Tag Archives: triathlon

Your Body – A love/hate relationship

40 Comments

A show of hands please – How many of you LOVE your body? I mean, really love it. Every little thing about it. All the good stuff, the bad stuff, the jiggly bits, the muscly bits, ALL of it. Come on, raise your hands up high.

Obviously, I can’t see into your computer. (that would be weird) BUT I’m willing to bet that there weren’t a whole lotta hands up in the air. The reality for many of us is that we may love or really like some parts of our bodies, but hate other parts. For women in particular, body love, complete body love, is hard. VERY hard. There’s a million reasons for body image issues, and I’m not going to get into them right now. I think for each of us, we have a pretty good idea where they come from. But I do want to talk about trying to love our bodies, even when we don’t like all of the parts.

I had a moment this summer. One of those moments where you have to stop and think, “Holy shit. What am I thinking?” This past July I completed my very first Olympic Triathlon. It was a huge goal for me. One that I wouldn’t have ever considered even attempting just a few short years ago. I shared the experience with my bestie Deb, and for both of us, it was absolutely a day of pride and celebration.

Later that night however as we were relaxing and resting on the deck, we flicked through the pictures taken during the event. For both of us, our mood changed. Sure, we were still proud and excited, but now it was tampered with how we felt we looked in the photos. The strong powerful athlete I felt like while I was swimming, biking and running, well, that’s not what I saw in the pictures.

My mom, hearing us bitch and moan, stopped and said, “I can’t believe what I’m hearing. You two just did something amazing. You should be proud of your bodies, not criticizing them.”

She was right. REALLY right.

Did what she said that day change how I felt about myself when I looked in the mirror? No, not totally. But it got me thinking. And I’ve been thinking ever since.

My body is not perfect. FAR from it. But I’m finally coming to a place where I love it. I still don’t like some parts of it, but as a whole, I am finally starting to love my body. Because really, I’ve put my body through a lot in recent years, and not only does it perform, it excels. Sometimes they’re little accomplishments, sometimes they’re huge, but the one thing I know for sure is that MY body accomplished them.

Carry, grow and nurture two babies? MY body did that!

Push through two and a half hours of swimming, running and biking in the mountains? MY body did that!

Hikes through mountains and rainforest with my kids? MY body does that!

Did a handstand at Crossfit? Oh, ya..MY body did that!

Spends the day skiing with my family? MY body can do that!

When I stop to think about all the things, athletic or not, that my body can do…it’s amazing. Am I size four? Uh, no. Do I look like the ‘typical’ triathlete or runner? Nope. Are there things I don’t like and want to change about my body? Absolutely.

BUT…if I dwell on all the things I don’t like or the parts that I want to wave a magic wand over, I’ll drive myself crazy. And, I’ll miss out on all the kick ass stuff my body can do right NOW.

It’s not always easy, but why shouldn’t we love our bodies now? RIGHT now! Not in two months after we diet. Not when we can finally fit into that dress we’ve been eying. NOW.

It’s hard, I get it. I struggle with it. It’s a work in progress for sure. One I work at everyday. But that’s all you can do really…keep working on it and maybe one day, if I ask the same question, “How many of you LOVE your body?” There will be more hands in the air.

___________________________

So, come on, share. It’s good for you, I promise. Tell me and the world (or whoever reading) what you LOVE your body for.

____________________________

And hey, while you’re here…sign up for my author newsletter. The link is right up at the top of this page. I promise not to flood your inbox. You’ll only hear from me when there’s exciting book news to share. So be the first to hear about a new book, get a coupon code and other extras!

 

Fitness Funk? Find your Focus

16 Comments

It’s the second week in January which means millions of people across the world have revved up their exercise routines and the gyms are packed to the rafters.

People are excited about exercise again. Their goals have been redefined and they’re raring to go.

So why was it that I found myself firmly in the middle of a full on fitness funk?

Yesterday, figured it out…

Over the years, I’ve discovered one very important fact about myself. I am goal oriented. Give me a goal, and I will achieve it. (or make a really valiant effort) I need to see a finish line, a light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t do well with generalizations like, ‘get in shape’. What does that even mean? I need something to shoot for. In the past that’s usually been a race. I’ve trained for first a 5km, then a 10km, then a 1/2 marathon, then a triathlon. If I’ve signed up for something, committed to doing it, I’m going to do it.

