Just Start

Start where you are, Use what you have, Do what you can

-Arthur Ashe

 

There was a day, years ago, I went shopping for a new pair of jeans.
I grabbed a three or four pairs, different styles, but all in my size.
That was the day I started.
That day I had an epiphany.
I tried on all those jeans.
NOT ONE OF THEM FIT.

Not a single one.
I could only get them half way up my thighs.
For a split second I had a thought, and it scared the shit out of me.
That thought was "the next size up isn't that big".
That thought scared me because I realised, even as I thought it, that was how it all began.

My grandmother was, shall we say, cuddly. All of her life.
I didn't want to go down the same track. I watched her weight fluctuate all my life. It went up and down about 3-4 dress sizes. Even the smallest being very cuddly.
I realised that day that I could quite easily go down the same track.
It was in my family.
It was genetics.

All of my grandmothers sisters were extremely over weight.
It may only be a matter of time before I ended up like that.
Just because I have always been little didn't mean I would always stay little!
But that day became my turning point.
My light bulb moment.

That was the day I decided I was not going to end up like that.
EVER.
I left the shop that day empty handed, but with a new resolve.
I began running.
I would get up every morning, early, and take the dog down to the footy oval and run laps.

By running I mean more of a trot, and by laps I mean one.......
But each day I would try run a little further.
Eventually I decided to join a gym.
A women's only gym, because real gyms were only for fit people.........
Upon joining I was given one FREE 30 minute personal training session.
All I saw was FREE!

Little did I realise this was another turning point.
It was this trainer who helped me start something new. Something that changed my life.
She pushed me. She motivated me. She made me see my potential. She awakened a love of exercise from childhood that I had lost.
She also scared me!! A lot!!
I knew I would be in trouble if I hadn't trained in between sessions. I knew I would hurt if I didn't maintain things when not training with her.
From there, my love of exercise grew.
Running became important to me.
Since then, everything has changed.
The state I live in has changed, my relationship status has changed, my career path has changed (a couple of times!).
But my love of exercise has not.
Thank you Teresa!
Without you, I really don't think I would be who I am, or where I am today.
My tips to help you start on your own journey are simple:

1. Start Small. Make small changes. Drink more water. Give up alcohol.
   
2. Be Patient. Don't expect everything to come together at once. Build on each step. Don't beat yourself up if you take a step back. Use that to push off on the next part of your journey.
   
3. Positive Energy. Surround yourself with positive people. People who support you and what you want to achieve. They don't have to want what you want for themselves, they just have to want it for you.
   
4. Set Goals. Little ones. Big ones. Start small and reward yourself with each small victory. Not with food! Reward yourself with something to help you toward your next goal, new trainers, new leggings, a new grill or blender.
   

From here the sky is the limit.

Just start.

Bianca XXX

Bianca: The Vampire Slayer.

Bianca: The Vampire Slayer.

My idea of being strong for a girl began years ago.
The idea of not needing to be rescued, to be my own superhero, was brought to life by

Buffy: The Vampire Slayer.

A superhero who was a normal girl, with normal problems, but the ability to take on the world and win.
She was vulnerable, flawed, but when she needed to she stepped up, took on the world and won.
She was emotionally and physically strong. A strong female role model, the likes of which I had never seen before.

I wanted to be her!

She had THE BEST shoes and could kick butt in them!
Even now, 16 years since season one came out, she is still my all time favourite fictional female character.

Chicks that kick arse are my inspiration.
Chicks like

 Buffy who physically kept up with the boys

Hermione, who could out smart any wizard

Or Carrie Bradshaw who's emotional vulnerability was her strength.

They all show what we can do when we decide we want it badly enough.

We, as women, need to take control and empower each other!
We are so busy comparing ourselves to others, that we forget our only competition is in the mirror.
All three of the strong girls I have mentioned have one thing in common.
They have friends that build them up and support them.

The idea behind Strong For A Girl is to create a community of women to act like Xander and Willow, Harry and Ron or Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha.
To empower each other through exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

We don't need to be skinny to be beautiful. Just to be fit and healthy.
We only have one body, we need to treat it with respect.
I have had my wild partying days, eaten terrible foods and sat on the couch all day.
I don't regret anything, as it has created me as I am today. But finding what my body is capable of fascinates me.
Don't get me wrong, pizza is still amazing and ice cream my Achilles heel,

but as the cookie monster says cookies are a sometimes food!!!!
But I can find things to satisfy the cravings in a healthier way

And help me on my journey to find out exactly what my body is capable of!
Make small changes at first, drink more water and less alcohol.
Build on these changes, daily, weekly, monthly.
All of a sudden you will realise how far you have come!
Strong For A Girl will be there to keep you motivated, give you tips and advice, to push you to try harder and help you up when you trip.

To quote my favourite character:

"This is not gunna be pretty, I'm talkin violence, strong language, adult content"

But its gunna be FUN!!

Welcome to Strong For A Girl, enjoy the journey with me!

Bianca XXX