Posts Tagged ‘body confidence’
First, I want to invite you to join one of my 3-week challenges that were presented on 7/22 &7/23. Comment on one or both of those posts for a chance to win a Starbucks card. Sign up at any point this week.
Secondly, it’s day 27 and I am gaining confidence by the day. Today is all about gaining even MORE confidence. I am the first to admit that my confidence level has gone down a bit as I have gotten older; this may be because the more life I live, the more talented, amazing people I meet and therefore, feel lesser in comparison to them, or perhaps I have made more mistakes and am afraid of making them again. Whatever the cause of my drooping confidence is, it is no excuse for allowing myself to feel inferior. Here are the 5 steps to improving confidence that Chalene presented today :
- Do something scary. I have done several scary things since starting PUSH; I emailed strangers for tips on blogging (I obviously didn’t reveal personal info, it was just the idea of engaging in discourse with someone I knew nothing about that was slightly daunting); I purchased my own website; I disclosed my weight loss goals to the internet community. I had never done, or even thought of doing any of these things prior to the start of these 30 days. What fear is holding you back? Take measures to conquer it.
- Seek knowledge. This is something that is in my blood. At 8-years-old, I was reading about presidents, the solar system, and anything that sparked my interest. Today, I read books, newsletters, blogs, and magazines about topics that I want to know more about. Right now some topics of choice are obviously blogging and weight-related health. We are never done learning.
- Live with authenticity. Honesty is the foundation on which I build my values, priorities, and goals. I can’t lie about or fake much of anything. So, when I do something, love someone, learn something it is with 100% of my being. 50%-ing life is hardly living.
- Run with stallions. A few days ago I talked about surrounding yourself with people who strive to succeed and support your achievements. Hold your inner circle to a golden standard. Befriend someone you can learn something from, encourage your current pals to hop on the success-wagon with you.
- Talk it out. I rarely shut up and it sometimes gets me in trouble; but more often than not, it allows people to understand my point of view, it allows me to take a load off; it allows my thoughts to be heard. Don’t keep to yourself, the world wants to hear your opinions and ideas!
Take one of these 5 steps today and start shining!
Shine in your own skin
Posted on: April 20, 2012
I have been on a bit of a mental health post kick lately–on a college campus with 31,000 undergrad, nearly half of whom are hormonal, body-conscious women, bashing of one’s natural physique is common place. Even more so now than I did in high school, I hear my friends and peers call themselves and others fat, deem every morsel they ingest as the devil, and obsess over the way they look every time they step out of their room. Where is the self-love everybody?
College is a stressful time. Papers, exams, interviews, jobs, and not to mention a social life that is complex to balance–who wouldn’t eat a little something off-track or miss a workout here and there? It is one thing to be health conscious and body repectful, and another to drive yourself insane with calorie counts, scales, and “fat talk.”
Instead of berating yourself for that bowl of ice cream, promise yourself to sleep it off tonight by getting to bed a half-hour early, and sweat it out in the morning by getting up a half-hour early to squeeze in a quick workout. Or maybe it is one of those weeks where you have 3 exams and no time to concern yourself with bedtimes and workouts; although health should always remain your first priority (you cannot do ANYTHING without your health) shake it off and get studying. See? Obsessing just makes people sad and anxious, being content with yourself and your decisions takes an unnecessary stress off of your load.
Are you guilty of “fat talking”? Do you look in the mirror and call yourself ugly? Do you tell your friends your ugly? Don’t do it! Talking about being fat, wanting to be skinny, or the weights of others in a degrading manor does NOTHING. Doing something does something. If you are unhappy with your weight or health habits, change them, don’t sulk about wanting to change them. If you are concerned about the weight of a friend, eat a balanced diet around them, invite them to take part in realistic exercise with you. Don’t make fun of her, I know how it feels to be that girl. Check out my first two posts if you want to know more. Look in your mirror before leaving your room, and leave with confidence. You are amazing. And as for telling your friends you’re ugly…friends don’t pick ugly friends, so they will most certainly disagree with you.
Love yourself and so will everyone else!
After my whirlwind of a weekend filled with family and some much needed time away from the books, I almost forgot to post about my Fitness Buddy of the week. So here I am, at 12:43 am, committed to share with you, the world, one of my heroes.
I am as guilty as the next person of obsessing over my “pooch” or whining about my thighs, or asking my Turbo Kick class who is attending to achieve that “spring break body;” our society is stuck on poor body image. So many work out only on the days they feel fat or when they ate an extra cookie, or only eat healthily to fit in a smaller size. However, my sister Lillie defies the norm…especially for 14 year old girls.
The typical high school freshman girl wears about a size 0-2, low cut shirts, stands about 5’3″ and slouches into her scrawny bod as she obnoxiously flirts in the hallways. Lillie…not so much. She walks tall and proud at 5’9″ with a bootie that probably one cheek could fit into a size 4. She attracts the boys with her skills on the volleyball court and softball field; she keeps her friends with her quick sense of humor (sometimes she’s even quicker than her big sister); she draws attention to herself with her radiant confidence. And she doesn’t take thick girl trash from anyone.
Lillie’s grip on body confidence is inspiring. She says “I like how I am, why change it?” With 7+ athletic practices a week, not counting games and tournaments, Lil is by no means a couch potato. She has a level of athleticism that I couldn’t possess in a million years; her leadership and drive on and off the court or field are unbelievable, and people notice. Her ability to make people laugh with her clever comebacks, to smile with her sympathy, to cry with her inspirationally firm stance on body confidence is beyond that of probably any kid in her high school.
When I hear about remarks she receives from snotty girls (who are probably just jealous that their butt doesn’t look as high and tight in their bedazzled jeans as hers does) and the mature ways that she responds, I can’t help but think 14- year-old Lillie is way beyond her years. She works hard to fuel her body for her endless hours of athletics, gives 100% heart in all of her endeavors, and stands true to her belief in “thick girl representation” (and by the way folks, she came up with that one all on her own, talk about empowering).
Coming from someone who has never put on a size 0 in her life, let me just say that sister or not, Lillie’s confidence is something everyone should aspire to gain. Stand tall, be proud of what you have, and represent.
iamincharge 