Good morning!
I have an amazing video for you guys to watch this morning. Let’s just say if you are trying to find motivation to get excited about your workout today you just may find it here!
Eric and I are considering doing that for our try-a-tri. :tongue:
Onto break the fast.
Apple Pie Parfait Vegan Overnight Oats
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup regular oats
- 3/4 cup almond milk
- 2 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/8th tsp each nutmeg and ginger)
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 of an apple, peeled and chopped
- Banana soft serve: 1 frozen banana, 1 tbsp milk, 1/2 tbsp cashew butter
- Topping: Sucanat (or brown sugar)
Directions: Mix above ingredients with a whisk and place in fridge overnight. In the morning, make banana soft serve in the food processor. I added 1/2 tbsp of cashew butter at the end of processing to bring out a nutty flavour that would blend nicely with the apple pie flavour. For the topping I used 1/2 tsp Sucanat.
Simply Delicious!
Updates:
- Email notification for comments is fixed. Big thanks to Julie! You will now be notified again when your comment is replied to.
Sports, Exercise, and Body Image
Yesterday I made a discovery.
I was in the change room at the pool putting on my swim cap. I looked at my body in the full length mirror and I saw someone who was strong, healthy, and confident. I had a little twinkle in my eye.
It occurred to me that this was one of the first times that I have not felt self-conscious about myself in a swimsuit. I had no negative feelings trying to discourage me. Thoughts and critiques about the size of various body parts were not present in my mind. In the past, I could not put on a swim suit without feeling anxiety or being critical of myself. When I had to be in front of other people with a swimsuit on, I did not feel confident because I had all of these negative thoughts about my body floating around in my head.
Something changed when I started swimming laps.
The purpose of the swimsuit was no longer to flatter the figure or to hide supposed flaws or to boost or to nip or to tuck or to distract someone’s eye. The swimsuit now served a functional purpose– to help me swim and to carry me to my try-a-tri in June. The swimsuit was a catalyst for a stronger me.
One the first day of swimming I was nervous, not just about swimming, but I was nervous about wearing a swimsuit in front of others on a regular basis. I felt like I would be judged, but what I discovered is that the only judge I had to beat was myself.
Learning to swim again has helped me conquer my fear about wearing a swimsuit in front of others. When I put on my swimsuit, I feel proud, and I now walk confidently. I praise my body for what it can do for me (‘wow these strong legs are helping me speed up my freestyle’ or ‘What strong lungs you have’) instead of supposed ‘flaws’.
After making my discovery I wanted to tell Eric and hear what he thought. I asked him if swimming has improved his body image at all, and he simply smiled and said, ‘I don’t think I have looked at my body in the mirror for weeks.’ :lol: The simplicity of my husband never ceases to put a smile on my face.
Today’s question- Have you ever participated in a sport or exercise that improved your body image? What about a sport/exercise that you felt made your body image worse?
Tae Bo really helped me feel strong versus running which didn’t really do much except exhaust me and make me feel tired. I still run from time to time but I’ve cut it down to 1 time a week or so.
Weight lifting has helped me improve my body image! When my only form of exercise was running, I would just focus on how thin I was when I looked in the mirror, and I never felt thin enough. But since I’ve started strength training, I focus more on how strong and healthy I look. It feels great! :D
Love this post Angela and congrats on the self-discovery!
When I started running I weighed over 200lbs. I found running itself made me extremely self-conscious but I kept at it! I still have some weight to lose but running as truly made me feel amazing about my body! I may still jiggle and have a tummy and flabby arms but I also see biceps and killer calves and quads! I look healthy and everyone around me now tells me that, like you said about the name of this site, I “glow”. I think I still have a ways to go before I flaunt myself down the beach but I tell ya, I’m no longer afraid to wear a bathing suit on the beach! I used to just wear shorts and a t-shirt, now it’s an actual bathing suit!
Love this! Thanks for sharing :)
Angela! You totally made my morning with that video. Seriously, thank you! That was amazing and inspiring- And youre right- total workout motivation.
Lol…I want to try that water thing, just so that I can hang out with all of those hot guys!!!
I don’t think my husband would mind :-)
This is awesome!
I ran track and cross-country in high school. Track made my body image worse, and cross-country always improved it. Track was bad not because I felt pressure to be thinner, but just because people were constantly telling me how thin I was! It made me self-conscious and awkward-feeling. In cross-country, the focus was on strength and endurance rather than speed and “lightness”, and plenty of girls who ran were not skinny at all. I liked it better.
Now, in college, what has DRASTICALLY improved my self-image, and in fact put me in a place where I’m totally proud of and comfortable in my body, is weight-lifting! I love feeling strong and toned and fit. Running is still awesome and running regularly keeps me from obsessing about food and weight gain, but lifting weights is what makes me think I look great.
I think I’m alone in what I’m about to say, but self-consciousness is something that very rarely happens to me. The only time I can remember really hating my body was in middle school when I was teased for having breasts so small they could hardly be called breasts.
