Before and After photos can be so deceiving! 

Oh the power of the internet and all of the associated meanings behind pictures and the idea of perfection.
Isn't it easy to believe that someone's life is so great because of what we see on their social media, or the glimpses we have into their lives?  If I told you this is me 2 years ago and today...
Would you believe me?




HERE IS THE TRUTH.
These 2 pictures are actually taken a couple of HOURS apart, and NO my 1hr swim workout didn't make me look like picture #2 (After).
I didn't take any miracle drugs, I didn't alter the photos, but I feel like I look like 2 different people (yes I realize it's a backshot and a front shot...)

When I took the first photo I cringed... I found my every worst nightmare in this shot: it confirmed every single one of my insecurities: those legs (arrggg), my butt is way bigger than it should be, I'm pear shaped, do my arms really look like that?
The choice was made...I am NOT posting this photo, or maybe I can find a way to crop it so you can't tell...?

The 2nd photo was taken later that night and let's just say I didn't think twice about downloading and posting my selfie. I felt pretty, and confident and I even took extra selfies. I was greeted with comments of Wow! You look hot! These comments felt nice, but I knew the truth - only hours before I'd seen what I really looked like.

Wait, what?  What do I REALLY look like? These are both me.

​Here is the thing: The angles, the lighting, the positioning of the body all make photos look deceivingly different.  What if everyone is only posting their "good moments" on their social?  No wonder we are all dealing with increasing anxiety about living up to these self created expectations of what we SHOULD be. I wonder if I posted photo #1 what kinds of comments I would have gotten?

We do have different sides of ourselves, we DO have different angles, and sometimes we feel great and other times not so much...here is the biggest secret we all know and often forget:
Social media is not human and doesn't capture all the angles.  YOU are human.  

Here is how to transform yourself to live your best life:
​
1. Take care of your mind by not buying into this idea of social or body perfection.  

2. Do what feels good for your body, get active because it's good for your mind, and is scientifically proven to make you feel better, reduce depression, anxiety, adhd, and help you concentrate!

3. Make a goal for yourself that feels good because that is what you are really here for, to Live your Best Life.

If this is helpful, share it with someone else or leave a comment below :) <3 #tuesdayteaching
​

First time on the radio :D :D being interviewed by Vanessa at Coop Radio for Storytime was such an awesome experience!
We talked Running, Sole Girls and being Ironwoman!

Check out the link here: ​http://coopradio.org/content/storytelling-show-259

During this conversation I realized that I really try to make space for things that are important to me, and this becomes more and more evident in my actions. I hold space for girls, I create space for leadership, and I make space for fun and rest time. I do this by focusing my attention on what I want to create or hold and what the desired feeling is. #tuesdayteaching
​What do you hold space for?

I spent this past weekend watching some amazing speakers at TedxVancouver and TedxSFU.  Although they were two distinct events, with different themes, a couple of elements remain consistent.
Monday Mantra is below... :)

‪#‎Im703WC‬ was the most beautiful and gruelling thing I've ever done, or on par with ‪#‎ironman2014‬
So here begins my ‪#‎mondaymantra‬. I earned this, no matter how tough it is, I am tougher, take it one step at a time.👟
 
🏊🏼The swim was vicious, total washing machine. 33min swim, the 2nd half I was happy to drift out and was relieved to have space. 
Transition: this was unlike any other I've ever done. We had to unpack/pack everything into a bag, I almost forgot my pump so did a little bit of a counter traffic dodging. Then Ran almost a km with my bike zigzagging out. And Bike shoes on because I haven't mastered the skill of putting them on and cycling at the same time!

🚴Bike: I was excited about the bike ride and despite the hill (ahem mountain)in the middle of the course, I thought I could do 3hrs. I didn't expect to see people walking their bikes up the hill. It was like climbing Cypress but with a full 2km finale of 15degree grade ie..aprox 3km/hr straight up. I thought if I could get past the guys walking then I had to stay on my bike and slog on. Yes SLOG. No idea what that means but that's what it was at 41degree heat. THANK GOD for the cheerers and volunteers there.
By the top, my legs were tired and I wasn't even 1/2way. The downhill was tedious and my 🚀🚴 picks up speed so quick! The rest, I rode hard and enjoyed the scenery, it was mindblowing beautiful, can’t even describe…Greens and Blue and the mountains and the houses. WOW. Time 3:05.

👟Run: another 1km run with my bike back in and packing/unpacking bags and I was off. The trail was 1/2 gravel and 1/2 paved- mistake of not knowing where the turnarounds were the 1st loop felt like I was running through sand in slow motion. I walked through aid stations and gulped down coke and pretzels. I imagined @noadeutsch shaking her head as I walked but my goals were readjusted by this point, I was determined to make it to the end. By lap2 I felt better although the smell of redbull station turned by stomach. I found my‪#‎happypace‬ and forgot about time and remembered my mantra: one step at at time, that’s it. Time 2:02.
I'm humbled to even be a part of this day.

​Final note: things change even when I think I'm on track. But There is always a choice to take another step towards chasing dreams ‪#‎1stepatatime‬ ✨

Judge me that I often have thought my legs are bigger than they should be. I've spend hours in front of the mirror and stared, I've cringed when I sit down and they get wider, I've chosen clothes because they make my legs appear different.
Look at them and have an opinion. 
You might think "that's silly, or totally good call, you're right or I've felt that too." 
Friends--->That's the easy part.
Now...
Think about what you've judged about yourself, consider all the time you've spent at such a low vibrational level judging yourself. How does that help you?
Recently I've started appreciating these legs more and more, it starts in my mind everyday. Gratitude and appreciation YES, but also shifting focus to the actual belief that I have great legs. 

It is too easy to have a lazy mind, to continue at a low judgemental thinking. But this is not where miracles or possibility happen. You will continue to think and feel exactly how you have in the past unless you do something different. Life is too short to expect anything less than awesome. 


So ‪#‎whynot‬ change 1 thing you judge yourself on today. 
Good morning Ashley, you have great legs. 
‪#‎whynotwednesday‬ your turn.

Rackets & Runners and New Balance Canada <3 thank you for these great shorts