Lets continue the conversation about what healthy looks like. Yesterday evening, I posted what is best described as a rant (if you didnt see this, just scroll back through my timeline and it will be obvious which post Im talking about--its the one with the before and after photo of me). This rant was my reaction to someone who commented to the effect that I should be thinner in order to deserve being a role model and educator in the Paleo community (a number of Paleo bloggers/authors have been attacked in a similar manner this past week). One of the things that absolutely struck me about your reaction to my rant post was how many of you shared your before and after photos and your success stories with the Paleo diet (whether your health journey includes weight loss or not!). This is AMAZING! And I want to keep this conversation going! This is so important for us to show the world what healthy really looks like! So, Im going to start a series of social media posts about metrics of health that are not how thin we are. Its not that I dont think the number on the scale doesnt matter, but that I believe its only one way to gauge health and that many other markers of health are far, far, far more important. I invite you to continue to share your perspective, accomplishments, and stories of your health journey in this regard. Metric of health: strength. Strength has been a huge metric for me for my health. When I first started my health journey, I primarily walked and did yoga as my forms of activity. I loved watching myself get stronger and more agile in yoga classes, have more endurance for hikes, and generally feel stronger and stronger. As my body healed, I began to crave more intense exercise. In January of this year, I began going to strength classes at my local YMCA. After 4 months, I craved even more and started CrossFit. Ive been doing CrossFit for 4 months and absolutely love it (but note that I was not ready for this physical challenge until this year and it took me 2 years of eating AIP while slowly building up physical strength and endurance first). I love watching myself get so strong! Im now one of the strongest women at CrossFit Dwala and on the Leader Board for four strength movements: deadlift, back squat, front squat, and clean. But its not just about being able to pick something heavy up with good form! This translates to every aspect of my life. Its easier to carry the groceries in, easier to play with my kids, easier to do gardening, easier to run to the bus stop. My metabolism is higher and I have more energy. I feel better. Sure, my pants are fitting very strangely (tighter in the calf and thigh while being looser in the hip and waist, with the net effect of having all my pants constantly falling down), but I love getting strong! And I love the new shape of my body (even if I do still have a few rolls around the middle!)! This doesnt mean that I think CrossFit if for everyone, or that you have to do CrossFit to get strong. Theres lots of activities that build strength, endurance and mobility. And strength was a metric of health for me long before I started CrossFit. So, how have you gotten stronger? And how has this made a difference for you in your life?
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 16:44:28 +0000
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