“Nia, why are you constantly telling women to ‘be the strongest, most awesome version of themselves’ and write motivation type-stuff? Why don’t you just post more workouts and training-specific things? After all, your website is called Lift Like a Girl.”
There was a time I strongly disliked self-help and motivational “You can do it!” type stuff. I didn’t like to read it and certainly never expected to write about it. But many articles on Lift Like a Girl can be classified as “motivational.” Even though some people think motivational stuff is stupid (and I did too, once upon a time) I’m perfectly fine with that, but I’ll keep writing it anyway.
One reason is because I know too many women who feel like they’re fighting a battle they’ll never win. Too many women feel obligated to look a certain way, to reach an “ideal” bodyweight, attain (and forever maintain) a low body fat percentage, or other standards that value them exclusively on their physical appearance. Day after day they hate their bodies and are constantly looking to the next diet or “miracle” that will help them lose weight and reach society’s standards.
I see incredible women – mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, CEOs, nurses, doctors, and everything in between valuing themselves based on their physique or some set of numbers. Society is constantly saying, “It’s about how you look” and not what you do in this world, or who you really are. Just glance at the cover of magazines in the check-out line at the grocery store. There are several headlines that promise to help you tone your stomach, lose five pounds, or look years younger, and it’s all on one magazine!
And it makes me sad.
And it makes me a bit angry. Actually, it makes me really angry.
I’ll keep posting this “motivational stuff” as long as I keep seeing nonsense and BS in the world telling women to value themselves on their body and that they’re never good enough.
I’ll stop writing motivational stuff when people stop selling “miracles” for natural things our society calls “flaws”.
I’ll stop when women choose to be MORE, and not less.
I’ll stop when the popular advice is for women to be the strongest, most awesome version of themselves and to look, act, and be whoever the hell they want to be instead of trying to fit some one-size-fits-all mold that society says is “ideal” or “perfect”.
I’ll stop when people and popular resources stop saying, “Real women do/are/look/act a certain way”.
I’ll stop when women no longer diet to extremes and work out to complete and total fatigue and when they no longer develop disordered eating habits.
I’ll stop when working out is no longer used a form of punishment for eating and when it’s about getting stronger and becoming more awesome.
I’ll stop when women realize that they are awesome NOW, and that no matter how much they weigh or how they look that they can love themselves this very moment.
I’ll stop when people no longer battle binge eating that was caused or exacerbated from a crazy diet.
I’ll stop writing motivational stuff when eating well and working out or being physically active is done because we love ourselves and we simply want to be better versions of ourselves.
I’ll stop when we stop caring about what others think and instead boldly ask ourselves, “What do I want?”
I’ll stop when fitness is less about building a good looking body and more about living a high quality life and feeling awesome (a.k.a. The NEW Definition of Fitness).
And as long as I receive emails like this, then I’ll keep on doing what I’m doing:
-Cristi
But until then those things happen and for as long as I receive messages like that, I’ll keep posting this motivational-stuff, and I hope you keep reading (and sharing!) it as well.
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