For the longest time I wanted to be smaller. To shrink. To be thin.
I grew up thinking that slim is beautiful, skinny arms and legs, a tiny waist, being able to slip into a size 2 little black dress and have it hang in just the right way. The signs were all around me. “Nutritional shakes” and programs were all the rage when I was growing up, people were running left right and center with their sweat bands on. People were “getting physical”, going to step class, buying thigh masters and treadmills.
I didn’t get it, I just knew that being thin was what women were “supposed” to be. But I didn’t get thin….I got fat. From about age 13 to age 18, I piled on the pounds. I went from slightly chubby to full out overweight. I was 5’4″ and 185lbs in my final year of high school. I was depressed, upset with myself and unable to control my emotional eating habits. I ate for pleasure, when I was bored, when I was sad or happy and anytime in between. Food was my comfort.
Then when I was 18, I learned to control my eating and get off my butt. I learned the joy of movement with daily 10km roller blading odysseys down my little city’s ocean front sea walk. I learned to love sweat and the freedom of being able to walk up a flight of stairs without being out of breath. I loved that feeling. I craved more. Over the course of a year following high school graduation, I eventually lost 60lbs and for the next ten years I experimented with all kinds of fitness, workouts, dieting and all the other things that go along with a health obsession.
I lifted little weights, I stretched, I walked, I ran, I jogged, I did lunges, I did squats, I sweated in front of my TV or computer screen for hours working my butt off (literally) to videos of super cardio and then I added a bit of weight to that. I got down to 115lbs this last summer. I was slim, I had abs, I was healthy, I was eating no meat. I was doing all the things I’m “supposed to do”. But I didn’t feel very good.
In fact, I felt so poor I paid to go see a naturopath to tell me what was up. Did I have a thyroid problem? Hormone imbalance? Gluten or other food sensitivity? I couldn’t shake the feeling of being not quite right. I actually started suffering from some serious autoimmune problems. My hair was falling out in huge patches and I was freaking out. The doctors all kept saying it was just hormones from having the kids and breastfeeding, but I just didn’t believe them.
Then I started really looking into this beautiful world that exists on the periphery of fitness. A group of people that like to lift heavy things for short periods of time. Barely any of the dreaded cardio, only short bursts of running and workouts only lasted for usually no more than 30 minutes, tops. I dove head first into that world. I dragged Adrian with me. Because doing things as a couple is way more fun and it truly cements the bond you have to see each other at such a low as right after a 1000m row for time. Part of this world was the food. We switched (with no looking back) to a full primal diet. From no meat, to lots of it. From barely any fat, to more than I’d ever allowed myself since those pimply teenage days. I was in heaven.
Early on this year I had set some goals for myself. After doing the cardio based videos for over two years, I wanted the following for myself: visible abs, able to do 5 full push ups, able to do one full pull up unassisted. I hadn’t achieved them through the videos, but with the help of the “sport of fitness” I could do all of them within two months of starting. I was pumping out ten, twenty, thirty push ups at a time!
My weight shot up from 115lbs to 122lbs in one month and it wasn’t fat. I gained lean muscle and I felt strong and lean and capable. I felt beautiful. Beautiful from the inside out. I have more confidence, more strength, better endurance and best of all, I feel good. I can eat real food and not feel gross, I don’t have constant problems in my gut and I don’t feel like a balloon after every meal. I’m comfortable in my own skin and for the first time in my whole life, I can walk around naked and feel like I own the place (cause I do..in my own house. You won’t see me getting the newspaper in the buff…).
So that’s my story so far. Strong really is the new sexy and you’ll never find me trying to shrink again…
But now I want to hear your story, your goals for your future because your health is what will bring you that future. And I want you to tell the whole world about it.
Under Armour is putting on a contest called What’s Beautiful. It’s open to US and Canadian residents age 13 and older and entrants are eligible to win prizes (swag bags, trips, spa treatments, training, etc.). All you have to do is set a goal and show us how you are going to achieve it. What is the What’s Beautiful contest? Simply put, Under Armour has set out to redefine what the female athlete is. The What’s Beautiful program encourages women to share their fitness journeys and receive motivation, free gear and support from under Armour along the way.
So it’s time to set your own goal, crush it and share it with the world. You too can motivate others! The 10 women with the most epic journeys will win a trip to Florida to the Under Armour Women’s Camp Sweat where you will train with the best. Let’s do this thing!
What’s your goal?
