What does the perfect body really look like and who has the ultimate say over what this body does and doesn’t look like?
August 22, 2021
Written By: Coach Larissa How we view our bodies and whether we like or dislike them is always a scary and dangerous place to take yourself. Body image is something most of the population struggles with and most don’t even know that there is NO SUCH THING AS THE PERFECT BODY! Yes I said it!
How can we place perfection on a living thing?
The crazy thing to me is that we have let the media tell us what is or isn’t beautiful when it comes to human bodies.
There are no two human bodies made a like and no one is really identical.
Even identical twins have some differences so they can’t even be compared.
So why do we compare ourselves to others?
This is something that is inadvertently learned from birth and is hard to be unprogrammed from repeatedly being projected onto ourselves. For most of us, we have no idea how to stop looking in the mirror and picking and prodding all the things that we don’t like about what we see reflected back at yourselves.
Some even feel that it is socially acceptable to point out things that they believe other people need to do better with or that they need to change and make what they think we should feel or look like a reality. This is beyond inappropriate and should not be the way we socialize with others.
Instead we should be uplifting one another and telling the things we admire or adore about what that other and who they are as an individual!
The most important thing you need to know is that you are beautiful in your own way. You are your own self and know one is the same as you. You have your very own body perfection and no one can take that away from you.
Do what makes you happy and live life the way you want to.
Workout if YOU want to, eat how YOU want to, build as much or as little muscle as YOU want to. Life is about living it for what you want it to be and building that way of living that is going to aid you in your own way of life.
Don’t let anyone tell you how you should look and feel.
The only person that can make that form of judgement is yourself, after all - it is your body!
Sometimes you need a reminder that negative comments about your body aren’t even really about your body, they’re about society and our society’s wrongheaded and impossibly narrow definition of a “good” body. Your body didn’t do anything wrong. What’s messed up about your body is not your body at all, but that your body has to live in a society that thinks it has a right to say mean and messed up things about your body.
I still to this day struggle with my body image and what I do or don’t like about myself. This is a work in progress for myself and I know that by doing what I love and being happy is what truly counts the most. By looking after myself, putting in the time to workout and eat right and ultimately being the happiest I can be. That’s what makes me happy with my body image. I am proud of the rolls, stretch marks, scars, and the muscles!
This body of mine has lifted many heavy things, given life, has carried myself and son places, gives loved ones a place to receive love and support, and is now going to muscle its way through the rest of my LIFE!
Are you ready to change the way you think and feel about your body? Email me at larissa@degreefitnessseaforth.com
today to book your Free No Sweat Intro and for more information on how I can help you on your health and fitness journey!
Written By: Coach Sienna The media portrays fitness as looking a certain way and creating this picture of a “perfect person” who eats clean and works out everyday and does everything right and never messes up. When you're always being shown this version of fitness it’s easy to start to think, is this what being fit is? ..... And suddenly you find yourself comparing yourself to unrealistic standards. Fitness is much more than the shape of our body! It's about what your body can do for you and how it can support your daily life and how movement makes you feel strong, accomplished, proud, empowered! Here is how we can overcome the negative impact that some Media has on us, and fitness in general: Redefine Fitness Fitness is more than your body, it's strength, endurance, mobility, energy and how you feel. It's not supposed to be perfect or linear, your body will change and life will happen. What matters most is showing up for yourself and moving your body. Even a little bit can go a long way! Positive Self Talk You don't have to be perfect to love yourself. Be kind to your mind and speak to yourself with kindness. Remind yourself of what your body can do for you, remember you are WORTHY! :) Focusing On The Little Wins We often have such a heavy focus on how we look but what if it was never about how we looked but more about how we felt. Do you notice after you get in a workout or a session you always tend to have a lift in your mood and a shift in perspective. Movement has the power to make us feel strong and happy and more like ourselves! Do Movements You Enjoy Fitness should be fun and functional. You are more likely to stick to it if you enjoy it! Find movements that excite you. Like lifting, walking, running, dancing, gymnastics etc. When you focus on what your body can do and not what it looks like, you can start to see how strong and capable you really are! Set Goals Related To Movement-Mood-Function Movement - touching your toes or doing your first push-up Mood - Having more energy during the day and feeling less anxious Function - Carrying groceries, running around with your kids, etc. Remember - you are already enough! You don't need to look a certain way to be fit. You just need to move your body in a way you enjoy, take care of yourself and celebrate what your body does for you everyday! If you've been feeling stuck, or wanting to start working out with a Coach, or in an environment that is inclusive, inviting, safe, honours all body shapes and sizes, we can help! CLICK HERE to book a free meeting with one of our Coaches to learn how you can get started at Degree or, email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com .
Written By: Coach Sienna We know Cardio is good for your heart health but it is also good for our respiratory systems which help bring oxygen to fuel our muscles to do what they gotta do! By doing cardio we strengthen all of these components which help us live a happier healthy lifestyle! Your body is built to move and releases happy chemicals called endorphins from having an increased heart rate which can improve your mood. This can happen in just 10 minutes! We all know Cardio is an important part of our health but most of us just don’t have a lot of time due to kids, work, life etc. Just remember any movement is a good movement! No matter how long or short it may be. The little things add up (: Use this 10 minute at home cardio workout (no equipment needed!) to get your heart rate up and feeling your best even on the busiest days. 2 Rounds of 1 minute of Jumping Jacks 1 minute of High Knees 1 minute Air Squats or Jump Squat 1 minute of Burpees 1 minute of Mountain Climbers *Rest as needed but try to keep it 30s or less between movements! We understand life gets in the way and schedules can be tough - we are here to help! Let us know how it went! Email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com , or, visit www.degreefitnessseaforth.com/get-started to book your FREE No Sweat Intro to learn more!
Written By: Mairead, Registered Dietitian You've probably heard of iron and know it's important. Maybe you've even had your levels checked through bloodwork! Iron is an important mineral in our diet. It is part of the blood cells that carry oxygen around our body, and plays roles in growth and the production of some hormones. The amount of iron you need varies. Men need less, while women need more due to blood loss during menstruation. This puts women at higher risk for low iron. The symptoms of low iron include feeling sluggish and fatigued, pale skin, and even hair loss! Women under 50 years old need 18mg of iron a day, while women over 50 and all men only need 8mg of iron daily. Many people can get enough iron through a varied and balanced diet. Iron is found in meat, poultry, fish, legumes, eggs, soy, and many grains and vegetables. Our bodies are better able to absorb iron from animal sources - this type of iron is referred to as "heme iron". Non-heme iron is found in plant sources and is harder for your body to absorb. If you rely on plant-based sources of iron, you may need to eat a lot more of it. Pairing iron sources with sources of vitamin C can also help increase absorption. If you suspect your iron levels are low, ask your doctor to check your levels through a blood test. If your iron level is low and you're already consuming enough through diet, you may need a supplement to increase your levels. Always check if you actually need an iron supplement before starting one! Iron plays some key roles in our bodies, and is important for overall health! Make sure you include a variety of sources daily to meet your body's needs! Looking for more personalized nutrition advice? Let's chat! Email mairead@degreefitnessseaforth.com for more information about our Nutrition Programs, or click HERE to book your FREE Bite-Sized Nutrition Chat!