Batter Up! (Softball, not cake-, that is).
May 22, 2010 No CommentsHey everyone,
I just landed in Tempe, Arizona, where I’ll be participating in a softball game and local event geared towards encouraging and empowering youth to get active! These days, everything about health and fitness is extremely blown out of proportion. Almost everywhere you go, you’re pressured to eat better and exercise more. Yet, restaurants contend for customers by doubling meal sizes for half the original price. I don’t know about you, but I’m FED UP with obsessing over this (pun intended). I’m also tired of reading diet programs’ catch phrases such as “Let your new life begin. Get thin!” — That’s a lie! First we should change our lifestyle, attitude, and self-concept, THEN our bodies would naturally “thin” out and/or find their perfect size, because we’d be taking proper care of ourselves!! We must understand the value of our bodies. We must have a clear sense of self-worth, otherwise, why should we bother eating carrots instead of brownies for a snack? Let’s be real.
The concept of BALANCE and FREEDOM has been lost within our culture. You’re either suffering from the yo-yo diet syndrome, or compulsively overeating. And for the people in the middle, they feel like maybe they should be worried or stressed out more since all this hoopla seems to consume everyone else.
Today I have to give a short 2-3 minute speech emphasizing the importance of exercise. Now, I could speak for hours on this topic. You all know I’m passionate. But I’ve also struggled in this area (quite drastically), so I’m speaking out of sheer loving-concern for their, and your, well-being.
We musn’t obsess over health and fitness. Rather, we should celebrate the privilege and opportunity to take great care of ourselves, so we can be strong, have tons of energy, and be effective in our daily activities!
I don’t say this because I think I know it all. I know enough to know I don’t know it all, thank you very much. 
It’s because I’ve personally experienced the bondage of unhealthy relationships with food, fitness, and my body, and if I can help you from heading down that path, I’ll go to any length to make it happen.
Love you all, hope you’re well, and hope this blog helps ya start putting food & fitness in it’s place. Remember, food is neither friend, nor foe. It’s simply fuel. And fitness ain’t rocket science! If you get movin’ throughout the day, you won’t ever need to set foot in a gym. So go ahead, finish your last facebook message, and head outside!
xoxo – Alyson