FitFluential LLC compensated me for this Campaign. All opinions are my own.
Yes! I am so happy to see this transition in you Elizabeth! Please keep inspiring others. It keeps you inspired!
Amazing story! Thanks so much for sharing. I work for a health and diet website (dietsinreview.com) and would LOVE to feature your story on our website. Would you be willing to do an interview with me sometime this week or next?
Thanks!
Dana
I love that you found a new way of being healthy that works for you and makes you feel so good! It is wonderful that this way of living has had such a positive effect on you.
This is really beautiful post. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I really love what Under Armour has done with its What’s Beautiful competition. It is so inspiring to see all these amazing female athletes come together and support each other.
I was always that girl suffering on the cardio machine jumping off as soon as I can and slinking over to the weights when all the boys were gone – people kept saying you have to do cardio, you HAVE to do cardio – ugh!!! Now I do the weight room for 30 minutes – I still love to walk and hike, but I haven’t taken a cardio class in years, ok edit that – I did one in April and ended up hurting my knee and was miserable the whole time!
My thing was I didn’t have my diet in check – so while I had some muscle tone I still had too much fat – now that I have my diet in check it’s much better. I would say I lean towards paleo more, but really I just eat real food and don’t obsess over omitting any one thing.
That’s awesome! Totally the way to go.
I always adore your honesty, Liz. ps I went to the Crossfit gym today and I loved it…going back tomorrow!
That’s so awesome Winnie!
NICE!!!!! Loving your posts, about to eat some paleo breaky, housework, prep sockeye alla Mexican style for supper and pre supper will head out to ride the Cumberland bike trails…..A good day!!!! You continue to be inspiring…..Only WE can make our own changes, be proud to be strong women !!!
You are so fun! I always love reading your posts–they always inspire me to stay motivated to reach my goals.
I have a similar goal to be able to do 10 full push ups and one pull up… and I’d say I’m A LOT closer than I was last year… but I’ve definitely been on the downside of motivation the last few months. Thanks for being inspiring!
I do what I can Sam!
Beautiful, beautiful story! I can’t wait to get into this type of exercise post baby. You are super inspiring!
Thank you so much Nicole!
Ditto to everything lovely things said above as I couldn’t have said it better!
I love the changes in the blog, appreciate your honesty in your journey and ever evolving future. You’ve been a huge inspiration to me and its been a great help to me in trying to figure out what works for me and shaping my journey. As of now, I’ve never felt better and look forward to meeting my future goals – and obtaining shoulders and back strength like yours! I was a skinny teen and took it for granted, but even being larger than my teens, I like having my muscle tone and endurance!
Don’t stop with the inspiration – there are lots looking to you for motivation!
Thank you so much Nadia. Your words are very encouraging!
First, I LOVE those socks. And of course, redheads rule the universe. I’m glad you found the exact right type of fit lifestyle that suits you, because when you feel great, you’ll keep doing it. And you are very inspirational! P.S. Muscle tone is the BEST.
Wahoooo! Love this story and the pictures too.
So well said! Strong really is the new sexy and everything it encompasses. I love feeling strong and capable.
Amazing story! So inspiring.
My biggest goal as you saw on my blog is to lose 100+ pounds. I’m more about inch loss but it would be great to see a much lower number on the scale lol
Oh and I agree with Alexandra, red heads DO rule the Universe *wink*
Love this post and the direction your blog has taken. Very inspiring! It’s really hard figuring out what kind of health lifestyle works for you. I used to go to the gym, but eventually realized that I never really liked it, in fact dreaded going and in the end just stopped going in general. I recently figured out what kind of fitness works for me, I started taking ballet class twice a week and haven’t felt this good in years!
Wow, you’ve motivated me Elizabeth! I really want to try this crossfit but I’m not quite sure where to start. If you have any advice for me, I would appreciate it! Keeping rocking it, girl!
Thyroid problems are among the most common medical conditions but, because their symptoms often appear gradually, they are commonly misdiagnosed. So much evidence suggests that thyroid problems are due to an allergic or environmental cause that it seems sensible to remove those substances known to affect the thyroid to see if this corrects the condition before taking any medication.’
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[…] What’s Beautiful? Some of you might remember that back in May, I joined Under Armour Women’s What’s Beautiful competition – a competition to redefine the female athlete. The best thing about the competition was the incredibly supportive community of women that came together. So much so that Under Armour has launched another round and the stories emerging are incredible, like Elizabeth’s from Guilty Kitchen. […]