Being a #BodyPositive Fitness Coach isn't all it's cracked up to be. One one side I am often being attacked by fitness instructors and coaches because they think I am out to get them (spoiler alert: I'm not) and on the other, I am being attacked by other people claiming to teach self love because I'm not "doing it right" (my question: who defines right?). Sometimes I just don't know what to do.
Here's what I do know:
1) I Don't Fit In
I'm not the norm. I don't post a ton of full body shots on social media for people to check out my muscles or see my stretch marks from carrying two babies. I post a lot of funny things to my story, real life moments (like eating my favorite potato chips because thats what i really love to eat!) and I show off my kids. Sometimes I'll post a healthy treat I enjoy or a workout that I love, but I ALWAYS post what is going on in my life. I want to be real.
2) I Believe that Everyone Can Love Being Physically Active
So many people shun the fitness industry because it often teaches us to work out to EARN OR BURN. Meaning, we workout to earn something delicious to eat or burn off something else delicious we ate. WHAT?!!???! And do you know I did this for years?? I inextricably linked my diet to my exercise. I was left with a run-down body that showed up to indulgent happy hours more often than not.
As I have gotten older I have learned to workout in ways that I enjoy and do it because it makes me feel good and helps me keep my positive mindset. This has been such a great influence on my clients as well. So many people who I've coached in the past are continuing to workout because of what they believe about activity.
3) I Don't Always Love My Body
There, I said it. Sometimes I don't like what I see in the mirror. I don't like the extra baggage around my midsection and the stretch marks leftover from my last pregnancy. I REALLY don't like the fact that my belly muscles STILL haven't healed together fully from carrying sweet Harriet as 39 year old.
What about you? Can you honestly say you love your body all the time? More importantly, do we HAVE to? Is living our best life dependent on loving what we see in the mirror?
Now, I don't ever disparage myself. I don't use words like "good and bad" or really even "love and hate" when it comes to how I look. (Or how i feel when you get right down to it.) I am pretty neutral about it all. When I look in the mirror I say "I have a body. This body can do..." and I list all the things my body is capable of performing. And that's a LOT!
4) I Coach for Life not Outcome
Most fitness coaches are concerned with measuring body parts or weighing a person and then desperately coaching them to change that. In fact, most of the coaching is done during workouts only.
While I offer live fitness classes and even fitness classes on demand, I spend all of my coaching energy helping my small group clients continue making progress toward their goals. We use strategies like The 6 Pillar Analysis, Vision Strategy, R.A.M.P. Method, and Thought Training to continue to overcoming any barriers that have kept us from living our best lives!
Every few months I accept a small group (10 or less) of women into a small group coaching intensive. We have 6 zoom sessions together where we plan out a strategy for tackling life step by step. If you are interested you can find out more information (and take advantage of the sell price) by clicking here
So, there you have it! I don't fit in. And you know what? I don't really want to. What makes you unique??
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