STRONG

I have always loved watching Biggest Loser.  In fact, any time a weight loss show is on I typically tune in.  Weight has always been a struggle for me, so I really identify with people who are trying to make a change to their bodies.  Recently, NBC dropped Biggest Loser and aired a new show “Strong”.  The show was all woman contestants and male trainers.  I’m not sure when we made the switch from “amount of weight lost” to “strong bodies”, but I LOVE IT!

My younger years were mostly in the 90s where the “waif” look was in.  I don’t even think I had that body type when I was born.  There was no way I was ever going to accomplish looking like those thin girls in the media – for some reason I picture them with round sunglasses and Nirvana t-shirts.  As an adult woman, I can somewhat accept that now, but as a young girl I would not be happy until I was “skinny”.  It wasn’t about health, strength, or happiness, it was about the way that other people viewed me.  And the crazy thing is – for those of you who have reached a “goal weight” or “size”- you look in the mirror and still aren’t happy!!

Through social media and interactions with other people, I have started to see the switch from skinny to strong.  I think it will take a while to really get out there and I think the media will continue to F it up (now the look is curves, but with the tiniest waist ever, big breast, and a big butt all which can only be obtained if you are a Kardashian or have surgery), but I love that it is out there.

And the thing is – strong isn’t just your physical body.  Strong is getting up every day and going to work.  Strong is raising children. Strong is dealing with not being able to have children.  Strong is overcoming an addiction every minute that you say no to it.  Strong is dealing with mental illness daily and continuing to press on.  Strong is choosing the veggies over the chips.  Strong is choosing the chips and not beating yourself up about it!

On those “weak days” (we all have them) – sit down with a pencil and paper.  Write down at least three things that make you feel strong.  For me today they are…

1.      “Successfully” making it through another week of school

2.      Waking up and having a healthy breakfast this morning

3.      Writing for about an hour today (good for my mental health)  :)

This could even be part of your daily/weekly/monthly bullet journal that looks awesome, but I haven’t quite figured out yet!

As women it seems that our brains have been trained to see our worth in the way that we look and we will never measure up to those magazine covers (Have you seen the articles and videos???  INSANELY AIRBRUSHED!!). Focus on what makes you feel strong today, not weak!  Focus on what your body can do, not what it can’t do.

And SET GOALS!  How can you be even stronger tomorrow?  How will you be even stronger a year from now? 

Hey you!  Yeah you!  You’re lookin’ STRONG! ;)

Buzz Ya Later,

Whit

How Far We've Come

I am a big fan of reflection.  By this point you could probably tell by my “lifestyle blog” that has become more of a reflective and hopefully inspirational/motivational blog.

I was on a jog/walk/mosey one day when I was feeling really inadequate to be able to run a marathon this coming December. I was struggling at about mile 4 and desperately trying to wrap my head around being able to complete 26.2 miles.

Then randomly Matchbox 20 started playing in my head. 

“Let’s see how far we’ve come.

Let’s see how far we’ve come.” *

My long distance running dreams began even before I met my marathon running husband.  I have never liked to run.  I think my motivation came from being able to say that I had completed long distance runs.  In the beginning, I couldn’t imagine doing 5 miles on a “short run” day.  The thought of 13.1 seemed completely unfathomable and 26.2 felt slightly more tangible in an odd way like in school when 20 minutes seemed like it would pass more quickly than 15. 

On the days where you feel super overwhelmed and underprepared – take a minute and review your history.  It may be relationship history, work history, parenting history, etc.  Skip over the bad times for a few minutes and focus on the positive.  

How have you grown in this area over the months or years?  

Do you know more now than you did at the beginning?  

Would you consider yourself more experienced?  

Do you know how to handle situations now that you had no idea how to handle in the past? 

LOOK HOW FAR YOU’VE COME!

It takes a lot of steps to complete a marathon.  When I am training and struggling to keep running, I remind myself that every single step I take I am closer to the finish than I have ever been before.  At times the process is slow (especially the first few miles), but it seems the closer I get to that goal, the miles start to pass a little more quickly.  By the later miles, your body starts to tire and your mind becomes your muscle.  It is in those miles that your mind reminds you of your training.  Your mind reflects on how far you have come focusing on where you were in the beginning and where you are now.  In the future you may be even more prepared for those miles, but right now you are more prepared than you have ever been before.

Yes, you still have many miles left, but look how far you’ve come!

Keep going!

Buzz Ya Later,

Whit

*This may/may not have been the message that Matchbox 20 was trying to deliver in their song, but it’s what I took from it. :)

The Power of Yet

My favorite part of race day is…

THE DRIVE HOME!

I love sitting in the passenger seat sweaty, tired, reflective, and most of the time with a smile on my face.  When Duke and I are headed to a race (usually before the sun is up), I go through two phases.  I am usually VERY talkative at the beginning of the ride (coffee!) and then I become VERY quiet once we get closer.  During those quiet moments, I am NERVOUS!  There are a ton of thoughts racing through my mind…

Will we be able find a parking space?

Will we have to walk a long distance to the starting line?

Will it be super cold while we are waiting for the race to start?

Will it be super hot?

Will it rain?

Will there be enough porta potties?!?!?!?!?

But interspersed within those questions, fears, and panicking moments, I think about the ride home and I feel at peace.

I don’t know what will happen during the race--good, bad, or ugly.  But I do know that no matter what happens during the race, at some point, I will be back in that car on the way home and that thought calms me.

It is the power of YET that gets me through the race.  I am not heading home...YET.  But I know that in a few hours I will be.

You may not be a graduate…YET!

You may not be as healthy as you want to be…YET!

You may not be sober…YET!

Now I realize that nothing is promised to us.  I cannot run a marathon…YET!  That YET is very inspiring to me.  I hope to one day be able to say that I ran a marathon, BUT that is not promised to me. 

The YET is not a promise that your goals will be achieved, but it gives you the hope to do everything in your power to accomplish your goals.

Make a plan, get out there, and start working towards your “YET!”  There is no promise that you will accomplish your goal, but let the possibility of achieving it drive you forward.  Regardless of where you end up, I bet you will reach a lot of “YET”s on the way.

Buzz Ya Later,

Whit