Lean vs. Strong
I think a lot of people in the fitness industry are starting to make a shift into ANY body being beautiful shape, size or color. This is so great. Honestly, it is wonderful. But one thing I have come to realize is some girls are not ready to fully grasp this concept and that IS OKAY! You don’t have to love every inch of your body yet. Hell, I don’t. With that being said, I had an interesting conversation with a younger client of mine which lead me to write this blog.
She is at college and struggling to find a balance. She wants to be lean AND strong. SAME GIRL. I am not ashamed to say I would like to be leaner than I am. However, I feel as though I am learning that it’s not 100% for aesthetic purposes (it’s okay if that is your goal) but more to feel more COMFORTABLE in my body. Comfortable for me is my clothes NOT being tight, or feeling less bloated or even just not as lethargic. This comes with getting a little older (30 years in a few months) and not being so damn hard on yourself.
When I spoke to my client, she told me she has been eating more food lately and lifting more. She feels better than she did a few months back when she wasn’t doing these things. This kind of goes with my theme. The struggle is leanness but to what degree are willing to feel like shit to get there? Are you willing to be iritable, hungry and tired? Or would it feel better to get things done through the day with ease and enegry? She feels better and she is happier but like everyone else she is worried about the weight gain and what the scale is going to say.
In the above photo, I am probably 20-25lbs heavier now on the right than I was on the left. Of course, that bothers me to an extent mainly because that sounds like a lot of weight gained. However, I like the way I look better. It took me so much time to get to this point. The amount of pounds of muscle put weight on the scale but in some ways I am leaner. Does this make sense? Having more muscle on the body can reduce the amount of body fat and give you a tone that makes you appear (and you actually are) stronger.
I’ve also let a lot go. I’ve let go the idea of being smaller. I will never be and since I’ve been lifting for strength versus leanness I don’t want to be. I am in a sport where you LITERALLY compete at a weight class that you have to tell everyone how much you weigh (it was a mind F at first but I am proud to say I am a 72kg now). I have let go saying certain phrases like “I want to be skinny” or “I will be happy if I could just lose these ten pounds..” because I was leaner and I definitely wasn’t happier. This took about ten years though. Letting things go so you can move on is key. Move on and grow up. You are not a little girl/boy anymore.
Trying to switch your focus in the gym is so, so hard but will be a game changer for you and your goals. Like my client she is in the learning process of this. She or you may not be ready to fully embrace this concept and that’s okay you don’t have to be. It takes time and it is something I am still learning. Be open to let go some of the crazy stories of weight-loss and leanness you’ve been telling yourself for years and years.
This is by no means my way of telling you what to do or even my client for that matter. It is simply where I am at. My thoughts are my thoughts and I’m sure they will change. I never know how to end blogs so….