So, a few Sunday nights ago I did something preeeetty awesome. Basically, I strutted my sexy stuff down a sparkly runway in lingerie and high heels with delicate wings on my back while Taylor Swift serenaded me. Or maybe I watched it happen on TV… and maybe I was actually Adriana Lima… Maybe. I’m honestly not sure where my imagination ends and reality starts anymore.
I don’t think I’m alone when I say every single year I tune in to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and I feel like a whale. I post on Facebook saying that I’m going to really get on top of it, starting tomorrow! I WILL LOOK LIKE AN ANGEL. In case you haven’t guessed, I don’t look like a VS Angel. Yet.
Last year when I watched the show I looked at myself in the mirror and broke down in tears. Who was this lumpy, jiggly girl looking at me in the mirror and when did the jiggly even happen?! It creeped up on me like a sugar laden snake and I realised that something needed to change. I had been trying my hardest to ignore the fact that most of my clothes didn’t fit me and I was beginning to buy bigger sizes. I really got my act together this year, but it’s still really hit and miss. I find myself getting really motivated and then getting lazy, I’ll eat a cheeseburger (or three) and then have to start all over again.
It’s comforting to realise that I’m not alone in my struggle. My Instagram feed bombards me with motivational quotes, progress pictures and #cleaneating. Someone really stood out for me and I asked her to tell me a little bit about her inspiring story of weight loss. Everyone, meet Marica!
“… the only reason my weight loss journey started was because I wanted a pair of pink Nike Freeruns and I needed an excuse to wear them! I hadn’t realised how big I actually was until I started to lose weight. I took a photo on the first day I started at the gym and used a photo every few weeks to track my physical progress and that became more motivation – seeing how far I had come! My weight loss has affected every possible part of my life. I have so much more energy now and I’m a much happier person in general. I’m less bitchy towards others because I’m no longer unhappy with myself and don’t feel the need to pick on other people’s flaws. It’s been hard work but it’s worth it. Now that I’m in the swing of eating healthily and visiting the gym regularly the weight is really coming off. I’ve lost 25kgs and I’m working my way towards my goal weight but right now it’s not about a number on the scales. As long as I can maintain what I’m doing and stay healthy and fit I’ll be happy.”
Marica’s statement really struck me. Firstly, I’ve never though she was a bitch. Secondly, dayum! She’s not kidding around at all. I’ve been stalking her posts on Facebook and Instagram as she’s shared her progress and I’m so amazed by what she has achieved, as are many of her followers. I love that it was the most trivial thing that inspired her to start and that she’s being so realistic about this whole thing. As much as I wish I was, I’m not a VS Angel and I don’t have an army of personal trainers, dieticians and yogalates instructors on speed dial. We all have to do this the hard way. I’m not qualified to tell you how to do it but the information is out there from qualified sources. Take advantage of it – living in a country like Australia with its massive beach culture and the opening of Wet and Wild in Sydney are two great reasons to get into shape.
As for the Victoria’s Secret show, I was really sad to see no Miranda Kerr on the runway, but Cara Delevigne made one hell of an impression in her first VS show using her trademark badass attitude. There’s not an overload of bones. Instead there are smiles and curves and a really empowering feeling of being a woman that most fashion designers seem to forget about when they design for us. It’s a great departure from the unhealthy ideals of the female body that used to adorn the magazines.
We see more models with boobs and booty now, and the rise of the more realistic proportioned models has given women more healthy role models to aspire to be like. Even gyms are catering to women now, with Curves and Fernwood being for women only and many other gyms offering ladies only sections. In shopping centres we have Boost Juice Bars and Top Juice, Sumo Salad and Sushi trains! Karl Lagerfeld is probably engineering the whole thing, delighting in the rise of sashimi wrapped in lettuce leaves being daintily ingested by millions of girls all over the world. It’s almost like it’s… actually becoming easy to find healthy lifestyle alternatives everywhere.
Believe me, this is the last thing I thought I’d be writing about but I really think there are many girls (and guys) out there who really need to hear this stuff. You’re not alone in this. Facebook and Instagram have made us a global network of Fitspo clean eaters and the best thing about it? We all seem to be so united in this. Not once have I seen a negative comment on any of the ladies on my Intagrams pictures – it’s all support, compliments and asking for advice. It’s easy to make an excuse and say you’ll do it tomorrow, but 365 days ago you said you’d do it tomorrow and how far have you come? I can’t wait for the day that I look in the mirror and feel proud of what I’ve achieved and feel comfortable in my body. Just imagine all those wonderful clothes you want to wear but don’t think you have the body for!
As Christmas and New Years has come and gone… I know that most of this isn’t going to happen. Starting Tuesday, I’m taking a holiday from my diet. But afterwards I’m going to get back on the band wagon and I’m going to stick to it.
My 2014 Body Resolutions:
1. I will not drink on week days.
2. I will exercise 4 days a week and I WILL make it fun.
3. I will stick to a healthy diet plan and I will not cave to chocolate.
4. I will have achieved my goal weight by my 22nd birthday, which is at the end of May.
#noexcuses #nocheating #noexceptions
Let’s not buy into this New Year, ‘New Me’ slogan that gets thrown around every year. You are constantly evolving and changing, becoming someone that you’re meant to be – one mistake and success at a time.
Just be a badass.
Bad. Ass.
For those of you who have me on Instagram, I promise not to bore you with pictures of my dinner. Unless it’s delicious. Which they will be.
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