My Body Is NOT A Comparison Chart

I am guilty as charged when it comes to comparing my body to others. The common phrase used is "I am a girl, we all do it!" Most people that I know do it too. It's hard to not look and compare. Logging onto social media and instantly jealousy conquers how we feel about ourselves. When looking at other girls and how perfect their bodies are it's hard not to feel defeated. It becomes a long thought process of how your body will never look like that, or "how and what are they doing to look like that because obviously nothing I do is working!" I started a fitness Instagram with my boyfriend and I love being able to have a feed that allows me only to see fitness posts, but I instantly get insecure when I see how awesome everyone else looks compared to myself. Why do we do this? My body, your body, her body-- we are all different and we cannot compare ourselves to one another. If we continue to do this we will never be happy.

I, this past year, started to post progress pictures. I never used to because I know so many people who immediately judge people who post about their body. "Wow, congrats you look awesome... no one cares." "They are so obnoxious they were never fat to begin with, thanks for making the rest of us feel bad about ourselves." I started to say these phrases along with my friends as I judged those girls. When I finally lost my weight I posted a photo, and now I get why every girl before me did... and I am angry that I judged those girls for loving themselves and feeling confident enough to show their beauty to the world. The honest truth is that my friends and I were jealous. These other girls had what I didn't and I hated them for it. What kind of attitude is that? What kind of person had I become? I now post my body and I am proud of these posts. I worked so hard to get to where I am physically and I am proud to show the world that I accomplished what I set my mind to. Not for others, not for the likes or attention... simply for myself. Now, some people say if you are really proud of your accomplishments then why are you showing it off to the world? You don't need their opinions, if you were really comfortable with your body you wouldn't NEED to post that photo. OK now I have come to hate those people! What's wrong with loving my body and being proud of what I have been able to achieve? Why is it wrong that I allow for friends to support me and even use my post as motivation to say that they can push through difficulties too. It's not the image that matters, its the confidence that is present within the image.  I am not ashamed that I am confident and proud.

It's summertime and I have been seeing non-stop posts of girls looking fabulous in their bikinis.. congrats to you all because you're kicking some serious butt! Ive been falling into that jealousy again. I am working hard to change my thinking/attitude towards it. I look great, my friends look great, that random girl posting looks great. I am me, this is my body, this is how great I can make it look, and this is what my hard work has accomplished. All bodies are different, the sooner we accept that the better! My body is not a comparison chart! My body is my beautiful me. 

Please enjoy this amazing photo of myself and my gorgeous friends. We are all different, we are all working hard to stay motivated and are succeeding at crushing our goals, and we are all beautiful!

5 Minutes, 10 Minutes--If You Run You Are A Runner

I've been motivated to write this post due to many of my friends recently getting involved with running. They all seem to be struggling with one thing, "I only ran for five minutes then I was done. I suck at running. How can I run for 45 minutes if I can't run for five?" 

These sentences have come out of every one of my friends mouth, but what they don't understand is that it once came out of my mouth, and occasionally is repeated every once in a while. Whether its 5 minutes, 10 minutes, an hour--- if you run then you are a runner--no one can change that-- not even your mind!

Running is mental. I don't care what anyone says it drives me up a wall when people say "I could never run that much, I physically could never do that." Thats all training folks! No one can easily run 45 minutes without training your body to do so! It's not easy! It's draining and takes a lot out of your body! It's not easy and it is not something that is going to happen over night. Here is what you do. Make/Find a training schedule and go do it! You don't have to run the entire time it says--- let your body tell you how much you can do. Walk the other part! Do intervals... Once you get most of it down then challenge yourself.

Where does it kick in mentally? I physically can now run over 2 hours. My body has worked up to being able to do it. If I was to go out in an hour in run for 3 hours it wouldn't happen. You have to mentally prepare to conquer the run! If you say you can't you won't. If you allow for yourself to be challenged and keep at it, you will.

To all my friends getting out there looking for a change... keep going! It isn't easy. I am living, breathing, physical proof that you can do this! I stopped running for almost a year.. A few runs here and there but nothing comparable to what I used to do... Now I am working on training for a full marathon. It takes time! Don't let the run conquer you, conquer the run. Push yourself to conquer your challenges!

I am running a 10 miler in October... Its May.. You can do it! Contact me if you are interested! Lets work together to get you physically ready, but most importantly we will work together to mentally prepare you to show the world that you are a runner!

A runner is not one who does a million races. A runner is someone who gets up, ties their laces, and puts their heart and mind into a workout!

Why I Run and Why I Am Writing About It

Why am I spending time writing a post for you to read?
Why am I a runner and why do I feel the need to share this information with you? Easy. I am a runner because my body craves it and I can't go a day without knowing I am doing something to better myself. Why am I sharing this? Because running helped me to find myself and I hope it can be an aid for you as well.

I ran for four years in high school--give or take a few seasons due to injuries but that is besides the point. I started running because I knew I could do it and I didn't make the swim team. Sounds like a few lame reasons right? I grew up in Virginia and spent my summers swimming but when we moved it all came to an end due to lack of funds. I loved swimming and my summers would not have been the same without it. The cross country team was basically walk on my freshman year. My mom looked at me in the car on the way home from my rejection from the swim team and said "You need to run, I know you are going to love it." Quick back story: my mother is a runner. She ran the Marine Corp.  Marathon--which I remember only little blurbs of that race-- and she continued to run throughout my life. I always looked up to her for that and assumed that since she did it then it must be in my blood so I must be able to do it too. So I joined the team. I made friends, ran races, hated practice, and loved the feeling of accomplishment. Even though it brought along many injuries, I loved it and enjoyed the fun it brought me in high school.

College rolled around and I decided I was over the whole "running thing." Why bother? Who has time for that anyways? MISTAKE! When I came home for winter break I had gained just about thirty pounds. I was always skinny and petite, so this was hard for me. I didn't fit into my clothes, I developed self confidence issues, and I started to grow envious of all the girls who didn't gain a pound and looked perfect. I knew that I needed to change! A friend of mine told me that she had ran a half-marathon and loved the experience! She told me she was in the best shape, physically and mentally. This was something that I not only wanted, but needed to do! I opened my computer, transferred over a hundred dollars, and that was that. My mom helped me find a training plan and every day from February to September I ran my a** off!

The pounds slowly drifted away--it took me until August entering into my Junior Year to be at my goal weight-- but I learned so much about myself from the experience. Weight cannot be ripped off or disappear in 24 hours. Its a process! This long and slow process wasn't easy for my self-esteem. I had to teach myself to love me and push myself to achieve what I wanted.

Me, now. Starting the summer before my senior year. I am still at my goal weight--I have a new goal which is nice abs, tight butt, and toned legs--but those are just my body goals. My personal goal is to continue to love and accept myself. Having self-love isn't easy, but running taught me how to do that and continues to remind me everyday how great of a person I really am. I get 40-60 minutes of just thinking and getting lost in my thoughts. I have PR goals which I have crushed every time, and have completed four half-marathons (plus a ton of other fun races) and am now on my way to my first, and only, marathon. I have friends who I have gotten closer with because they want to change too--we bond over the stress of not eating the cake that we are desperately craving, then we bond over the fact that a day later we ate the entire cake, and even better, we bond over working together convincing each other that we need to run when we would rather take a nap and/or quit school! Everyday I have a chance to better myself--and I remind myself that when I don't want to move! Everyday is a new opportunity. Thank you running for giving me confidence, for taking my stress away while I am in school--and giving me that solid GPA-- and for always being there for a little detox and/or accomplishing moment that I need to push me through the day!