Why don’t all athletes have ‘abs’?

( Inspired by @laurenfisher )

A little over a week ago, Lauren Fisher made a post on Instagram talking about why all athletes don’t have ripped muscles and six pack abs despite working their butts off.

I really liked her post because it spoke to me on a personal level. I’ve just had a couple of weeks full of mental blocks and doubting myself, and I’m still trying to break out of it now. It’s easy to question your abilities and become hesitant to claim you’re an athlete when you don’t look like the ones you see on social media and on the TV.

Here’s the tea; not every athlete is the same. Not every athlete is an instagram model. We all have different genetics, different ways of training, different diets, heights, weights, strengths and weaknesses. We’re not all going to fall into the same category.

Sometimes I’m really hard on myself. Even though I eat healthy, I think that maybe I should be tracking calories and start cutting back on my favourite foods. Although I’ve been MUCH better lately with my training, I have been guilty of favouring certain movements and rejecting those that I really need to work on in the past. “Maybe I should be meal prepping instead of cooking off guard everyday” is something I’ve asked myself several times a week.

Then I stop and bring myself back to reality.

By making too big of a sacrifice for my diet, I’m automatically cutting out eating dinner with my family at home, and saying ‘No’ to any dates with a partner that have offered to treat me to my chosen restaurant. I won’t try new foods on special days out, or ever be spontaneous with my diet. I’ll be screwed when I go away on holidays because I can’t take my prep with me. The calorie tracking will get too much to handle and would start effecting my mental health.

I can only train so much before it takes a toll on my social life and education too. I won’t be able to do the little things I love, like read, go out during the day to shop with my mum, go to the seafront when it’s hot, or taking Buddy (the best puppy ever) out for long walks at the park. I’ll be too obsessed and occupied with my training. I won’t have healthy relationships with friends, families, or a potential future boyfriend because I won’t be able to spend quality time with them.

This isn’t a post saying that I’m going to quit CrossFit and stop taking it seriously. It’s my dream to get to the games and I’m still going to work my ass off to get there. I’m going to work on my weaknesses and try my best to keep my diet in check, but I’m not going to sacrifice my life to do so.

For all my kinda-fit-kinda-fluffy athletes out there, you are worthy, and you have a lot more potential than you realise. You are your own person and you don’t have to have a certain look to be able to label yourself as an athlete. Sure, work hard, grind the f**k out during your workouts and lifts, and fuel your body with good nutrients. But don’t sacrifice a happy and carefree life.

Peace✌🏻✌🏼✌🏽✌🏾✌🏿