I had some photos taken recently for an interview I did and right before the photo shoot, I jumped online to look at some of the other ladies who had been interviewed before me. One of them was a yoga instructor, one was a runner, one was a firefighter and of course they were all super fit. I immediately started worrying about what my body would look like compared to theirs and as soon as I saw the photos of myself I had thoughts of.... "I don't look muscly enough," "my abs don't look defined," "my nose looks pointy." Ummmm newsflash Alyssa, you don't have a "ripped body" or "washboard abs" and your nose is a little bit pointy. This isn't me having a dig at myself but it's funny how after looking at the other ladies, I suddenly had an expectation of how I should look as though the camera was going to turn me into some bodybuilding, round - nosed supermodel.
My point is that comparison can be a dangerous thing. It's okay to strive towards getting stronger or looking more toned but when we start saying things like 'I want her waist' or 'I want her bum' then the goal becomes unrealistic and we get disheartened by the fact that we don't have an ass exactly like Ashy Bines after doing her '28 Day Booty Challenge.'
A 'SMART' goal stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Based. The two words that grab my attention are 'achievable' and 'realistic'. When we base our goals around looking like somebody else, we just set ourselves up for failure and disappointment. Why? Well the first reason is that all of our genetics are very different let alone our training history, exercise routine, eating habits, height, weight, lifestyle... and the list goes on.
Having a goal is a great way to stay on track with your health and fitness but strive to keep those goals realistic to you and your lifestyle. If you're a busy mum, chances are you won't be able to make it to the gym more than once a day (if that!) so resist the temptation to dwell over the fact that you don't have arms like Michelle Bridges who probably works out three times a day and has a personal chef.
People are amazing, don't get me wrong! There are some 'fit chicks' I follow on Instagram that inspire me to be stronger and fitter every day. I think it's great to look up to people that keep you motivated but at the risk of sounding corny, strive to be a better version of yourself because you're pretty darn special.
Here's to a happy, healthy and unique you,
Alyssa x