| Okay, hear me out. When I was younger (early to late 20s, I'd say), I had this defeatist mentality about my body's potential. I wanted to be thinner and I wanted to have abs and all of what society tells us are desirable and aspirational. However, I could never seem to "get there." I'd get close, but never quite "enough."
Once I got married and got pregnant, it all clicked: I can transform my body any way I want. All I have to do is...... do it. If I really wanted abs, I'd have to commit to getting abs. I told myself I could do it, if I wanted it badly enough. Nothing is out of reach or impossible. Just like anything in my life - if I wanted it badly enough, I'd find a way to get it.
That's when I realized that I must simply value my lifestyle over the hypothetical body I was lusting over. I know the type of lifestyle that body accompanies and it's not something I want (and I had to come to terms with this: that body and the lifestyle that comes with it are a package deal.) Because, if I really wanted to be a certain weight or certain size, I could do it.
There was just something so freeing yet empowering about knowing that I could have that body if I wanted it.
Since this revelation (basically since I turned 30), my life has been SO MUCH BETTER. I am happy with my body because I know that although I could be thinner, I don't want to give up my lifestyle. I don't want to give up s'mores with my kids, ice cream on the weekends, impromptu and often wine dates with friends, snacks on the couch after a long day with my husband, and all of the lasagnas, enchiladas, and cheesy, comforting foods that feed our souls.
If you've been struggling with this your whole life, flip the script and really think about what you want out of life. If you've been yo-yo dieting your whole life, take a look and ask yourself: is the lifestyle that's required to maintain that body something I actually want? Because unfortunately, you can't have them both.
Personally, I didn't want to think about whether or not I should eat something all day long. I wanted freedom. I wanted to be able to enjoy myself AND maintain a healthy weight for my body. After a lot of trial and error, I've found what works for me and where my body finds its happy place.
Hope this helps you in your journey. Sometimes it's just a mindset shift!
Ali Maffucci Founder, Inspiralized
Quote of the week: "Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind, and spirit. "— B.K.S. Iyengar | 
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