The problem is, I currently don’t have a race to train for. My next race isn’t until the end of May which gives me way too much time to make excuses. Over the last month I found myself unmotivated, quick to make excuses, and feeling generally ‘blah’ about the whole thing.

And then yesterday, two things happened.

1) I went for a run. This in of itself is not unusual. But on yesterday’s run with my training buddy and bestie, something shifted in my brain. We were talking about goals and how neither of us had a Holy Shit goal this year. I was blaming my lack of goal setting for my general apathy towards exercise and then I realized, Wait a minute. Why do I NEED a new and different goal? I love running. So why not focus on that? Do what I love.” And knowing me and my oh so slightly competitive nature, I’ll do everything I can to create a new personal best in the process (hey, I am who I am) But the whole thing was such a basic concept, but one I couldn’t see because it was too close.  My first lightbulb moment of the day – Focus on doing what I love. And love doing it.

2) Later that night, I went to hot yoga with another fabulous bestie. Because of Christmas craziness it had been almost a month since I’d been to class. I missed it. I’d been looking forward to it all day. At the beginning of the practice the instructor/yogi, tells us to set an intention. It can be a spiritual or physical intention. Whatever you need. My intention was to just be there in the moment (this is difficult for me as my mind wanders…a lot!) and to refocus on my body to rediscover my fitness mojo. The Yogi we had for last nights class is tough. She challenges our bodies and our minds and after four weeks off, both my mind and body got exactly the workout they needed! Somewhere between high plank, downward dog and frog (ow!) something clicked for me. My second lightbulb moment  of the day – Focus both on what my body AND my mind need.

Such simple concepts, but I’d lost sight of them. Sure, exercise is good for the body. Yes, I need it to stay healthy. BUT, my mind needs it too. I have a tendency to get wrapped up in my thoughts, overwhelmed by day to day life and the voices characters in my head. Exercise clears that out for me. It’s me time. Time for me to connect with myself and leave everything else behind.

I woke up this morning feeling good (and yes, a bit sore). But I’m ready to focus on what my body and mind need and I’m going to love doing it! And if it doesn’t fit that very simple criteria…it’s out.

How about you? Any light bulb moments when it comes to your exercise/fitness routine? Why do you do the activities you do?

Photo credits to lululemon athletica

I Lost My Toe – An Athletic Badge of Honor

10 Comments

Okay, I didn’t really lose my toe. It is fortunately, still firmly attached. But, on my left foot, I did lose my second to the biggest (is that the pointer toe?) toe nail. And I’m ecstatic.

Sure it looks a bit strange and pedicures, if I ever got them on a regular basis, will be awkward for awhile, but I am celebrating this missing toe nail. Before you think I’m totally insane, let me explain.

Since I made the decision to add activity in my life a few years ago, and then slowly began accomplishing some of my fitness goals, one thing has been missing. I don’t look like an athlete. I don’t have the ripped abs and tight buns that are typically associated with athleticism. In fact, there is really nothing that looks even remotely athletic about me. Sure, sometimes I wear cute running clothes, but that’s about it. In fact often when people find out I’ve run half marathons they raise and eyebrow and give me one of those, “you?” looks. It’s true.

And mostly, I’m okay with that.

So back to my toe. For me, this is kind of like a badge of honor. Losing nails is one of the most common running ‘injuries’ for endurance athletes and now I’ve joined that club. Back in July I accomplished my Holy Sh*t goal of completing the Heart of the Rockies Olympic Triathlon. It’s important to note the word ‘Rockies’ as this particular race takes place in the mountains, meaning there were hills, a.k.a MOUNTAINS.

Right at the end of the run portion of the race, is a long, steep decent, coming down from, yup, you guessed it, a mountain. My toe must have been slamming against the front of my shoe because when I finally crossed the finish line, and after I was able to get off the ground, I pulled off my shoes and sure enough…purple nail bed.

Two months later…the badge of honor.

I get how ridiculous this is. But hey…it’s the little things that count right?

Without further ado…my toe. And yes I’m aware of how freakishly large my feet are.

I'm sure it'll grow in soon

What injuries have you had that have made you proud? Alternatively…any injuries with dumb stories? They’re fun too!