To the Un-Athletic Girl

      I am not and will never be an athletic girl (Like it ain't gonna happen). I was that kid growing up who my mom stuck in every sport that she could, trying to find at least one that I was somewhat okay at. From gymnastics to ballet to karate to swimming to basketball to softball to cheerleading to volleyball to golf to tennis... With each and every attempt ending up in me wanting to quit because I was so bad or just mediocre, but having to drag myself to finish the season out.

     I always desired to be athletic. All my siblings were amazing at sports and then there was me who's face got red walking up the stairs. At first it didn't really bother me that I was unatheltic, but then middle & high school happened. Girls started dieting and running a million miles a day and getting skinny, and I looked at my un-athletic self and saw a problem. I suddenly  became embarrassed because of my lacking ability for fitness, so I stopped working out with friends and stopped going to the gym in fear of people seeing me struggle. I despised my body for not being able to naturally do what all my friends could.

    This grew from an unhealthy desire into an unhealthy habit. Spending nights at home forcing myself to do exercise videos, trying to get the bodies that the other girls had. Then when I didn't see results right away or couldn't push myself as far as they could go I would emotionally eat. Stuffing myself with junk food to try and relieve the hurt, knowing I would never be good enough. Then seconds later hating my body even more knowing all the food I had made myself eat. The cycle continued over and over.

   I know there's so many girls out there right now who are going through the exact same thing I did. It wasn't until probably even this past year that I've started to come to terms with my unhealthy view of exercise. Through lots of prayer and God's grace I turned my destructive mindset of fitness into one of joy and health, and you can too by just realizing a couple things:


1. God wants us to take care of our bodies, because He created them.
 
       "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit...You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." (1 Cor. 6:19-20)


       Okay so we've all heard how our bodies are "temples" and we are to treat them as such, but do we realize it also includes fitness? Scientifically even exercising has a million benefits for your body: it give you that healthy release of endorphins ("cause endorphins make you happy and happy people just don't shoot their husbands", sorry for the Legally Blond reference), it makes you sleep better, feel more alert, have better confidence...  
        He's not saying we have to become a vegan or only eat quinoa or become a body builder (because Lord knows that will NEVER be me), but He does want us to treat our body with respect. Not emotionally eating or starving ourselves, but giving our body fruits and veggies and protein so we can have energy to better be lights to shine His love for all to see.


2. Exercise does not have to be boring or unenjoyable

      For the longest time I tried to push myself to do workouts that I ultimately hated and despised doing, I just couldn't enjoy it. So I broadened my horizons since there's a million types of ways to get exercise now a days, and you just to have to find what you click with. I love to hike. So I try and wake up at 8 a.m. most mornings to go on a couple mile hike in the park.  Another thing I love is dancing. So me and friends take Zumba or latin dance classes together at the gym.
       Just find ways to be creative: workout in the pool (this is actually a thing), join a fun sport, do pilates or yoga, take your dog for a walk. Just getting in that recommended 30 minutes of exercise a day absolutely improves your metabolism, your mindset, and just your overall health.

3. Stop looking at the scale

    Girls have a tendency to mark their beauty by a number on a scale. Let me tell you the scale can only do so much. We, as girls, are all made so uniquely and with all different bodies. Some are tall, some are curvy, some are short, some are stick straight. You could put all different types of girls that are the same weight right next to each other and it'll vary so much on how it looks on each of them.
    Also with trying to become more toned and when you start working out you gain muscle. There have been times I weighed heavier after working out and eating healthier for a while, not because I gained any weight but because I gained muscle. I've seen millions of pictures of fitness gurus who post pictures of their bodies year later heavier than they were before, but looking so much more toned and fit than they had been. So stop making the scale your main priority.


  God through learning these simple things has been transforming not just my mind, and heart, but my body as well. He's taught me how to love my curves and how my body is shaped, to treat it with respect and a healthy mind. He's showed me how to find joy in going on a morning hike or doing a cardio dance workout or going to gym with a friend so that I can honor God with the body He has allowed me to have. Learn to be grateful for the body God has blessed you with (learn to not take it for granted) and He will help you to see yourself how He sees you as: perfect.


- Rachel