Stars, Stripes, and Sweat

I started my freedom-celebration this morning by sleeping in til 6.  I'm clearly living life on the edge.

4th of July is usually family vacation time, but this year its coming a month later.  August on the beach will feel like a sauna.  No need for me to swim in the ocean, no, I will be swimming in my own pool of sweat.  That's pretty much how that week will go down.  Either way, I can't wait.  My entire family in one house...the stories to follow will be epic....and I will need more therapy...

Yesterday was a great day in the gym.  Long day, but good day.  I had a couple of breakdowns, but those are honest moments and true wake-up calls, and thus good.  It is definitely hard for me to hear a woman get emotional about hating to look in the mirror.  That is tough to hear.  While I can encourage them until I'm blue in the face, at the end of the day THEY come face to face with their own perspective and that ultimately becomes their reality. 
The ultimate goal is not for them to wake up one day and never deal with insecurities again.  That's unrealistic.  Instead, its to cultivated a desire for health in every aspect of their life that sparks habit-change and gives them skills to manage those insecure moments.  I use the word "health" because this struggle is not limited to overweight/obese individuals.  I've worked with numerous ladies battling eating disorders who face the exact same self-destructing demon just in a different form.  Truth is, whether you're 30 pounds overweight or 30 pounds underweight, looking in the mirror with disdain is an unhealthy place to be.
We're always going to be hard on ourselves.  However, there is a difference in the internal push or drive we muster up in tough moments, and the downward spiral of negative self-talk. 
We were not made to be our own adversaries. 

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I've already checked off 4 things from the to-do list today.  I'm on a roll.  OCD in 5th gear today folks...happy 4th to me.  The plan is to finish a few things around the house and then hit the gym for some legs/abs.  My hamstrings just recovered from Friday's workout, so this will be interesting.  Tomorrow will be my last lifting day before the shoot on Saturday.  Friday I'll do a little bit of cardio and then hunt down my mom to paint the tan on my back.  I can pretty much reach everything else...then she gets the honors of painting my backside.  Saved the best for you mom.  Love you.
I am looking forward to Saturday, but it will be exhausting.  And yes, I will have a glass of wine that night.  Its been 5 weeks....it might only take 1.

So here's to July 4th!  Enjoy your day with family, friends, or by yourself if that's how you want to celebrate your independence.  I get it.
Have a great hump day :)