The skinny on being skinny

So the other night I was at a wicked intense Zumba class. I mean intense as in my abs feel like they are going to explode out my stomach and I did more kegal exercises than I can handle (seriously...we have to do them for some of the moves in order to make them work hahah)

My instructor said something that really hit me:  

If you come to class not wanting to learn and push yourself, you're only punishing yourself

I can't tell you how TRUE this is!  Because I was just like that a few years ago!

Growing up, I was constantly doing sports. Gymnastics, volleyball, soccer, basketball, golf. I was always tiny. Always skinny. And frankly always hated for it.  My metabolism was non-existent. I could eat Chili Cheese Fries from Johnny Rocketts and a hamburger and nothing would happen. Sometimes I'd make Ramen when I got home from school at 3 or 4 PM and then eat dinner at 7 with my family and again, no weight gain!

 Circa highschool

When I got to college my freshman year, I didn't play any sports and figured my metabolism would be on my side. Unfortunately, I gained about 10 pounds during my freshman and sophomore year which doesn't seem like a lot to some, but it was to me, and it showed! I felt disgusting and gross and hated myself. It was the first time in my entire life that I had ever hated something about myself and that was scary. I'd go to the gym and walk on the treadmill for 5 minutes and that was it. Or I'd do 20 situps and then give up. It was pathetic.

I remember driving by the gym one day my sophomore year and it just hitting me. I needed to get back into shape. I worked my butt off sophomore year and lost the 5 pounds, and lost the rest over the summer. I can't tell you how healthy I felt! Plus I was eating better too...no more late night excursions to McDonalds with boyfriends who will never gain a pound (yeah I'm talking to you Kurt!)

 Yep that's an entire container of ice cream

If there was one thing I could tell you besides motivation that helped me get rid of those pounds, it was working out. Plain and simple. I went to the gym with my roommates with little cut-out workout cards from Cosmo Magazine (you know those things!?) and tried new workouts. I seeked help and ideas from friends who were athletes. I put headphones in with no music and listened to personal trainers train their trainees (proooobably not allowed but hey!)

But now, as good as I feel about myself, there are still some things that are really devastating to hear:

"You have no reason to work out. You're skinny!"

"If you keep working out you're going to wither away"

"You don't need to be on that treadmill...go eat a big mac"

The only thing I have to say to those people is that I'm being healthy and loving my body! You only get one body...why not treat it right?

So no matter what body type you have, embrace it! Work for it! I don't listen to what people say when they tell me to stop eating a salad and eat a burger. Hey! I happen to like salad! ;-) I'm proud of what I've been able to accomplish with my body and I think if you love your body, you should say so!

Do you love your body?!

Happy Hump Day!