What Strength Coaches Don’t Talk About….But Really Should.
Are coaches self-conscious? Do we have body image issues? How do we handle them in our industry?
With major travel overseas and an even bigger move across the country underway, time is passing faster and faster with all the excitement….and stress.
For the past month, and some, I’ve really disliked my body. Being a woman who’s researched the female body, I comprehend hormones and their effect on emotions and thoughts. Yeah sure, I’ve had fluctuations with my menstrual cycle. Progesterone and estrogen going up and down can do a doozy on positivity, energy, bloating, resiliency to handle life.
No no, that’s not it. Daily I’ve fought negative thoughts of my body not being good enough.
I work in an industry where I am my own walking billboard for how I can help clients. An industry where sex sells. An industry where anything less than slim, muscular, 6-pack shots on Instagram, or a pro-card is undervalued. An industry that applauds grueling work in the gym and diets that are anything but delicious and wholesome.
It’s constant. It’s everywhere. It’s fucked up. It’s not sending the right message of what true healthy, holistic care is.
As a woman who started lifting weights at 14, I guess I’m changing my approach to my aging body. My knees are more sensitive being 10+ years out of ACL reconstructions. My shoulders click when my traps get too tight (from stress) and my neck feels like rubber bands under extreme tension that will snap at any minute (Thank you Dr. Sarah @ Pinnacle Hill Chiropractic for keeping me mobile!). I feel like I’m falling apart and it’s not helping my body-love.
And I don’t want to “exercise”, damn it!! I want to organize our travel/move, serve my clients, hang out with Adam (my boo), food prep, go to the beach with friends, and be a human that exists outside a fitness facility. I crave movement that’s fun, challenging in NEW ways mentally and physically, or downright silly.
Some days I think I’m finding my new path for better, simpler fitness that will help women. Others I think that I’m a just lazy POS. Actually, I feel guilty about resting. Should I be sitting watching Big Bang for an hour while I eat dinner? Or should I brainstorm? Or reply to emails? Or go swing a kettle bell? Usually, I try to listen to my gut, my energy levels. If I’m feeling inspired, I’ll do a little more work. If I’m exhausted, I’ll rest.
For movement, the “you haven’t exercised for 4 days, you should move your ass” sneaks in. My rebellion for this has been, “SO WHAT if I haven’t exercise for 4 days? I’m not going to dddiiiieeeeeeee.” A ridiculous retort for a ridiculous train of thought. So I’ve been moving when I have the inspiration to move. If I’m regretting a workout, what am I doing it for? I don’t enjoy torturing myself anymore so I have the right to say, “tomorrow it might happen.” AND THAT’S OKAY!
Yesterday, I took the goofy picture above to show my girl friends the new stretchy, hiking jeans and spunky supportive sandals I’ve bought for increased outdoor activity. It’s the first time in these many weeks that I actually enjoy the way I look. “Hey you sexy thang, your hair is cray-cray, but for not working out 5 days a week and juggling a lot of balls in the air, you look gooooood. (smooch)”
Yes, I understand this is all my perception and having a more positive body image is something I can actively and lovingly work on. It’s been on my mind for a while now and I wanted to share and ask:
- If you’re a trainer/coach, do you ever feel this way? How do you flow/succeed/work in our industry?
- If you’re a fitness enthusiast, why do you exercise? What’s your body-love status?
Thanks for being realz with me. Body image is a real psychological mind-fuck and I hope we can start communicating and supporting more openly about it.
Love,
Colleen