Getting over that probably wasn’t done the healthy way, but as I had boyfriends tell me that they loved my breasts (even if they weren’t being entirely honest), I lost that self-consciousness. They were good enough for someone very important to me, so they’d have to be good enough for me!
As for the rest of my body, I never really thought it was particularly awesome or lousy until I committed myself to getting fit at the beginning of this year. I discovered yesterday for the first time that I have a truly flat stomach – it wasn’t something I was trying to get, but it just happened as a side effect of living a healthy, active lifestyle.
What a huge moment for you to look at yourself and only find good things to say :) I struggle with negative self talk sometimes, but I’m making progress in the right direction!
And I love that ‘walking on water’ video. How cool is that?!?!
Running’s definitely helped me appreciate my legs for what they can do and how far they can take me, rather than how skinny/muscular/in shape/out of shape they are. love this post, by the way!
That video is the most amazing thing ever! I am keeping it in mind as I go off to take my first golf lesson this morning… so much of how we approach something new is in our heads. BTW, my daughter got me a box of your Adore GloBars for Mother’s Day and they are fabulous!!! They taste like a delicious dessert, except of course, they are healthy for you. You can’t beat that Smore’s flavor. Kudos to you and Eric for your courage and discipline in your swimming challenge. I have had a lifelong fear of deep water, and have thought of taking adult swimming lessons, but I’m not quite there yet. You and Eric are a great example! :)
Glad you enjoyed the glo bars! Happy Mother’s Day :)
Wow, I have been following this blog forever and I have to say this is my favourite discussion. To say I have struggled with my body image and negative self-talk would be the understatement of the century! Despite loving the water I have given up swimming almost completely and the thought of going to a public pool just makes me laugh, it was as likely as flying to the moon… until today. It never occurred to me that working on my swimming would make me feel strong and confident and the enjoyment of the activity is the important thing, not what you’re wearing. Of course, even when I type this I’m laughing a bit at myself. I have a pool right down the street, I think I’m going to (gulp) try it out! Thanks Angela, really, thank you.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. The great thing about the swimming is that there are a ton of different body types and from what I have experienced, everyone is quite friendly and supportive. All kinds of people are in the pool doing their thing and it is inspiring. I am totally inspired by the women and men in their 70’s and 80’s who can pretty much outswim people half their age!
Wow that video is cool!
That video is absolutely crazy!! It’s so cool to see how far they can get across the water!! And it’s not a sport – but just moving to Boston – where my main mode of transportation are my two legs has made for a vast improvement in not only my legs and booty but my self-image as well.
That’s such a good feeling! The other night I was getting in the shower and glanced down and said “OMG those legs!” (in a good way) and it was such a snap thought like you said. I felt a little strange since I basically talked out loud to myself but it was almost subconscious- the words passed my lips before I really thought about it! I’ve always liked my legs but they are even more toned than ever right now while training for a marathon.
That looks like a wonderful place to swim!
Swimming definitely helped improve my self-image. When I started swimming again, I was 250 pounds. I was of course self-conscious about my body. But I forced myself to just do it and I felt so much better for it!
I have a question about green monster. Cause I do not have a juicer or the super expensive super-dooper blender that most blogger seems to have, just a old’ regular blender that crush ice. What do you use?
I have a KitchenAid blender and I have not been happy with it. It has broken twice (and I have sent it back twice). I don’t have one to suggest but maybe others do? :)
ahaha I love Eric’s response!
But in all seriousness, what a wonderful discovery! Running makes me feel SO great about my body. Because it tones just about everything, even though my legs will still be bigger and my stomach will never be board-flat, I know I NEED my quads and my core to push me through my long runs. And they look great when I run a lot! Even though my size has not changed in the last couple of months getting back into running, my body confidence has gotten MUCH better :D
xo
K
I know he never fails to crack me up.
I am like some of the other replies, I have my ups & downs when it comes to my body image. My hubby always puts a smile on my face by telling me I’m beautiful and sexy no matter what, however, in my mind I’m not. However, today, I feel better about my self body image than I did several years ago, although, there will be days when I wish my quads were more defined or ab muscles more defined or whatever, but not always.
I’ve done pretty much a little bit of everything in the world of exercise except for gymnastics and I have to say that running, rock climbing and swimming have been 3 of the sports or activities that have really changed my body image. Running made my legs stronger and more defined, especially my calves. Swimming really defined my shoulders, back and arms. Rock climbing is an awesome workout in itself but it also makes you stronger and confident. I climbed a 120 ft. wall straight up and never thought I could do something like that. I believe it was because of the strength in my legs and arms.
I can’t wait to try rock climbing!
I think participating in any sort of physical activity can help promote a positive body image if done for the right reasons. When you work out for health or pursue a race or other fitness goal because you are passionate about the activity, you will end up feeling stronger and be proud of your accomplishments. I think confidence in other areas of our lives can go a long way in how we view ourselves, including our bodies. Great post topic!
You’ve been blogging up a storm, Ange!
I was ripped when I was a swimmer & gymnast. Ah, I wish I still had that bod — lean & definied.