Happy Friday everyone! Today kicks off my “Share YOUR Scale Relationship” series!
I have asked 6 blogger friends to share their own personal relationship WITH or WITHOUT the scale! I thought it would be interesting to hear different viewpoints on the matter (since you all know that I recently Got RID OF THE SCALE), so expect a new installment every Friday for the next few weeks! First up is Jessica from Eat, Drink, Breathe, Sweat!
On making friends with the mirror
Hi Healthy Apron readers!! I’m thrilled to be guest blogging here for you all – and on a topic that is very near and dear to my heart: finding confidence and maintaining balance without needing that number on the scale for validation.
When Erin asked me to participate in her guest blog series on confidence, I was all over it. Mostly because I only recently discovered confidence and a real sense of comfort in my own skin. All without ever knowing what the number on the scale says.
How on earth did I get to this happy place, you ask?
Well, I’ll let you in on my secret: it all came down to a real focus on building mental strength. It started out as a way for me to focus on training for my next half marathon in a way that would leave me feeling proud of the race I run vs. focusing on making a certain PR time (and yet another number!). And that focus on mental strength was also applied to a new style of working out (for me) that I’ve since fallen in love with – because, aside from running, it’s the only workout that has built up not only my physical strength but my mental strength and endurance at the same time.
That style of workout is a barre-style of working out (I’m sure many of you have heard of Exhale Spa’s Core Fusion; the local studio near me, called barre n9ne, is similar in style and is incredibly challenging, and totally life-changing). It focuses on lengthening with strengthening and finding that mind/body connection to get you through some tough moves that you might not otherwise push yourself through. This has been the key for me – focusing on mental endurance. Trusting my body to do the work, trusting it to do what my mind thinks is not possible. Something that has paired nicely with my half marathon training – and focusing on believing that my body can and will carry me all 13.1 miles to that finish line…and with a smile on my face. That’s my goal – to finish what I started, and with a smile, not a wimper.
It’s through this experience of mine – pairing running with barre n9ne workouts – that has given me confidence and mental strength. In me. And it’s because I’ve grown to trust my body that I’ve grown to love that body that gets me through as many tough workouts as I can possibly throw at it. No body is perfect – least of all mine. But it’s my body – one that I work hard to strengthen; one that doesn’t let me down; one that I can trust. And THAT gives me confidence. A scale could never give me that level of comfort in my own skin that I’ve always wanted. But finding something I love and focusing on mental strength? It’s given me more confidence than I ever had before. And for that, I’m eternally grateful.
So my advice to you, based on my own personal experience, for finding comfort in your own skin, for finding and building confidence, is this:
…Find a workout you love, and make it your own. (for me, it was finding barre n9ne and pairing that with an existing love in running)
source…Every single time you workout, focus on trusting your body versus just going through the motions or giving up (on a move, on a new distance, etc.) for fear of your body letting you down. Guess what? If you push through, I can almost guarantee that you’ll surprise yourself and go farther than you think your body is capable of. Do me a favor – next time you face a daunting workout, give this a whirl: When you think you can’t possibly take another step, lift another rep, spin that wheel anymore, Try. Feel your body working hard. Trust it. The feeling of trusting yourself is indescribable.
source…Embrace the mirror; toss the scale. Next time you look in that mirror, pick out two or three things you love about your body and celebrate it. And the next time you take a peek, pick out two more. The freckles on your nose. The way your nose is just a little bit crooked, perfectly imperfect. The strong arms that carry you through a series of pushups. These are the things about you that make you uniquely you. A scale, a number – it says nothing about who YOU are. Focusing less on that and more on you, the you that you are today, the you that you can trust, mind and body? It’s priceless – and no number could ever properly quantify that fact.
THANKS JESS! This was SO inspirational!
Looooove this blog post so much. Wonderful series!!!
In February I tried to promote “body positivity – even just for one day” and it was really a hit! It’s amazing how negative we can be about our own bodies…without even conciously realizing it.
http://sparklyandslimming.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/love-your-body-even-if-its-just-for-today/
[...] finding confidence – with or without the scale, and how we got there. I was thrilled to take part in her series, mostly because I’m just now at a point where I’m finally finding that “happy [...]
This was a fantastic post. I find the scale thing “easier” than mirror, interesting. Love barre workouts, I do one called figure 4, really body changing.
So well written… The last three sentences should be copyrighted and published as an uber-inspirational quote.
LOVE this post. Thanks Jess!! And thanks Erin.
AMAZING post. I love this SOOOOOO MUCH!!!! Embrace the mirror , throw out the scale — amen to that!
Awesome series! And incredibly inspirational post, Jess! I’ve battled with the scale for years, but have chosen not to weight myself for the past six months or so. Tossing out the “numbers mentality” has enabled me to focus on my body’s STRENGTH–to go above and beyond–to push myself. However I’ve also learned that it’s just as important to hone in on exhaustion. I have a tendency to want to go longer, stronger, faster than I did in my previous workout, and I’ve realized that that isn’t always better!
i think im going to love this series as im trying to get rid of mine!
This is such an awesome series! I can’t wait to read the posts by others!
Great story Jess! I love hearing people talk about reaching their “happy place.”
I agree with pushing yourself to feel more strong! There’s nothing like feel strong and good about your body!
That was so inspirational!!! I struggle with caring too much about numbers and your story is such a breathe of fresh air!! I have recently started taking barre classes and I am in LOVE!!!!
Ohh, I’ve heard of the barre classes they sound so great!!!
I am loving this post. It’s coming to me at an amazing time battling myself in my head 3 months post-baby. I haven’t gotten on the scale in 3 weeks, the last time I did it just ruined my day because I still haven’t lost anything since the initial baby weight. Still “20″ to go. I am trying to focus on my clothes fitting better and being more positive when I look in the mirror! Thanks, Jess and thanks, Erin for this series!
Angela – I think you’d really dig a barre-style workout if you’re looking for something different to shake things up (literally). Do you live near any barre-style studios? If not, you could even start with some DVDs at home (Core Fusion and Physique57 make excellent ones). I’d love to hear what you think
While I do still weigh myself, I love hearing about others stories with the scale! Scale or not, I agree that confidence and mental strength is key to trusting yourself and being proud of your body and your achievements.
Great guest post!! I’ve been wanting to try a barre class for a while now – I’m no where near what you would describe as graceful but I get a little bored of yoga so I’d love a different form of mind-body exercise to shake things up a bit!
I love this post! I totally agree with you that if you focus on how amazing and strong your body is when you feel like you just can’t push anymore, you will surprise yourself and get through it! I have really be focusing on that lately and it definitely makes me enjoy my workouts more and it pushes my body to do more than I ever thought I could!
I can already tell I’m going to love this series. I’ve found myself using the scale less and less and when I do, letting it affect me less. Why would I let an inanimate object ruin my whole day?
“Next time you look in that mirror, pick out two or three things you love about your body and celebrate it” <–love this! Great advice Jess!