt classes) are my go-to. I live in a building that has a gym, one floor above me to be specific, do you know how hard it is for me to get my butt up one floor into a gym?! Yet I’ll drive across town to go to a spin/yoga class.
In the next few months I’m going to be doing some blog posts about my favorite workouts. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no fitness guru, but I’ll repeat it again, what I have learned is if you find something that works for you, do it! No need to get fancy and kill yourself training for a marathon if that’s just not your thing.
Find your Tribe Surround yourself with people who make you feel good!! This is extremely important! It’s also something that’s taken me a long time to learn. Being around people that are healthy, positive and good humans will translate into your relationships with one and other. They’ll provide a positive influence on your life. I’m not saying rid your friendship with anyone who has a negative side, we ALL have negative days, but be selective. If the relationship is not providing value into your life, re-think your time commitment to that relationship. These are little tools that have actually helped me with my own body image and feeling good about myself.
I struggle a lot with self control. Put a pizza in front of me and I’ll feel the need to finish every last bite, do I actually need that? No, most definitely not, but for whatever reason I’ve always struggled with portion control. So what do you have to do to off set portion control?? Workout…Well working a full time job, then adding an NHL home game schedule on top of that, not to mention this blog gig that I’m secretly obsessed with, add a dog, add 3 courses for gemology school, yea….working out is a lot easier said than done.
Find balance. As noted, my schedule is bonkers, always. I like it that way. But it’s so easy to become overwhelmed and let the pieces of the puzzle that make me feel good slip away. This goes back to learning what works for you. Take a solo trip to the beach, meditate, find what makes you happy. Sometimes, you even have to put your favorite tv show on hold to focus on something else that would serve you better in that moment. I plan out what I’m wearing at the beginning of each week because for whatever reason, this simple act in the morning can cause a full blown anxiety melt down. True story, sadly.
My equation will not be yours, nor will it be anyone else’s. Find what works for you, and don’t forget to give yourself a break. This world is tough to navigate, surround yourself with good humans (dogs), take deep breaths and always remember, even when you think it won’t, the sun also rises!
