Fit, healthy & happy...not just weight loss!!

After recently reading through some very well known women's health and fitness magazines, I found myself reading a story on how great the magazine is; that it represents real, fit and healthy women...but then two pages later....and throughout the entire magazine, it doesn't really promote just being fit and healthy.
When every few pages, the headline article is about the fastest way to lose weight, or the best exercises to 'banish fat' from your problem areas.....girls - what does that make you think about? Of course - there is that pressure from society - subtle, but just enough to turn your subconscious thoughts and level of self esteem into over-drive!

The thing about being fit and healthy, is that you DO NOT have to look a certain way.
The negative effects of that 'extra pressure' to be thin are known now - and it has some devastating effects. Some, sadly even fatal.

Being fit and healthy means having an abundance of energy, to feel amazing and confident in who you are as a person, to have be able to complete the goals you set yourself; be it a fun run, a hike, or to be able to complete a whole boot camp session without feeling like you're going to die!!!! (Oh yes - I hear you!).

We all know that being active and eating a wide range of nutritious foods (well, at least most of the time!), reduces our risk of a long list of lifestyle related diseases. These include mental health illness', cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and even arthritis to name a few.
But if we are within a healthy weight range, feel strong, fit and feminine.....why is that pressure to focus on 'fat loss' remaining with such vigour in our society?

I so often find myself talking to smart, caring and infectiously bubbly, when the topic of conversation moves from what happened on the weekend or at work, to how hard it is to lose the extra kilograms off their bottom!

It is fine to have a goal to lose some weight, if you are slightly over the 'healthy range', particularly if it is causing other health problems.
But lets just stop for a minute and think about how fantastic it feels to raise that heart rate, sweat enough to re-fill the Nation's dams (and yes - it looks really lovely to your personal Trainer - as I keep telling myself!!), to have shapely and strong looking bodies and more importantly to not have to race to the scales as soon as you finish a workout.

If you feel amazing - you are amazing! Just please - do not be swayed to think that one of life's greatest ambitions should be to be a super model. I will just throw it out there - but out of the billions of women in the world, only about 15 are supermodels!!

Why take the focus from the undiscovered world around you, miss the beauty in your days and be unhappy for one silly thing?
take some time to reflect on the things that really matter in life. The goals and dreams you have, the people around you, and the brilliant woman you have and will continue to be.

You are gorgeous. Never forget that! Xx