Strong is the new Skinny...

I will preface this article by fully admitting I am a girl who has ALWAYS loved a strong looking physique...if I am completely honest I will let you in on a little secret about myself.  Growing up I probably spent more time than not when I was in front a mirror flexing my muscles instead of fixing my hair, seeing just how ripped I could make myself and how many veins I could get to pop out of my biceps and forearms instead of worrying about my make up...(You can ask my sisters if you don't believe me).  Okay...you got me, I still do.  I think my husband thinks I'm a nut.

This being said, I know I am different than the average girl.  But I'm hoping that a shift is occurring towards my direction.  I grew up in a generation that idolized the unhealthily thin and wispy woman giving girls and women unrealistic standards to hold themselves to.  Now don't get me wrong, I do not want to look like a body builder on testosterone, but I do want to be a strong athletic woman proud of my genes and not ashamed that I can do a one armed push up. Why fight what I was born with?  My arms are NEVER going to be little strings hanging out of my shirt, so I might as well rip them up and be proud of them.  That is why I absolutely LOVE the phrase, "Strong is the new skinny."

I encourage women to be strong.  Lift weights, hit the gym.   Take care of YOUR body.  Let it be the best that IT can be whatever shape that is.  Don't do it to look like a certain body type or celebrity. Go for the strong you.  You won't regret it.  I can promise you that.