Strong vs Skinny: Do They Really Go Hand in Hand?

I have been hearing this phrase for months now, especially as Crossfit and boot camps become more popular. 

So I've been mulling it over, trying to decide if I agree or if it is some sort of excuse to give women who can't force themselves to be skinny. I know, it sounds harsh, but this has been my thought process. 

Ever since I was 16, I've been trying to be skinny; sucking it in every chance I get. It's almost been 12 years, let's face it, skinny isn't in my future. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not fat by any means. I'm not skinny, but I'm not fat. According to BMI and ideal body weight standards, I am overweight by about thirty pounds; which always seems to throw my friends when I tell them. Let's be honest, I've got a little junk in the trunk and it's going nowhere fast!

Let's get to the bottom of this strong versus skinny debacle. When I went searching for a picture to add to this post, I Googled the phrase, "Strong is the new skinny," and guess what I found? . . . . . Give up? Let me tell you: A bunch of super skinny girls wearing next to nothing, with signs or tanks saying "Strong is the new skinny." Seems like an oxymoron to me. How can I possible agree if my search results in skin and bones and seldom, a strong woman? What kind of message does this send?

I think the slogan began with good intentions. And, don't get me wrong, I'm sure it has helped many women out there overcome the mental aspect of just trying to be skinny. However, for myself, I call BS and you're welcome to as well! I claim Strong is Strong, and Skinny is still Skinny. They are different and they should remain separated!

When do you feel you are at your strongest? Pre-workout? Mid-workout? Post-workout? My feelings of strength reside in Spinning and running. I feel strong when I am out in third and hammering the beat of a fast-paced song. I feel strong after one of my long runs. I feel strong on a rest day, because I'm aware that I'm doing what's best for my body. What about you?

For my own sanity, I am going to stop trying to force skinny. Instead of trying to feed myself lines of "Strong is the new skinny," I'm going to set my sights on this little beauty and even add that "Strong is the new happy!"

#100FitDays

Spinning (the brand, not the class) is putting on a challenge for everyone to eat right and be active for 100 days. Everyone is encouraged to use the hashtag #100FitDays to join the challenge! Even if you only want to commit to 50 days, give it a try!

Today is day 2 of my #100FitDays and this is how I'm celebrating it ------------------------>

I started my day off subbing a Spinning class at 8:30am, which was FANTASTIC! I always have a great time with the morning crew. You can tell they just love being there together, working hard, and having fun. The number one rule to Spinning is to have fun, and they are a beacon of that!

Now, I am snacking and enjoying my grapes, celery and water. All in all, a fantastic day 2 of #100FitDays! Take this challenge with me and let's make it 100 days of eating right and being active. We can keep one another motivated and excited about living a healthy lifestyle.

Join the Facebook group Spinning for updates and ideas.

Use #100FitDays on Twitter to be a part of the movement.

Follow Spinning on Instagram for photos of #100FitDays!

We can do it!

Listen to Your Body

The best thing you can do before, during, and after a workout is to listen to your body. It is the only thing that can help you prevent injury and even help heal an injury.

So many of us (yes, I say us because I'm more than guilty of this) tend to ignore what our bodies are saying because we want to out-do the person next to us in the Spinning Studio or at the gym. We are too thick in the skull to realize the warnings our bodies are screaming at us! Forget about the competition and do what is right for you. If your knees are killing you during Jumps or Sprints in a Spinning workout, sit down and rest them (while keeping your legs moving obviously!) and even lose some of the resistance. If you have knee problems, it's best not to lay the resistance on thick until after you've worked through some of the issues. If you need to sit down and grab a drink, then do it! You are in charge of your workout!

It's okay to back off when your body is telling you to back off! However, I once read a running quote that said something along the lines of, "Your legs aren't giving up, you are!" Know the difference between feeling the burn, feeling the pain, and just giving up. Remember, "There's a difference between feeling the burn and feeling the pain." Will you be able to tell the difference? Will you listen to your body?

10 Reasons to Try Spinning

If I haven't sold you on Spinning yet, just wait! I found this infographic out on the interwebs and thought you should take a look. Someone created the "10 Reasons to Go On a Spinning Bike" and they are pretty solid reasons. If I could add one reason, I would say "Because it's fun!" 

If It Doesn't Challenge You, It Doesn't Change You

Quitting. Giving Up. Taking the easy way out. If only it were that simple. I don't know about you, but when I give up on something, I feel worse than before I gave up. It's like a Catch 22!

I've certainly had my fair share of challenges in the last year. I left my dream job in Kansas City to return home to St. Louis to be with my family (which is the ultimate dream), only to be left classroom-less. I took on a couple of assistant positions that really weren't for me. I have learned that I do not make a great teaching assistant. Too many leadership qualities, I think (or I'm too thick-headed, potato pototo). The experience of running my own classroom effectively makes it very difficult to help run someone else's classroom ineffectively. I'm sure my teacher friends all understand!

The challenge has brought change, though. I'm finding that I have a lot of interests and am  passionate about more than just teaching! I love coaching others through a Spinning workout; to do the best and be the best version of themselves! 

During last night's class, the instructor decided to ride to a complete instrumental playlist, which sounded great to me. Talk about a challenge, though! I pushed myself harder than I have yet in a Spin class. Having music with no words allows you to focus 100% on challenging yourself to push harder, push faster, and ride longer. There were several points where I wanted to throw in the towel and quit, but then I thought about the sentiment above: "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you." To see growth, we have to be pushed further than we've ever gone. Don't quit, keep pushing yourself. Don't give up, accept the challenge. Remember, it's all mental. If you Believe you can, then you can! Don't be the person saying, "I wish I did that," be the one saying, "I can't believe I did that!"