Sophie’s Story

“You don’t want to look like a man, do you?” “Don’t lift too heavy, you’ll hurt yourself.” “But you’re so petite!” “Weighing your food is obsessive.”

I hear these so often, and whilst they’re never meant in bad faith, they can hurt. I was never an athletic (or even remotely healthy) child, and it has taken years of building knowledge and confidence to do what I do now.

I’m not saying I’m anything incredible, but I have found it fascinating how interested and involved people are in my health when I’m actively improving it, but never heard a word when I was sat around all day, eating terribly, barely able to make it to the top of the stairs without losing my breath. I’ve always been one of the boys, but still love all things pink and sparkly, and there was never a place I could find for both. Through lifting, strength, and muscle, I have found my place. I can be a bad-ass woman, instead of a tomboy. I don’t have to be anything I’m not.

I have never felt more comfortable in mind and body than I do now, and I owe it to becoming stronger. People take me more seriously when they know I’m strong. People have more respect for me, and I have more respect for myself. I embrace weight gain and loss as mere functions of my diet, than reflections of my worth. I can take out any bad feelings in the gym, but I also have time for my mind to appreciate everything beautiful in my life. I can listen to my music, pick up weights, and know that I’m making myself better, little big little, every day. Lifting, even when it goes badly, has made me everything I could want to be.

Regardless of the naysayers, I truly believe that strength makes me the best version myself, and will only ever continue to make me better. @slothiesquats