Recently I was asked if I ever get any negative comments on my strength/athleticism and it led me to think about our different perceptions on body image. How could having an athletic build be a bad thing? We all have a unique genetic makeup, yet comparison to others' bodies is so rampant. Why put pressure on yourself to look a certain way? We all build differently based on our workouts, diet, and genetics. Besides, shouldn't we be more focused on the amazing things our bodies can do for us rather than how they simply look?
I embrace any comments whether they come off positive or negative because I work hard to be in the shape I'm in! I am proud to push my physical limits. We train our bodies for what they can DO for us. The look we get from working out is just the result – not the motivation.
Before I fully understood periodization in training cycles, I thought I needed to be at "competition" weight all of the time. My senior year of college, I put on a few extra pounds in fall training as I never had before. I was used to weighing under 140 no problem, but all of a sudden I was creeping around 145 which was both terrifying and confusing to me. I fought hard to get my weight down - restricting calories and my diet. Funny thing, it didn't work! Fast forward to that spring, and the weight just came off without trying so hard.
Now, years later I am still conscious of my weight as it is important in our sport. But, I do have a more relaxed mindset that weight may fluctuate a little bit, and that is okay. I would much rather be giving my body adequate fuel it needs to recover than restrict myself and potentially cause injury.
Do I want to look super lean and cut? Sure! I would love to have a really defined 6-pack. Is that my focus for working out? Absolutely not. I train to prevent injury and get stronger and faster, so that I can become a better pole vaulter. My body is what it is. I know that I tend to carry a little more weight around my stomach and boobs before anywhere else on my body. I know that sometimes I can look pretty lean in the mid-section, which I like! I also know that other times I may look a little more bulky or soft that that's just part of the process.
Don't be hard on yourself. Our bodies are amazing in what they can do for us! Keep moving forward with your fitness goals. Chase PR numbers in your performance, not on the scale or in the mirror! Celebrate those gains! More often than not, you will find that your body's look will follow it's performance. So chase physical performance goals first, not looks.
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