Ditch the Labels: There's No ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL Approach to Fitness
It's no secret my preferred style of training has changed a few times over the years.
There was the time I was obsessed with running and ran my first half marathon (I was also a vegetarian at this time):
Then, there was the time where I focused primarily on body building & powerlifting (I love me some deadlifts. Here's my PR of 255):
Then, there was the time where all my workouts were based on getting strong AF through Olympic Weightlifting (think lots of squats, clean & jerks and snatching; see my jerk PR here! I was so proud haha):
And now, it's a hybrid of almost everything above (lifting, running and yoga).
For so long, I was attached to the idea that I only had to do ONE style of training.
I either had to do bodybuilding, OR running. I couldn't do both.
I either had to love yoga and become a complete vegan yogi, or I had to throw heavy weights over my head while practicing Olympic weightlifting. I couldn't do both.
Well, I'm calling bullshit on that.
Who says you can't do a mixture of things you love to see great results?!
If there's one common theme amongst myself and all the beautiful women I've worked with over the years, it's this:
There's no one-size-fits-all approach to getting in your best physical shape.
And at the end of the day, the most important factor in seeing results in consistency.
I completely understand that there are more efficient ways to train based on the body type you're going after. For example, if you want to be ripped and toned like a bodybuilder, yoga alone probably won't get you there (with the occasional Unicorn exception). And if you want to build exceptional amounts of strength and muscle, running alone won't get you there.
But when did we start favoring what we SHOULD be doing over what feels best to our own body?
Why do we let society/the fitness industry dictate the style of workout we should be doing, even if it doesn't feel authentic to what we truly crave?
Also, here's the thing: styles of working out come and go.
Remember when Zumba and Brazilian Butt Lift DVDs were all the rage? And now bodybuilding/physique competitions seem to be all the rage - if you spend half a second scrolling through Instagram, you're sure to come across some shredded babes in 1/2 buttcheek-exposed bikinis.
So what will the trend be next? Who really knows!
But what I do know is that I'm at the point in my life where I want to train in a way that makes ME happy.
Not what people say I 'should' be doing.
If I want to train for a half marathon, I will. I'm tired letting the idea that 'steady-state cardio is terrible for you' stop me if I genuinely enjoy the challenge that comes from running longer distances.
And if I want to do yoga, I will. It completely shifts my mindset, gives me perspective, and allows me to focus on the things that really matter in my life.
And heck, while I'm at it, I'm also going to keep lifting HEAVY AZZ WEIGHTS because yo girl loves being strong!
Oh, and spin classes. I do those 1-2 times per week too, because I freakin' love 'em. No other reason.
MORAL OF THE STORY: do what makes YOU happy. Whatever style of training that you'll stick with for the long haul is what's going to help you see the best results. Why? Because if you're miserable doing something (even if it's what the magazines say is 'cool' right now), you'll eventually get bored with it and quit working out all together.
Ditch the labels.
I love running. I love yoga. I love lifting weights. I love doing crazy shiz like tire flips, sled pushes and farmers carries. I love taking the occasional spin class.
Embrace what you LOVE.
Whatever sets your soul on fire and makes your heart race because you're so excited to take that class, go for that run, or hit that new PR.... go do more of that.
Sending you so much strength and love!
xo
Julie