By Valerie Solomon

“Where we think we need self-improvement is often where we actually need self-acceptance.” - Lisa Olivera

I’ve been coaching women in fitness and nutrition for over a decade, but I often feel like I’m a life coach.

So much of my job as a personal trainer and helping women reach their goals has to do with mindset.

It’s not just about mindset to be motivated.

It’s not just about mindset to stick to the plan.

...But mindset to give ourselves some grace.

We are so hard on ourselves.

I find that the women that hire me are a certain type of women.

They’ve got motivation. They are not afraid to do what it takes to reach their goals…

It’s just that sometimes those goals are not something the world sees that they need to work on at all.

While it’s always inspiring for women to do what it takes to get healthy and strong to live an active life, could we do it without beating ourselves up along the way?

Too big thighs

(We see strong and powerful.)

Soft tummy

(We see a gorgeous woman we love to have an occasional cocktail with.)

Leaner.

(We see healthy.)

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I always quit.”

(You enjoyed vacation OR went through a pandemic OR an injury… Just get back to it.)

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just like cookies/tacos/wine.”

(We all do. You are human.)

Give yourself some grace.

If you’ve taken a break from your healthy habits, you can just get back to it. We all (myself included) have to do that from time to time. It’s normal.

If you feel like a failure at your diet, approach it with more freedom and grace next time with a focus on health (mental health too) and long term sustainability… sometimes that means to have the cookie/taco/wine without guilt.

If you are beating yourself up on the appearance of your body, ask yourself if what you are saying to yourself is what you’d want a daughter to say to herself. (Also you can listen to my Body Image webinar here).

Let’s approach our fitness journey a little kinder this week. Deal?