So, you wanna know why you should listen to me? Fair enough. Let’s rewind. To really kick this blog off right, and inject some much-needed credibility into my future rants, we're going back to where it all began.
Picture this: 18-year-old me, wide-eyed and ready to conquer the iron jungle of Gold’s Gym (now Momentum Fitness). I saw those bikini show prep girls, and I was hooked. I wanted that physique, that confidence, that… gallon jug of water?
Now, let’s be clear, I wasn’t exactly starting from scratch. I’ve always had a naturally muscular build. But “on purpose?” Nah. I was clueless about nutrition, lifting, the whole shebang. But I was determined to become one of the gym bros complete with the cut off t-shirt to wear during my 2 hour stair stepping event everyday.
And let me tell you, that era was… something. Unsustainable diets, glorified starvation, and enough supplements to make a chemist blush. Remember those days of eating 3-4 almonds to fuel a double workout? Yeah, that was my life. And surprise! It wasn’t exactly a recipe for happiness.
Fast forward a few years, and I’m basically a walking encyclopedia of food anxiety, calorie counting, and body dysmorphia. I’m living the “eat egg whites, cry while you swallow white fish” dream. But hey, I learned a thing or two about lifting. Turns out, I had a natural knack for it. So, I became a certified personal trainer. Because why not add “professional gym rat” to my resume?
Now, here’s where things get interesting. I hit burnout. Hard. The gym, my sanctuary, became a source of crippling anxiety. The thought of stepping foot in that place, surrounded by almond-munching preppers, sent my mental health spiraling. SPIRALING. Spiraling to the point that I would drive there, park, and couldn't make myself get out of the car because I had so much anxiety. I know this sounds contradictory, as exercise releases endorphins, endorphins make you happy, and happy people don't just kill their husbands (Legally Blonde? Duh.) Turns out, even the fittest among us struggle with body dysmorphia and food anxiety. Who knew?
Enter HIIT classes. Burn Boot Camp saved my sanity. It was a challenge, a breath of fresh air, and a reminder that exercise can actually be fun. (Yes, even for women, despite what the cortisol-obsessed internet trolls say.) I saw changes in my body and realized that I reacted really well to this style of working out. I was in the best shape of my life, or so I thought. But the diet thing? Still a mess.
Then came COVID, and the gym shutdowns. Back to outdoor cardio and random workouts. And then, F45. A mix of HIIT and lifting? Sold. I coached there for three years, witnessing the sad reality of influencer-driven fitness. I witnessed so many young girls in the same head space I had been in at that age. Afraid to pick up more than the 2lb dumbbells, scared to swallow anything more than the Celsius during the day for fear of not being able to fit into their already baby doll sized outfit for Township that night, plastic surgery masquerading as green juice miracles (not coming for plastic surgery- to be totally transparent I have had my boobs done), the pressure to “earn” calories, the obsession with perfect body proportions. It was a constant cycle of sad interactions. Even worse, it was witnessing other adults (coaches) who should have the common knowledge to help beat these mental health plungers, pushing the idea to them of needing to earn their calories, earn that bikini pic for spring break, and if you didn't do core- you didn't workout.
That’s when I finally woke up and realized what a real “diet” is (we'll get into the argument of calling how a human should be eating- a diet- later, don't you worry). What exercise should be. Whole foods, real meat, cheese, eggs, bread (sourdough, thank you very much). Not processed garbage and fake supplements. My workouts became less about chasing a physique and more about functional movement. And guess what? I’ve never felt better. Do I still struggle with a healthy view on foods? It depends on the day. I don't think that ever goes away. When you've had negative body experiences, views, anxiety surrounding fitness and diets, its a challenge everyday to keep your brain in a good place. Like I said- usually the fittest people you see walking around, struggle the most. (Insert watching your body change through pregnancy LOL)
So, here’s the deal. I’m not here to waste your time with fad diets and half-baked knowledge. I’ve been there, done that, bought the gallon jug, cried in the mirror, used the Sweet Sweat (hah remember that?). I’ve earned a teeeeeny bit of “okay, I’ll listen” cred. My hope is that even if you aren't pregnant, some of this resonates with you. If you've ever felt the guilt and shame of choosing a healthy lifestyle over societal norms, if you've ever battled with your reflection, if you've ever felt the pressure to conform, then this is for you. I get it. I still struggle with maintaining a healthy relationship with food and my body. There are days (and yes, even before pregnancy) when I stare at my reflection, picking apart every perceived flaw. I still grapple with the anxiety of "offending" people when I decline their food, drinks, or lifestyle choices. The endless comments of "you're no fun", "you worry too much about working out", "you go to bed too early", "you don't have to wake up early", "you can eat this", it's a constant battle. You have to reach a point where you understand that even though choosing the healthy route isn't always the "cool" or "fun" option, it's the right one for you. It's about prioritizing your well-being, your mental health, regardless of what others think. And remember, those good choices of yours? They often annoy people because they're a mirror to someone's own unhealthy habits. So, if you needed to hear this, if you needed to know you're not alone, then let this be your sign.
At 30 (almost 31, let’s be real), I’ve finally figured out my body. I know what works, what doesn’t, and how to navigate the minefield of fitness misinformation. I'm aware of the way a women's body reacts to certain things versus a man (I think I can say that since Trump said it right?) And let’s be honest, surrounding yourself with women who actually understand the optimal human diet and functionality is key.
Remember, you’re not designed to sit on your butt all day. You’re tired because you don’t move. Your body hurts because you're hurting it. You probably aren't allergic to milk, or bread (this is a much bigger conversation and I'm well aware I just lost 30% of the audience it's fine). And a home-cooked meal with ingredients you picked out will ALWAYS be the better option over restaurant food. This knowledge prepared me for pregnancy, allowing me to ignore the endless stream of outdated opinions and side eyes from people who get uncomfortable if you opt out of participating in eating at an event when it's all junk food, or prioritizing the need to make time to move your body over anything else.
If you are already living and eating as the ultimate human and the way God designed your body to function, why change when you are pregnant? If your body is in it's prime state, it is healthy enough to supply a baby that God designed to function inside of you.
That’s enough backstory for now. Next time, we can dive straight into bringing this knowledge into pregnancy, my unfiltered opinions that nobody asked for, and maybe a few words from some moms who actually know what they’re talking about and that I've looked up too through pregnancy. Stay tuned.
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