The 2 Other “F” Words

Food. Fitness.

Two words that always seem to pop up on my social media feeds or in daily conversations with just about anyone.

Some of you may have a completely normal relationship with those two words. Others may fear them. And some of you may be like me: having a roller coaster relationship with them throughout life.

Lex’s Ride with F and F

Like anyone, when I was young I ate what my parents fed me and ran around outside. I was normal (other than being in the 99th percentile for height and probably still am).

Then came 12 years old. I started to slow down my activity and increased the shit I put into my body. My parents were freshly divorced and looking back at it I think that stress led me to getting a little chunky. I didn’t think anything of it though.

Sophomore year of high school approaches and I can’t wear short shorts like the other girls, I dread beach days with my friends, I just don’t wanna show off my body. This is the year I started my roller coaster relationship with F and F.

By senior year I was happier with myself after getting a gym membership and being more aware of my body. This goes on for a few years and then BAM! I’m in a relationship and those comfy pounds start getting added on. I’m 21 drinking every weekend and ending my nights with a delicious chicken finger sub from Jim’s. Before I know it I see that chunky 12 year old girl who doesn’t feel comfortable with herself.

That relationship ends and I start off where I should have years ago. I start slow and set attainable goals. 5 lbs in a month, a goal weight for 6 months down the road, reasonable mile run times. It took over a year. Almost 18 months. Not a month or even 6.

And now I am the healthiest/strongest I’ve ever been. But I have sooo much room for improvement and intend to get even stronger.

Everyone has a different past, different genes, different schedules, and different circumstances that tremendously change the way they see themselves and keep themselves happy. After all these years of reading endless weight loss posts and healthy eating tips I realized one thing:

ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.

What works for one person could be a total shit show for the next.

I dropped my weight first by eating healthy without a specific diet. I slowly started working out and running again to drop more. Then started lifting weights to get stronger. The next person could have to strictly diet before they see any change.

Another thing that differs for all of us is our goal. Some people just want to be skinny, some want to be able to squat 200 lbs., some want to gain weight to fill out their clothes, some want to just look nice and thiccc in their workout pants. Do what makes YOU feel healthy and makes you love looking in the mirror.

Gene Pools That Suck

F and F did not come naturally for me. Unfortunately I come from my mom’s gene pool with my physical abilities (I love you all but we suck at anything physical and can laugh at it).

For me, this means that I didn’t have much to look up to when it came to being an epitome of health. It means that I work a little harder because four days of bad eating shows a little easier on me. It means that I’ve spent many nights googling different workout videos and leaning on friends and significant others to help me along. It means that I cannot and most likely will never be able to do a cartwheel (forever pissed about that cartwheel fact but it’s just not written in the stars for me).

BUT- gene pools only have so much say in most circumstances. I’m the only person in my family who likes taking long runs and probably the only woman who will *eventually be able to do a pull up!

And it makes me damn proud now to know what I’m achieving.

“F”or You

The last main thing Lex wants to shed light on is the biggest thing that changed my view on everything food, fitness, and health.

I started doing everything for me. Not for anyone else.

At one point during my junior year of high school I remember vividly telling myself to keep running so a guy would like me. (WHAT AN IDIOT I WAS).

I wouldn’t have a sandwich because I didn’t want someone to say “she should eat less carbs”.

Now when I wanna give up and fall over I tell myself to keep going for myself. I keep going to reach my goal and to become stronger like I’ve always wanted. I tell myself to keep going so I can see my great-grandchildren get married one day. I keep going because my body keeps me alive so I want to keep her healthy. Now I eat what my body tells me it wants. I don’t have seventeen pieces of pizza in one sitting but I also don’t turn it down when it’s there.

Everyone is their own biggest enemy and especially in the world of health. You have to want it for you and your happiness to see a change.

So maybe you’ve never had to worry about what you look like (I doubt that applies to anyone considering the harsh criticism the whole world gives out these days), or maybe you’ve struggled with not eating a cheeseburger everyday for your whole life, or maybe your like me and its been up and down for a while now.

No matter who you are you’re probably hot. Thankfully the world is becoming accepting that all women don’t look like Kendall Jenner and all men don’t look like Chris Hemsworth (except my boyfriend) naturally. There’s influence’s like Mik Zazon who are trying to #normalizenormalbodies and make people know that everyone has a different story and a different body.

Seriously, how friggin’ boring would it be if we all looked the same. LAME.

I hope you all find peace in how you look and know that we all struggle. Thankfully I’m at the point where I feel comfortable to talk about my journey and I can now laugh at the fact that I would cry to get McDonalds when I was younger.

Stay hot, stay healthy, stay reading Lex’s Letters.