In it for the long run

xoxo

[wholesome-suggestion]

do not put ur life on hold because of how u feel about ur body. don’t postpone trips or cute clothes because u want to wait until u are thin. life is happening right now. u r beautiful right now.

[sleepyforestghost]

when you hate your legs  remember that they carried you through the hardest parts of your life. they get you out of bed every day and take you to what you love.

when you hate your stomach remember that it helped you gain strength. it holds the memories of deep laughter and great meals. it is full of warmth and joy.

when you hate your arms remember that they are strong, which makes you strong. but they are also soft and can be used to cuddle and hold the ones you love.

[sheisrecovering]

Your life is worth more than your disorder.

[healthy-deliciousfood]

[blondeboxyogi]

yooooo I just ran across a thinspo blog which I didn't even know still existed and triggered!!!!!!!

[positivebodyimageproject]

[pocketfulofpralines]

Took me long enough to realize that. Every hateful thought that I thought was pushing me into becoming a better me was just killing me from the inside out. Getting free. Have made HUGE strides in self love and body positivity this year. HUGE. 

[realliferecoverydiary]

Reminder: Losing weight only makes you lighter. It doesn’t make you kinder, smarter, more creative, more passionate, more determined, or happier.

(via realliferecoverydiary)

[justkeepbreathing831]

Didn’t have time to upload yesterday’s workout, so here it is! ! I can barely walk this morning, so I would say it was a pretty successful leg day!

Yesterday’s Workout

Warm Up:

3 minutes on Jacob’s Ladder

2 minutes rowing

Ab work: (all on the slant board/decline bench)

15 Russian Twists holding a 25lb plate (x3) 

15 sit ups holding a 25lb plate (x3)

10 elevated pushups (x3)

15 oblique side bends holding 25lb plate, each side (x3)

LEGS LEGS LEGS

Roman deadlift (12 reps, 55lbs, x3)

Regular deadlift (12 reps, 55lbs, x3)

Squats 

8 reps, just 35lb bar

8 reps, 55lbs

8 reps, 85lbs

12 calf raises, 85lbs (x2)

8 reps, 85lbs

8 reps, 55lbs

8 reps, just 35lb bar

Bodyweight lunges (10 each side, x3)

Foam roll and stretch!

I was so excited to go lay out by the pool that I forgot to do a little cool down cardio, but oh well! I know I’m an outfit repeater, but my new shorts are so comfy and cute!!!

[blondeboxyogi]

Charlotte you are beautiful and so strong!!!❤️❤️

[dempseyliveswell]

Body appreciation:

Dear body,

You’ve been through a lot the past year. A knee surgery, immense amounts of stress & anxiety, an undiagnosed autoimmune disease, countless medical tests/procedures, weeks of trying to exercise through pain, months of not exercising at all, muscle atrophy, adverse reactions to medications, countless “diets” to try and heal myself, and hours of tears & self-doubt.

I’m sorry for all the shit you’ve been through. Most of it isn’t my fault. Some of it is.

I want to thank you. For sticking with me. And doing what you do best: keeping me alive.

I may get frustrated with how you seem to not work properly at times (read- most of the time) but regardless I love you. And all you have endured. Through the ups and the downs. The half ironman triathlons and the surgery. The hikes & yoga classes and the trips to the doctor to find out what’s wrong with me.

I appreciate you. I love you. And regardless of what you look like, I always will.

Thank you.

Love,

Dempsey

[blondeboxyogi]

You are so beautiful!! Keep fighting!!❤️

[aceshouseofcards]

I needed a little pick me up doodle before I go into this next coming week while simultaneously telling myself I don’t need to have everything in my life figured out right now.  Hopefully this motivational koala is helpful to some of you guys too.  

[blondeboxyogi]

I remember being 11 years old and typing into Google, “What can I do to make my thighs smaller?” I didn’t understand what was happening to my body. All I knew was that I was embarrassed and I needed it to change.

