In My Skin || Part I, Body Confidence

When you’re a BAD ASSED, strong willed, determined and vocal individual, it’s sometimes hard to understand where those of a completely polar opposite nature are coming from.

I mean, f**k me, the amount of body confidence, body shaming, bodies bodies bodies… articles I’ve seen around in the past few months has rocketed. Many have claimed lower levels of self esteem are linked to the rise in social media. I get it. But some people do find their inspiration and motivation online following their #fitspiration.

Where Do You Find Your Inspiration To Keep Fit?!

I personally don’t seek nor find inspiration externally which brought me to a realisation recently about why I may lack motivation to exercise and a huge part of it comes down to what I see in the media, on social media and how those around me speak of exercise.

Every article seems to be about losing weight, or getting a bigger butt. Thinner arms, reduce back fat, achieve thinner thighs.

What about those of us who work out for the feeling or the social interaction rather than the aesthetics?!

Celebrating Active Women 

…doing their thing, no matter how well they do it, how they look or even how red their face gets.

This is Sport England trying to buck a trend with the #ThisGirlCan campaign. I had hoped this campaign would be aimed at inspiring those who are not participating in sport or exercise but it seems that the people taking to the campaign are the ones who already go to the gym, eat healthily and generally lead an active life.

I’ve been lucky enough to have been involved in sport all through my younger years (with the usual dropout gap between the ages of 14 – 18) and have been pretty active since leaving school, studying the science behind exercise (all the -ologies including psychology, physiology and sociology) then forging a career in this very, very fickle world.

I’m not saying I have lived this life without my own issues though!

Photo Credit: Georgina of Fitcetera

Struggling With The Reality Of Change 

If you knew me when I was growing up, and before I joined in on the fitness game you’d know!

In my younger teenage years I was basically two-dimensional. And for that reason hated my arms being on show but loved a crop top. Then I started to fill out at university (albeit because I actually started eating more food!) and quite liked my arms! As I’ve gotten older (I’m now 30) it’s felt like every year comes with an extra kg. I hover somewhere between 63 and 66kg depending on what activities I’ve been up to. And I’m kinda alright with that.

I recently took up swimming which has to be one of the most unforgiving and exposing sports! Dressed in a tight swimsuit, no make up (cos yes I do wear make up to the gym) my hair squashed underneath a swim cap (I can never achieve the post swim bed head hair look), doing something that I have no experience in. That has to be the height of my insecurities, right?!

Then add to that, the fact that this was all part of a national magazine campaign where I had to pose for before and after shots as well as have my entire journey documented on camera with no photoshopping.

That experience showed me how much like everyone else I am. I immediately cleaned up my diet a little and committed to my swim programme.

At the half way point, I considered taking more drastic action then decided a) I could not be bothered and b) I wanted this to be an honest and authentic experience. If you saw the magazine feature you’ll know there were not many significant changes in my physique (I think I look aight anyway), but I gained heaps in my fitness and confidence in the water. I guess I got the results of a normal person, with a normal schedule, eating normal food.

Choose Now… Your Body, Or Her Body?

In summary, I feel like body confidence comes at the point where you finally accept yourself for who you are, both inside and out. When you accept that change is a good thing and sometimes no change is a good thing too! It’s a choice that you make.

So choose now.  Right now. Your Body? Or her body?

I choose every imperfection and flaw that makes me who I am. I choose that some days I feel great and some days I don’t feel so great. I choose me. 

Elle