my weight loss story
how I transformed my body in record time
We as women can be really, really hard on ourselves.
And when we’re down on ourselves our confidence crumbles.
Another thing that crumbles is the way we hold ourselves, and the way we see ourselves.
I’m here to tell you, of all things, please, do not let your confidence crumble.
I’m here to tell you to start standing up for yourself.
And here’s an amazing example why.
We had just got done rock climbing at Grand Ledge, a sport that I fell in love with 10 years ago. I HATE working out. But this isn’t working out. It’s fun, it’s an adventure, it’s a challenge, and… ok… it’s one hell of a work out, but not in a “I feel like I want to die” way!
After kicking some butt we went out to dinner on the way home. A lot of dinner. With a beer. Oh, and dessert. A whole banana split, just for me.
When we got home I went in the bathroom to put my pjs on. I was exhausted. I took my shirt off, turned, and looked in the mirror… and then noticed… it was like my body had changed over night.
Why is the quality crappy? Because it was taken with my cell phone.
Why would a professional photographer try to prove a point with a cellphone?
Because we live in a world full of photoshop. I want to prove to you these images haven't been touched and they are in fact real.
I knew right then and there things had to be different. This wasn’t me. This was not how I was used to my body looking. The image in front of me didn’t reflect how awesome I normally felt about my self.
That’s when I decided to make a change.
The image on the right shows the new me. Someone confident. Someone more aware. Someone willing to take care of their body.
So what did I do?
I stood up for myself.
No, really. Like… I stood up.
I fixed my posture.
Yeah. I’m serious. These images are actually just 2 minutes apart from each other.
I learned an amazing fun fact from Jeni Vincent Yoga about a year ago. Your body should always feel centered and your “cup” (or your hip bones) should never tilt or “spill.” Do it. Roll your shoulders back, raise your head, and finally tilt your hips so, if they were a cup, they can’t spill anything out, and watch as your body morphs in to a healthier version of you. And I’m not talking healthy as in skinny, I’m talking- your body is SO thankful that you just balanced it that it’s going to reward you with a better version and shape of you.
What you can’t see in the left image is how much my back is arching, and how much my tailbone is pointing out, due to me sitting editing hours on end. I actually stand just like this out of habit because it’s comfortable. But that’s REALLY pushing my stomach out. So guess what, that dinner, and beer, and banana split is all at the front of my body. My boobs look pathetic because my shoulders have completely fallen into my body, my chest is closed in and cut off from the world. My face looks round because my neck is nonexistent. And my face looks tired because I’m not feeling confident, which is showing through my eyes and expression.
Once I realized this, and kinda look in horror wondering if that banana split MAY have been an even WORSE idea then I already knew it was, I stood up, for myself, and took a deep breath. Instantly my body felt more energized, and I obviously looked better, not because I was thinner, but because my body just clearly looked happier.
Being centered is a HUGE deal in life. If you’ve never taken a yoga class, I REALLY urge you to. And PLEASE do it with Jeni. She’s amazing.
These are also areas I focus on and tweak for you during a session. Learning tricks like these and posing women for years has allowed me to easily see your best angle, before you even get in them. So if you're feeling uncomfortable and unconfident in front of the camera, it's ok, I'm here to help you find that balance. Trust me, not only does it look great, it feels great!
And remember- tell yourself you are strong and beautiful, and then stand up for yourself, with great confidence.
Want to see more flattering tricks? Check out my blog on how to slim your face for photos in just a few easy steps.