Yesterday I worked from the pool. In a bathing suit. Without clothes on over it.
Can we pause for a moment of mental victory? This has nothing to do with the way my body has changed and everything to do with the way my mind has changed.
This has everything to do with my deliberate choice to step outside the confines of my comfort zone because I know that’s where all the beauty is.
For most of my life, I wore pants & sleeves to the beach. I have evidence!
Does this mean I’m super confident and proud to rock a bathing suit? Nah. Not exactly. But I’m surely working on it, mentally & physically.
Here’s what I thought as I sat out in my bathing suit:
I cannot care what others think of my body.
(Note that I didn’t say I do not care. I said I cannot care.)
People look at Beyoncé and say she’s too big, too white or too black.
People look at Jennifer Lawrence and criticize her facial features. To some she’s too big, to others too small, to others, just right.
Insert whomever you think is beautiful. People still criticize. They always will.
It’s not our business what other people think of our bodies.
It’s our business what WE think of our bodies.
I am not willing to hold back who I am due to insecurity stemming from what others might think.
You know what’s sexy? CONFIDENCE.
You know what’s not sexy? INSECURITY.
To the ladies who are reading this post: confidence is a sexy trait in a man, right? Insecurity can be a turn-off, right?
Men feel the same way! Confidence is sexy! Insecurity is not only a turn-off, but it’s a recipe to NEVER be happy.
Here’s what I think: I would have looked more beautiful in the above picture if I were wearing a bathing suit and a genuine, confident smile.
Confidence is sexy. Insecurity is unhappiness.
I could have looked at myself in the mirror yesterday & seen wide calves and thick thighs.
I’m going to believe what I focus on. I’m going to see what I choose to see. I’m going to attach to the story I tell.
I’m telling a different story.
Yesterday I chose to be confident. I wore my most beautiful smile I focused on things I love about myself and I enjoyed the moment without giving any of my precious energy to what others may think.
Life is too short to worry about what others think of my body. There will always be someone who will criticize it and I don’t care.
I often repeat to myself something I heard from Tara Brach:
Say yes to the life that is here.
That doesn’t mean I can’t work to improve my life & my body. I can, I do & I should. But saying yes to the life that is here means LIVING FULLY NOW and not putting off experiences or embracing who you are until some future date or weight.
Confidence is sexy and security brings happiness. That’s what I choose!
#endrant
#notquite Wear your damn bathing suit & pair it with a brilliant smile.
#reallyendrant
I loved today’s workout, though the push press got spicy real quick. I did quick sets of 7-7-6 for those guys.
“Dead Weight”
AMRAP 15:
30/20 Calorie Bike
20 DB Push Press (35’s/25’s)
10 Deadlifts (245/165)
I was proud to RX this one (aka, do it as prescribed versus modifying).
As I write this, I’m sitting out at the pool again, in my bathing suit with my brightest smile.
I choose confidence.
On the food front:
Since there was a lot of volume in today’s workout, I opted to have my carbs post workout with steak frites (sweet potato fries) from Paleo Power Meals. It was around 9am when I chowed down on that.
At 12 I had spaghetti squash with meat sauce and around 5pm I had a cobb salad.
I’ll tell you what – I feel best when I don’t snack. My body feels better and I’m less distracted.
I’m currently doing a 30-day challenge with my Masters Club clients and part of my nutrition standard (we each define our own standards) is no snacking. While I don’t hit it every day, I feel soooo much better when I do!
PS: If you’re new to these posts, listen to this podcast episode to get the scoop on what changes I’m making in my life and you can start back at my first daily post here.