If you look at pictures of me from 13, the life has drained from my eyes. My smile looks so broken. I was 13 years old and even then I couldn’t find happiness because I was so unhappy with myself.

At 14, “thinspo” was all the rage and I knew that’s what I wanted to be. I followed blogs, I watched videos, none of which ever said this, but they were teaching me how to have an eating disorder. I was eating less than 500 calories a day and what I did eat I would do whatever I could to quickly burn it off.

When I was 16, I truly wanted to have a healthier relationship with my body. All the “thinspo” blogs were slowing changing into “fitspo” (still with it’s own set of problems). I wanted to go out with my boyfriend, my friends, and eat to enjoy myself but guilt and hatred for my body ate me alive so I started a vicious binge/restrict cycle.

And at 18 years old, I can say it never seems to go away. Some days are easier and some days I can love my body. But my mind is constantly telling my body awful things. Some days I cannot make myself eat enough because the guilt is too loud. I would still do anything I could to change my body and that breaks my heart.

I was never underweight. I was never overweight. Eating disorders affect people you may not have suspected and it has truly torn me apart.

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

How to Fake Confidence

1. Hold your head high, and look others in the eye

2. Smile

3. Stop apologizing

4. Relax and be quick to laugh at yourself (but not at others!)

5. Dress in a way that indicates you have self worth

6. Use good manners (like saying please and thank you) as this is actually a mark of self respect

7. Expect other people to believe in you, and to see and appreciate your good qualities.

[wildernessyogi]

stretch your body & mind once in a while 🍂

[izzonajourney-deactivated201701]

This is my body. I don’t have a six pack. I have a larger ribcage and my stomach isn’t completely flat. I have small boobs and curvy thighs. I’m imperfect.

This is my body. I have strong ab muscles that enable me to go upside down during yoga class. My stomach is soft to the touch and protects many of my internal organs. It also may carry a child one day. My boobs are small enough that I can skip the bra when I want to. They’re 100% my own and I love how they look in all of my clothes. My thighs squat a heavier weight every week and enable me to run and jump and dance whenever I want.

This is my body and I love it more and more everyday.

[thatgerl]

Okay so here are my goals for Spring 2016. This list was very general, so I decided to write little goals on the side. I’ve always told myself I would set goals, but I never wrote them down. I think writing them down makes you more responsible, kind of like a contract. The last 10 years of my life (& counting) has revolved around running & food. “Am I running enough, did I go fast enough, am I eating too much, did I not eat enough before my workout, is she going faster than me on the treadmill, I should eat this instead, it’s healthier, that has too much sugar…” I don’t want to ban running from my life, because running is my serenity, my savior, my escape, my heroine. I do want to try and focus a little less on food and calories and macros. I base what I eat, on how much I run or how fast I ran. Then I feel guilty for eating. What I’m trying to say is, making this goals list, writing it down & hanging it on my wall will really make me more responsible to incorporate these other aspects into my life. There is so much more to life than running & what/how much I consume. SO one of my goals does revolve around what I eat, however the other 12 goals involve being a better person, working on myself, & trying new things such as reading a book. I do want to try new hobbies such as swimming, biking, lifting, hiking, etc. HOWEVER this is only my spring goals list. I have time to work new activities into my life. For now, one thing at a time. Thanks Crush Fitness for giving me this idea, making me really think, and holding myself accountable.

[blondeboxyogi]

These are great goals!! Was so happy reading through this :) Good luck with everything!! I hope you have a great rest of the year!❤️

[aspoonfuloflissi]

Vegan whole grain pancakes with banana, mango, blueberries, kiwi and almond butter 😊 My brother came to visit this weekend and I’m going to make a huge pot of vegan chili for the whole family for lunch. Enjoy your Sunday everyone ❤️

[stolenfootprints]

“It’s a beautiful thing to have lungs that allow you to breath air and legs that allow you to climb mountains, and it’s a shame that sometimes we don’t realize that that’s enough.”

Loma Alta, Northern California.