I am just in from a sprinting session. This evening, I saw a woman in her 70s on her bike cycling around the track in Dangan. She was there a good 35 minutes. I loved this. Maybe she doesn’t feel safe on the roads and I know runners will say that’s not what a track is for, but I loved that she was out in her anorak cruising around the track, where she felt safe and also she was looking after her health. Her bike was also 60 years old, even better.
Long before tweeting, posting and sharing heartfelt words from The Dalai Lama, Tony Robbins or historical greats on social media became the norm , a very wise Theodore Roosevelt said ‘Comparison is the thief of joy’. Never has this been more true, if your comparisons are rooted from an place of envy or leave you feeling lesser then you must stop.
Look at Donald or Trumpy Poo as his close friends call him. Yesterday he tweeted that all negative press or comments against him and his staff was simply ‘false news’ now there is a man that could actually do with a dose of envy and could draw on some comparisons from his counterparts who in fact deserved * to be in office.
Jog on There Jacintha
We live in a very visual world, the rise of instagram celebs* is growing on the daily and so is the #fitfam movement. Whilst it’s great that there has been such a take up in training with younger people, we need to not forget the biggest goal in it all, health.
Yes not the aesthetic classic ab selfie check in or everyday post in a mirror in a gym #hashtaglegdaysmashed but the overall health of a nation. The perceived healthy person is skinny and looks great, that is what we have been sold and told. It’s what as women we are programmed to feel and to think. The slimmer you are the better your health and definitely the better you are. I think it’s time to really look at health and what the hell that means to a woman in 2017.
There needs to be a move towards movement, training and living for health. If you are solely training to look good, well good for you but time will teach you that you must train for your overall health and wellbeing. When these two things become a priority for you then quite simply you know there is no choice as you owe it to your mind and body. Hashtag Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live.
I think it is the comparison that is actually what stops people taking action.
You start looking at others in your life, you are on line looking there, you watch TV, you buy magazines or if you ever casually look at Daily Mail..... There right there all day long talking about this one’s post baby body, one more that’s “taken it too far” another one has packed on a few LBs OR SIMPLY Gwyneth P who is on yet another detox post retox.
Give me a break, you know what though give yourself a break.
There is only ONE of us. Fact #Thisisnotfalsenews so comparisons are in effect a complete waste of time. If you are unhappy with your health, your body or your mind, then let’s take action. The action you take is by you and for you. I have had friends tell me they are tired feeling trapped in the prison of their body. This is the reality; this is their reality every day. BUT in order for this to change a decision must be made.
The downside is yes at the start and for a while it’s pretty uncomfortable, training, eating well and saying no to over eating and changing how you eat. But then something clicks, your body and your mind sync up and that will power muscle strengthens, you start sleeping better, you can move freely, your body suddenly isn’t under as much pressure, you can breathe easier, your skin starts to glow and well your hair takes on a life of its own. Powerful really.
For this month why not take one day at a time, #FitFeb challenge yourself to start each day with a positive thought about yourself, to move each day for 40 minutes, to drink 3 litres of water and to eat well. Whatever you do engage in physical activity, literally it doesn’t matter what it is. I might be out sprinting or weight training but that’s my jam and maybe Zumba is yours. Stop comparing, just move your body.
Then at the end of this month make the only comparison you really should, the comparison of you from today to the month’s end. Hashtag winning hashtag nailedit
Large and in Charge Jumpers