05/04/2024
Exercising because I love my body got me way further than exercising because I hated it 💪🏼
It breaks my heart how I used to see, speak and think of myself ❤️🥺
I think that’s a short story many of us can relate to; no matter our shape, size, body composition… we’ve all wanted to look a certain way and have done some unhealthy things - often promoted in society - to get there.
I’ve always been sporty, always loved to be super active but haven’t always fuelled my body or rested sufficiently.
In fact I often over-trained/under ate/did not take any days off out of fear that a days rest would mean weight gain 🫣
It wasn’t until I was 25(+) that I started to actually love and accept myself (that I have b***s, hips, bum & tum). Having abdominal surgery for my endometriosis gave me that profound appreciation for my body. For the importance of rest, of nutrition, as well as the exercise I loved so much — running, weights, yoga and of course my true love.. surfing.
God changed my perspective; how would I eat if I was an athlete? How would I train and rest, and recover? How would I talk to myself? How would I nurture myself?
& 6 years on, that journey hasn’t always been perfect but is one I strive to continue with. A labour of love.
I no longer want to be the skinniest in the room, I want to be the best [athlete].
And in that there’s been so much freedom.
Freedom to eat more.. to occasionally have the pizza, the pancakes as well as the days where I have to say no.
There’s freedom to have days off, to give my body permission to rest completely, as well as days be disciplined and do the extra training, extra mobility, extra set despite the weather/plans/etc.
There’s balance, and there’s love.
And as a result of that balance, discipline and love I’ve seen changes in aesthetics, changes in mindset & body composition without effecting my performance 🏄🏼♀️🏃🏼♀️💪🏼🧘🏼♀️🤸🏼🌊🙏🏼
My prayer is that you have that change in perspective. That you see yourself through Gods lense, that you remember you’re so much more than a body… but let’s care for the one you have while you have it ❤️