Barbell & Self Love – Steps to Self-Love and Confidence

Hi snatchers!

Can I tell you how the barbell told me to love myself?

Fitness has been an outlet for me for a year because who does not like to lift heavy stuff? Okay, I personally do not like to lift wardrobes and drawers for one thing but lifting that barbell is an amazing feeling! You feel empowered and honestly like a badass when you hit the personal best. Don’t you feel that way with something? An activity that just empowers you and when you see yourself you just go “ooo you betta!” Yes, the same feeling when you walk past a mirror and catcall yourself yeeeah I’m talking to you, you know you’ve done it haha.

OOO you Betta Snatcher!

That’s what lifting did for me! I remember starting out at 40 – 60 lbs on my deadlift. I was afraid people would make fun of me, judge me because my form was not perfect, judge me because what is 40 or 60 pounds going to do? Honestly, I thought of every excuse of why I should stay out of the free weight section of the gym and defeatedly go back to the treadmill or Zumba classes as society told me to do. Well no I didn’t do that! I sucked it up put my headphones on and blocked out the people around me. I stared into the full-length mirror in front of me and saw the girl who wanted to change, who wanted to be strong, and most importantly who wanted to love the body she was in.

I wanted to love myself so bad, at this time I had successfully lost 10-12 pounds from 199 through macro counting and dance fitness, and now I wanted to keep my curves and build muscles. Yes, build to stay curvy. After I found out that lifting would help me keep my curves while leaning me out, I had another reason why I had to lift that bar. Of course, my initial why is what pushed me because I wanted to choose me. I told that girl in the mirror “this is for you”. I lifted that barbell and successfully did my sets for pull day (Back & Biceps). I found that I was energized and felt accomplished! You go Shay Shay!

At the end of the gym session, I took a selfie because I was a Bad Ass or in our case a Snatcher! I snatched what was in front of me and chose to do it for me! That rush, the pride, the confidence, and that love I gained for myself just with 60 lbs was worth it. So, I’m going to give you some lift worthy tips and affirmations!

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.”
Brené Brown

Block out doubters (including yourself!): You know the saying we are our worst enemy? It is true, it is bad enough when others judge you why be your own critic? In order to block it out, put on music that makes you feel good (just like I did in the gym), journal that negativity away put on paper so it can be out of your heart & mind. Distance yourself from toxic people, if they are not for you, they are not with you.

Don’t let society tell you how to be you: Remember how I mentioned I shouldn’t be in the free weight section? Why would I think that? Because society is always yelling at us that girls that lift are gross. That pretty much anything that is male-dominated does not belong to you. Well, excuse my French fuck that! You can do anything you put your mind to and only you know how to be you. If it brings you joy Maria Kando that and hold it close. (Side note yall should watch that on Netflix, man who knew organizing and decluttering could be so enjoyable?!)

Remember your WHY: Yes remember the reason you started, remember the reason you wanted to improve, remember why enough was enough, remember why you wanted more for yourself. All of us will have different whys, the reason I started working out again and dancing were because I honestly disliked the woman in the mirror. Don’t get me wrong I have always loved myself in different ways but looking in that mirror I was not loving myself enough and I understood that I felt uncomfortable looking in the mirror I noticed how I never wanted to go shopping, I noticed I would talk down to myself about different situations “I’m not good enough” “I’m not pretty enough” “I’m not smart enough” I’m just stuck” “one day maybe it will change but I can’t do it now” Honestly the list can go on and on but know that your WHY will always be stronger than your Nos.

SELFIE TIME: Shay you want me to take a picture? Well in a sense I want you to picture that happy person you want to be. I want you to show me what she looks like, what would she do? How would she react? Would she be smiling? Would she be flirty? Would she be silly? Would she daring? How about you show yourself who she is already and take the picture? I want you to take this “Self-love is not vanity, it is sanity”

To lift or not to lift was one of the many crossroads I encountered on this Road to Snatch. I could have easily chosen not to but I chose to do it despite all the Nos. I chose me and I will always continue to choose me. I hope you find the strength to choose you and I hope some of these tips help :] Until next time keep snatching!

-Forever Always Shay