Have you ever woken up one morning, looked in the mirror and thought, “damn, I look fabulous!” then two hours later that day you are hating on your body and can’t wait to run sprints after work? I know I have.
I remember years ago, right before I left for vacation I took a couple of progress pictures. My man had just complimented me on my shoulders looking lean and I was feeling like my abs were poppin’. Then I took my photos, compared them with the pics from two weeks prior and I saw no notable changes. I was bummed.
Then while on vaca, I had a couple of days of eating and drinking freely, a lack of sleep, plus bloat from flying and I was so hesitant to wear a bikini, but I was heading to the beach. I wanted to cry because my body didn’t look like it did last year on vacation, but that was the year I was already six weeks into my bikini competition prep.
After you compete in a figure or bikini competition your body changes. After you do an extreme diet plan or workout schedule you may have a very lean physique that is challenging to maintain. I mean, you took drastic measures to get drastic results.
I recently had a client mention her shirts not fitting. She has been so excited every day I talk to her about how she’s lifting more than ever, how she feels so strong and she’s even excited about the fat loss that we see in progress pictures. She’s loving her muscle tone that she’s never had before, until the day she tried on this one t-shirt that is too tight now because her shoulder and lats are more developed.
Normally we think when you begin a training plan that helps you lose fat, things won’t get tight. But sometimes things do because your body changes – but in a positive way. I’ve been there too – when I started CrossFit I built a lot of muscle and my jeans stopped fitting. In fact, all of my clothes stopped fitting because prior to CrossFit I was itty bitty doing half marathons and bikini competitions. Now I have muscle.
It just goes to show how much clothes can mess with your mind. I was thrilled with how my legs looked – I wore shorts and bikinis all the time. But when it came time to bust out the skinny jeans I had so much anxiety because my legs just weren’t going to fit even though just days before I was obsessed with my new legs.
I wish I had a way to change this. I wish I had an answer. But in all honesty, I don’t.
I think the best thing we can do is to focus our energy and thoughts on the things we love. Like my client, I told her to donate that shirt that doesn’t make her feel good, and wear clothes that do, knowing that as soon as summer comes, she is going to LOVE showing off her knew shoulders. (You can read more about my concept of trigger clothing here.)
For myself, I have one pair of skinny jeans that make me feel good and I wear those when I have to, otherwise I live in shorts and yoga pants. I feel like my booty looks good in those so they make me feel good.
Avoid the things that are triggers for negative thoughts. Usually it’s the scale for most women. It’s just a freaking scale!!!! Why would you let a number (that weighs your bones, your muscles, your organs) ruin your day? Find other ways to measure progress. Perhaps you avoid certain clothes. Perhaps you avoid gazing in the mirror for too long. Perhaps you position yourself in certain ways if you are going to be photographed, or learn to pose yourself with great posture.
Just keep busy!! Most days I don’t have the time to be thinking about things I love or don’t love. I’m focused on succeeding at CrossFit or running a successful business. Why don’t you spend your time thinking about how you want to use 40’s on chest press or running a mile fast? Or spend your time helping your kid with a project. Those are things that will make you feel happy and confident!
I don’t have a real answer. I just want you to know, that you aren’t alone in this. Let’s just try to keep it positive and focus on being our best selves!
Your Coach,
Kyra
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