By Rachelle Trujillo
rmt5153@gmail.com
With the temperatures (finally) beginning to rise here in Laramie talks about being “summer body” are naturally increasing as well.
While many of us have been fed narratives about how and what to do to attain a perfect body, much of the mainstream advice is problematic. Cardio training, early morning workouts, and cutting carbs are certainly not the one-and-done method to feeling and looking your best. For some, it might be. But for most people, a more specialized approach is needed to take care of your health and meet your goals.
Above wanting to focus on your health simply to look good in your swimsuit this summer, consider digging deeper. Do you want to be healthy to improve your sleep and increase your energy? Are you wanting to help your body sustain healthy pregnancies and children? Do you have an athletic competition you need your body to be primed for? Or maybe are you just hoping to have a mobile body to play and keep up with your grandchildren one day?
Laramie provides ample places to exercise and enjoy nature. LaBonte Park’s Vita Course is one perfect example.
Anything worth sustaining is worth digging into. Don’t let other people or social media make you feel like you should have a certain goal or another. Leaning on arbitrary reasons to do anything in life is a sure-fire way for that thing to lose its meaning within your life.
The same is true for exercise. Doing cardio because you feel like you should is almost a guarantee you won’t enjoy it. Instead, look for ways to stay active that feel good to you. If you’re wanting to soak up some sun now that it’s here, opt for long walks around LaBonte or Washington Park. Consider signing up for classes through Half Acre if you’re interested in a specific sector of fitness, such as pilates or yoga. Lasting change isn’t built on the shoulders of what the world thinks works best for you. Only you can determine that. Dig deep, find what works for you, and allow yourself to fail until you find whatever’s just right.