Sometimes it feels like you have to pick one or the other, right?
I’m a firm believer that the pursuit of vanity goals is just as valid as the pursuit of performance goals. But I tell you what, it’s much easier to change your mind about what you view as ideal than it is to change your body to fit that ideal. I know because I’ve lived it!
In pursuit of my pull ups, I grew lats, traps and shoulders under the stimulus of countless rows, presses, and flys.
In pursuit of a stronger snatch, I developed a thicker core to catch and hold weight overhead.
In pursuit of a heavier clean, I developed a wider upper back to catch the barbell with confidence before standing.
In pursuit of a better cardiovascular engine, my legs leaned with the miles I ran.
Squats, lunges, deadlifts, RDLs, hip thrusts, oh my! These were key for keeping me injury free, making me competitive in all my lifts – and key for making a bigger, perkier peach.
My body shape and size is a reflection of my current goals for strength, power, endurance and flexibility. Yours might be too! Drunk off my abilities, I’ve been able to flow with the changes I’ve see in the mirror over the years – swimmer’s back, thick thighs, boulder shoulders and all. You might feel this way too!
It’s a lot easier to love what your body looks like – change and all – if you master the way you talk about your reflection. Agree?
