This is a repost from a friend of mine that I wanted to share.  I couldnt have said it better myself!

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Welcome to the world of maturing females! I swear someone just yelled that at me!!!

I came to realize a few months ago, that each year my body changes, whether i like it or not! It changes in weight. it changes in shape, and it changes in almost every aspect it can change. I keep asking myself the same question… WHY ME?!!

Well, lets see….

1. I’m almost 28. which means my bone structure is changing.

2. It’s not just me, it’s every woman changing from pre 20s to later 20′s early 30s. (and so on!)

I guess i knew this would happen, as I work with clients/athletes of all ages and sizes and go through the same things as them. They’ll say “emily I fit into these pants a few years back, and I can’t seem to fit in them now, but i’m leaner” … Yes… it’s all too familiar! I ask Matt the same question “Matt.. why aren’t these pants fitting me anymore! I wore them last year in off season” clearly realizing i’m setting myself and him up for an answer that is probably not going to go over well with any female or spouse! Of course i’m going to tell my clients something along the lines of “you shouldn’t be trying to fit into clothes you did a few years ago, or try to aim for the same weight as you were when you were 18! Its unrealistic” Yet why i do I sit back and expect myself to stay the same for ever? Disbelief? Perhaps, denial is more accurate i think!

As youthful yet maturing PRO figure competitor, i think it’s completely natural for the body to take this course of action, and completely natural for me to feel this way! I’m getting a more mature, feminine frame. My body is finally holding dense hard muscle, and i’m sure my bones are shifting to bring me into a normal “woman” stage of life. Not that it means that I’ll be ready to be pushing out babies, it’s just that my body is ready! Mentally is a different story, however i think we as women get way to hooked up on a “number” or a “size” instead of just clearly looking at ourselves in the mirror naked and accepting our body looks great as it is.

I focused last year on a number for show time, and it completely threw me off. A number i wanted to try to beat in my own weight. Was it smart? Absolutely not! Was it a learning experience.. absolutely! As my body matures, it’s going to change. That’s a fact!

It wasn’t until i looked in the mirror today (actually just a few moments ago) that i completely accepted “hey i look good” no matter what weight i am! (which btw, i am leaner than last years off season, but some how weigh more!!! hrmmmm!!) and am actually completely happy with my current state! It’s taken me a few years to learn to accept and actually like being “thick” as some of my friends call it! lol! Clearly meaning they like me with a little more weight. Something i would once take an offence to is now a compliment, as i can’t expect to look like “SHREDDER” all year long!  (want and expect are two different things here!!)

I think a big thing for young women who might be going through this same stage as myself right now is to know that its common, and no matter what weight you are, you need to be able to look at yourself in the mirror with little to no clothes on and be satisfied. If your old clothes dont fit you, go buy new ones to flatter and compliment your shape! I can’t tell you how many pairs of pants i have to buy 2 sizes bigger to fit my legs, and get every other aspect of them altered! Find a good seamstress.. she’ll be your best friend, and make the world of a difference! As time changes, so do people, bodies, fashion and your perception on your image!

Whether you have thick legs, wide hips, or a full booty that’s hard to fit into any pants… these are our genetics as women, and there is only one thing we can do about it, which is make the best of it, bring it’s full potential and accept the curves! Body image is huge in society, male or female. By learning to accept these changes, we’ll only become more aware of our bodies and accepting of changes to happen in the future!

Emily Sterling

I absolutely love the way Bethenny motivates others to be realistic about exercise:

Most people’s issue with exercise is mustering the motivation to go to the gym, start running and show up for a trainer on time. Everyone knows how much better they feel afterwards, but that still doesn’t always get us off the couch and into our workout clothes.

Obviously, we need to find out what works for us. Can we wake up in the morning? Will we be too tired after work? These things are no news to anyone. However, we are going about the whole process in the wrong way.

Like dieting, if exercise becomes something “we have to start tomorrow” or we have to drag ourselves to do because the doctor said so or to be thin and in shape, we’ll never incorporate it into our lives on a long term basis. No one likes “having” to do something.

The answer is to do exercise for the sole purpose of feeling better. Don’t make it something about counting calories or counting minutes on a treadmill. Find something that you can manage and that makes you feel better. Wouldn’t we all love to live on a beach so walking every day would be joyful instead of something we dread.

Like eating, exercise can’t be your best friend or your enemy. You weren’t “good” because you worked out, and you weren’t “bad” if you didn’t. Somehow, find a healthy relationship with exercise so you are happy to have it in your life. For me, yoga is my salvation. I used to spend hours on the treadmill or spinning class which made me manic, anything but relaxed, and I ate much more than usual because of the intense workout. Many people gain weight when they are working out like this because the increase in calories consumed exceed those burned.

