Every time I log on to Pinterest, I inevitibly see pictures of super-ripped men and women that have been posted from friends of all shapes and sizes. The captions often read: “inspiration” or “fitspiration” or “I want these ripped abs!”
I don't get inspired by these idealistic images. Really, it's all fine and dandy if people want to post them as long as they don't use that inspiration to go to the extreme with their fitness or eating regimens. So many of us just genetically aren't able to look like those hardbodied, sweaty athletes, as one of my trainers Molly so awesomely explained in a blog post this week in a post about getting defined abs.
I did come across some pretty large inspiration this weekend when I live streamed the women's super heavyweight weightlifting competition from the Olympics. I sat in front of my laptop sipping coffee while I watched these women lift crazy amounts. Previously, I shared my virtual fistbump to Holley Mangold, and I was cheering on fellow American Sarah Robles as well. These women don't do the sport for physical appearances or for endorsement deals (as it has been a big story how Sarah was living in poverty on $400 per month). They push themselves to be better, and have to deal with ignorant people commenting about their size. (Seriously, don't read the comments on any stories about Holley or Sarah – you'll want to vomit.)
The characteristics these ladies have that inspire me?
- Confidence
- Determination
- Hard work
- Strength
- Achieving dreams
