Revelation!

Actually, I've had a couple of revelations this week, but I'll deal with just one in this post (I'm sure you all think that's more than enough!).

I have gotten to the gym and to yoga this week. One day to yoga and two days to the gym. And wa-la, I feel better about my body. I have not been on good terms with my body lately, gaining weight, feeling flabby, etc. But why would I feel better after 3 days of exercise? It's not because my body has changed or I've lost weight in 3 days. My revelation is that when I use my body, I like it better. Crazy, huh?

I first noticed this cause and effect last spring while skating. My relationship with my body has largely been related to weight and shape (I'm never totally happy with either). I didn't lose weight from skating, but I felt myself getting stronger and a sense of accomplishment for mastering new skills. I felt better about the body that gets me through every day and every skate. I even became grateful for it, for all that it does for me with only a little complaint.

And this week I realized it's not just skating, it's any sense of using my body to improve my health and strength. My three days of exercise this week have left me sore, feeling stronger and metaphorically lighter. And next week I start skating again, so it should be a love fest all around.

Here's to all of us girls and our functioning, strong, and (really) beautiful bodies. Even if we can't always see it that way. We all deserve to have bodies that we have a good relationship with, and our bodies certainly deserve it too.