This isn’t to say not to do cardio. It is only to say that what works for one may not work for another. Perhaps you enjoy swimming or walking to work. If you can commit to that a few days a week, you are bettering your life and not stressing because you can’t do something 5 days a week.

This week I did yoga almost every day. I’ve been under a lot of stress lately, and I actually crave it. Yoga is an inexpensive massage that gets your body leaner and more healthy than anything else I can think of. I like that I do it as a gift to myself and not a chore.

After a year of not getting on a bike, I took a spinning class the other day. I had so much extra energy, wanted to enjoy dance music and simply felt like it. Although it isn’t my exercise of choice, on that day it gave me what I needed. On vacation, I sometimes surf, snowboard or hike. Some weeks I’ll do nothing at all and let my body rest. I can handle these breaks because I have a healthy relationship with exercise and will always go back.

Find what works for you, makes you happy, isn’t a chore and that you can really incorporate into your life long term.

I can’t tell you how many times I have made a goal and forgot about it a day later. It’s tough sticking to something like a diet or breaking bad habits. You tell yourself, “No sweets today!”, as you pick up a doughnut and plan out your week for changing your diet habits. As your licking your fingers of the last of the sugar you realized that you mindlessly devoured an entire doughnut and while planning out your new healthy life. Have you done this? I’ve done this! Staying focused and staying motivated can be a challenging at times.

While I am training for my big audition I am also watching my diet. If I don’t plan my meals for the day, I most likely will goof up and eat something I am not supposed to. Although I am working hard in the gym that doesn’t mean I no longer have to worry about what I eat. It’s even more important than before.

I have learned that as long as I plan and have what I need, I do well. When I wake up I remind myself that I have a plan for that day and I must follow it. I have a picture in my head of my goal and I do my best to focus on it. But sometimes I lose focus quite easily when there is sugar around. I can say no to bread. I can turn down a soda or a cocktail. But put me in the vicinity of a cookie and the fight is on. Doesn’t it seem like everytime you watch what your eating is when temptation shows up? Like the pizza and cupcakes that arrive at your workplace, or the doughnuts in the morning when you arrive. Since I have started watching what I eat it seems more junk food has been around me wherever I go! Luckily I have a great support system around me of friends and family. I don’t want to let myself down, and I don’t want to let them down. As long as I keep to my plan and stay focused on my goal, I get through my day. I have my plan, I have my goal, and I am not losing focus!

Hola San Antonians! Here is Rita’s 2nd work out for the week – back and biceps!

Superset:
- Lat pull downs: 50lbs x 15 reps
- Dumbbell Bicep curls: 12 lbs x 20 reps

Superset:
- Rope Face pulls: 40lbs x 15 reps
- Rope Bicep Curls: 20 lbs x 20 reps

Triple Set:
- TRX close row straight into TRX underhand row: 20reps
- Squat Kicks on punching bag: 20 reps

Bicycle crunches on the floor: 30 reps

Drop sets:
- Seated Dumbbell Bicep curl: 12, 10, 7.5 lbs till failure
- Seated Dumbbell Row: 12, 10, 7.5 lbs till failure

Hey San Antonio!!

I am excited to say that I am training my first athlete for a production show in Vegas called Le Reve!  She is an amazing athlete to begin with but man watching her go through the strength and conditioning program I have for her is even more amazing!  Our studio has put together a strength and conditioning room complete with a rope to climb, punching bags, and a bar to hang upside down to do sit ups with and several TRX’s!!

I have her out in that room, which has no air conditioning by the way, to help condition her body for the altitude difference which she will experience in Colorado where the audition is held.  She has to go through an incredible battery of exercises and tests which are to climb a 10 foot rope using her arms only (legs in pike position as she climbs up and down the rope, in a controlled arm over arm climb and then ascend), 45 seconds of non stop burpees, hold plank on the exercise ball with her feet on the ball both in the push up position and with her calves towards the ground and belly up, hands behind her, then do the same but a side plank!! She also has to perform 14 pushups 4 ” from the ground, weighted squats with 20% of her total body weight (20 in 30 seconds), Horizontal jump squat which she needs to clear 4 ft…she can do 7!!… hanging ab crunch, hamstring stretch, swimming test,  and a choreography test…all in one day!!

Needless to say even when shes tired she gives it her all and I am so proud to be helping her reach her goals!  I look forward to marketing nationally to help those in need of strength and conditioning training for these types of shows!

I will keep you updated on her progress and soon get a video of her going through the actual test and pictures of the new part of the studio!!!

Have a great day San Antonio!