Last night I was reading It’s Hard Out There For a Fit Chick — about the struggle so many women (fit or not) go through with regards to weight and body image. A few weeks ago, I mentioned how when I look back at pictures from a few years ago, I distinctly remembering how fat I thought I looked and felt at that time but those pictures don’t tell that same story. How we see ourselves usually doesn’t match the reality –which is such a shame. I can’t tell you how many times my internal voice tries to tell me I am not good enough, not lean enough, not strong enough, not pretty enough on a daily basis. It’s an ongoing project to quiet those voices – to not compare my progress and abilities to others and to not wish I looked like someone else.

Last weekend – during the regionals my friend Tiff and were watching the Women’s competitions and we both remarked at how different all the body styles of the women athletes were –all super strong and in shape but all different. Look at the top three: Gretchen Kittleberger, Christy Phillips, and Michelle Crawford. I have written about this before – we all have strengths and weaknesses and just looking at the top three fittest are shaped so differently and yet, all in shape and fit. There is no perfect shape, but there is being the fittest and healthiest you.

And as I said – it’s a constant internal battle for me to learn to accept ME – warts and all. I hope that seeing women that don’t fit the model or media stereotype helps other women out there start to realize that being fit and healthy is what matters at the end of the day. Having your family love you, being around and able to enjoy all the wonderful moments of your life is what it is all about. My hope is that young girls start to see the definition of beauty very differently than I did when I was growing up – being strong, having muscles and being able to deadlift well over your body weight is beyond beautiful. It’s what we all should strive for.

warmup
200m jog
10 squats
4 Sampson Stretch
4 Instep Lunges
10 squats

wod
20 min AMRAP
20 Slam Balls
10 Ring Dips
15 Pull Ups
200m Run
total: 5 rounds

These WODs are tough. I used a skinny band to help me with the Ring Dips, did Kipping Pull ups and a 15# Slam Ball. I should have have used a bit heavier slam ball but overall this one killed me. Cardio/Metcon heavy and for the first three rounds of Pull ups, I thought I was supposed to do 20 reps so there’s that to add some spice.  I was spent at the end – it’s hot and muggy and I left a sweat angel in my wake —