That’s what I said! It’s a pretty beautiful place!

I hadn’t caught up on your blog in a while but popping on today and finding this post – the timing was perfect! I am so encouraged and inspired by your wisdom and insight. Thank you. I really needed someone to commiserate and say those words to me today and here’s your lovely face on video doing just that!

Since deciding to follow my passion and become a fitness professional, I’ve really put the pressure on myself to look perfect (the more I learn about how I should be exercising and eating, the harder it seems to get) – and it’s taken me back down a self-critical road I thought I’d moved past! It’s nice to hear that for most people this is a fight much like what they say about success or happiness: it’s not something you arrive at. We have to do our best at living life as it is and appreciating what we have right now. Mentally, I get this, but a part of me wants to scream in frustration: WHY does it have to be a constant battle?!

I’d also like to put in a plug for a visit to the Pacific Northwest! You just might fall in love with the beautiful scenery and people over here 🙂

Lori, thank you 🙂 You sound just like me! I’m glad I am not alone in this 🙂

I have to laugh (in a good way) at your comment about feeling like a fraud. I feel EXACTLY the same. I have competed in triathlons for years (I hesitate to call myself a “triathlete” cos I feel like, you know, a fraud!) and every time I turn up at an event I feel like one of the event organisers is going to go “hey you! Yes you! You’re not a triathlete, you’re a fraud. Get out of here!”. And yet, I have performed pretty well over the years, if I do say so – I have placed high in my age group and even won my age group at a number of events.

As I have gotten a little older (I am now 40), I have started to realise that I will never be “done”. I will never sort my issues out and go “there that’s finished”. It will always be a work in progress and progress will never be linear. Progress will be two steps forward, one step back, turn around in circles, go sideways, and then maybe a little bit more forward. Fitness is the same, its never “done” and you can sit back and relax.

Your own expectations of yourself are always the highest (mine certainly are). Rationally you know you are your own worst critic, but I know its hard to change. But as many of the others have said, no one expects you to be perfect. As a matter of fact, people that come across as perfect come across as unreal and unattainable – like a face that has had extensive plastic surgery and can no longer move naturally. It looks lovely, but…

But take it from me, and many previous commenters, I LIKE your humanity. I can relate to it. And in a way it will make you a better trainer as you can relate to others struggles with their issues. Naturally when you are under stress these things are going to be made worse. Its easy to be happy when everything is going well!

Be kind to yourself and just keep heading in a general forward direction. Maybe not the best advice, but its what I am trying to do.

Hope you had a great time in the US.

Haha, LOVE IT! 😀

Thank you Marianne. I have noticed my daughters picking up on things I do in workouts and recognizing the importance of what we all eat. I do believe they learn from what they see not from what they hear because I am sure, most times, they are not really hearing me 🙂

Truth be told my dear, we are all slow learners 🙂 but the way I see it, if we are learning, we are growing. Chin up girl, I think you are amazing.

Btw, I recently got my husband on board with your home workouts. Now he comes to me and asks what his routine is for the next day. They are challenging for him but he is loving it.