This is applicable to men and women equally but it is usually girls and women who need to be encouraged more to think of themselves as athletes. Sport for both boys and girls was a normal way of life growing up in New Zealand, for me there was never any sense of not being able to do a particular sport because I happened to be a girl. Unfortunately, until recently that hasn’t been the case in a lot of countries, including here in the U.K. Sport/exercise wasn’t really encouraged in girls growing up, it was thought of as unfeminine and only utilised if wanting to lose weight or look a certain way aesthetically.
Fortunately, this is changing, evidenced by the “This Girl Can” campaign and CrossFit has helped to bring Olympic Lifting more into the mainstream. I’m seeing more women in general but especially young women confidently lifting in the gym and it’s a great thing to see – they’re strong, not just strong for a girl!
This is why I’m very excited to have been accepted as an Ambassador for the “Just Strong” clothing brand. The ethos and values of this brand really resonate with me, promoting strength in women rather than just focusing on aesthetics.
Keeping with this theme, I came across this great blog post by Heather Griffiths writing for Girls Gone Strong (GGS) – “Who Gets To Call Themselves an Athlete”
It’s a great article to read in full but I’ve pulled this out for you to apply to yourself straight away.
Three Steps to Seeing Yourself as an Athlete
1. Make the decision to see yourself as an athlete.
We often think that we have to become some kind of expert in a particular sport or get some sort of athletic award to be considered an athlete but this is just not true. It’s your choice to see yourself as an athlete — no one else’s opinion matters.
2. Identify negative thinking.
Notice when you are putting yourself down or looking for reasons why you are not worthy of being called an athlete. The nagging voice of self-doubt that tells us that we are not good enough isn’t going to go away but being aware that it is there and not always right is a step in the right direction.
3. Talk the talk.
It’s time to start talking to yourself as an athlete. Start to recognise that you take your training and recovery seriously and that it is important to you. Identify yourself as an athlete to yourself and those around you solidifies that view of yourself.
These are the kind of things my clients learn when working with me, how to transform their bodies and their lives – to be fitter, stronger, healthier and happier. Contact me today “here” or email jackie@age-drop.com to learn more about how I can help you look fabulous, feel fantastic and love the body you are in!
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