STRONG, inside and out

As I'm sure somebody has noticed, I didn't post that much this summer. I was away for a lot of the summer, growing and getting stronger in my beliefs and strengths.

First, I want to talk about spiritual strength. As I've mentioned before, beauty starts on the inside. So does spiritual beauty. I attended a camp this summer called Summit Ministries, best two weeks of my life! (I highly suggest it, http://www.summit.org/conferences/student/) The Summit's goal is to equip young adults to live a life of faith and give them the information they need to defend what they believe. Not only do you aquire a bunch of information but they also challenge you beyond belief, which is a very important aspect in growing stronger. I feel so much more prepared to face the world now that I'm STRONG and equiped in what I believe and know.

Secondly, I think it's very important for girls to be strong phsyically as well.. Growing up, I spent many years in Martial Arts classes, I am now a black belt, and I feel that it's crucial for girls to experience growing in strength in a physical way. Who says being able to defend yourself is just for guys? Cause to me, it's just as important, probably even more, for girls to be able to defend themselves cause as I'm sure you've found out, the world is not filled with only good guys. And being able to defend yourself also brings an extreme amount of confidence. Maybe you won't find confidence through martial arts, like I did, but whatever sport or physical activity it is. I encourage you to get up and get active! Build up more then just your spiritual strengths, build up the body you've been blessed with. Don't sit around feeling depressed about the jeans you can't button anymore or even regretting that one more cookie you ate. Life is about so much more than trying to be what hollywood views as 'perfect.'  Life is about fufilling the plan God has for your life, and staying healthy and fit is just as important as growing in wisdom from His word. So I encourage every one of you to join a sport, make a goal to run some everyday or maybe go swim some laps. As well as growing in God's word. Watch as you grow STRONGER in many aspects of your life and be the light that shines a bit different than all the rest! :)



XOXO!

Fear. Do YOU let it define you?

Fear.. it can define us. It can make us or break us.

We fear the world, we fear our peers, we fear our parents, our teachers, and even our friends. Most of all we fear what people think of us. Yet, do we fear God?

After being at a conference this week called Desperation (amazing conference, check it out: http://desperationonline.com/conference.jsp?ID=3) I realized just how much fear I have in my heart. And that fear is keeping me from realizing my true potential.

Last week I heard this Bible verse and it really showed me that we do not need to have fear, "If God is for us, who can be against us?"- Romans 8:31

It's easy to fear what the world thinks of us, but imagine how freeing it would feel to not have to fear the world?! Well.. here is a shocker.. It.Is.Possible.

That's right, when we give our insecurities to God we don't have to fear what the world thinks about us anymore. Is it easy? No. But, once you give it all to God you don't have to worry what the world is thinking about you because God knows you are beautiful and He made you just the way He wanted. 

Love God, love yourself, and love everything God has given you!

XOXO

P.S. Confidence is hot ;)

"Get Gorgeous"

I was just chilling at home, getting ready to watch a movie and relax with some tea. As I was brewing my tea I noticed the name of the tea was, "Get Gorgeous." I started reading the description and it spoke to me. It said, "Let's get one thing clear. True beauty comes from within. But when it comes to clear skin, some of us can use a little help." This tea's purpose was to help with clear skin but they'd gotten something really right, true beauty comes from within. Sometimes we do need a little help though keeping beautiful. That's why it is important to take care of your body from the inside out!

I recently learned that green tea helps you sweat less, stay younger, lowers cancer risks, boosts your immune system, helps with weight loss, reduces tooth decay, fights allergens in your body and helps fight infections. Who knew just a cup of green tea every morning could help with all that?

I also learned that apple cider vinegar has lots of gorgeous benefits.. such as: reducing sinus infections and sore throats, curing skin conditions like acne, protecting against food poisoning, preventing muscle fatigue after working out, increasing stamina, increasing metabolism and promoting weight loss, and fighting allergies. It's a lot less appetizing, but just one spoon full in the morning can help enhance your natural beauty. I'm taking advantage of that!

When being beautiful comes to mind, remember that you don't need to spend hours in front of the mirror perfecting your self when pure natural beauty is what the main focus should be. Because looks will fade, I promise!

Stay beautiful, through both health and personality. Let your light shine bright <3

Xoxo

~Inspiration~

The definition of inspiration is: The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative: "flashes of inspiration".


What inspires you? Is it family or friends? Image or statis quo? Emotions or feelings? What about what the World? 


Honestly, I'm all for looking to the World for inspiration. Let it show you just how NOT to be. Do you see those bratty girls on TV worried about nothing but partying and getting boys? Let that be inspiration to be a better person than that. Do you see those anorexic sick girls on the runway or those obese people laying on their couch? Let that be inspiration to become neither, but instead healthy and fit. Find something that can inspire you.


What inspires you? 


Xoxo

One Minute and 14 Seconds to Change Your Mind..

Watch this video and you'll be amazed at all the editing and work that goes into one girls cover shoot. This one minute and 14 seconds of your life could change the way you feel about everything from now on out. This what 'true' beauty has come to; all editing and barely any real beauty.

Still believe everything you see in magazines and adds?

XOXO

What Does Beauty Mean to YOU?

What is beauty? Is it being brave and not wearing make up for a day? Is it telling someone they are beautiful, just to be nice? Is it getting that cute boy to notice you? Is it winning the Most Popular award? The World tells us how to be beautiful... on the outside..

So this question arises... what does beauty mean to you? Does it matter if your eyes are too small, your nose too big, your lips to small? It shouldn't, but most of America would answer YES it does. Truth is, it doesn't and it shouldn't. TRUE beauty comes from the inside. Are you being kind and thoughtful of others? Following God's plan for your life instead of your own? Are you confident of who you are? Not worrying about what others think and achieving your personal goals for God? Beauty comes when you love God and you love your life!

I promise you, people will notice when you change from worrying about what the World thinks of your beauty to knowing you are beautiful because YOU are God's creation and he makes no mistakes. Does this mean never wear make up again? No way, use what God gave you! Everything is good in moderation though, and ask yourself why you wake up 20 minutes early every day just to make sure your makeup reaches perfection. Is it to impress that hottie in your math class? Or even make your girlfriends jealous because you are more 'beautiful'? Has being 'beautiful' by the World's standards consumed you so that's all you think about anymore?

Think about why you do what you do to become more 'beautiful'.. ask yourself if the people you're trying to impress will still like you when beauty fades away and personality is all that's left?

Follow God and take care of what he has given you. Try to focus on staying healthy and making sure you're beautiful on the inside and confident before you slather 2 pounds of make up on your face to impress the people that won't love you for who you are if they never see the TRUE you.

XOXO

When did this become Beautiful?

Nowadays in the modeling world, a size 6 is considered a plus size. And a size 0 is considered ideal. When a size 2-4 is pushing it, clearly something is very wrong with America.

Which do YOU think looks better?

Super skinny or

Athletic and fit?

I don't know about you, but I would rather see toned muscles then bones. Get out there and make some fitness goals and help make Fit the New Skinny!

XOXO

Distorted views of beauty

"Don't you know you're beautiful?"-Kellie Pickler

Naturally Skinny? I Beg to Differ..

Every time I walk by Victoria's Secret I always wish I could have been born as naturally skinny and tall as they were. Last 4th of July I got talking to my cousin who had dated a Victoria's Secret model and told me some of the rules they had to obey...

First off, they were kept on super strict diets! No grains, dairy, alcohol or sugar. And had to weigh in every week to make sure they were still in their goal weight. If they had gone over, they had to immediately pack up and through intense workouts and diet changes to make them 'skinny' again. As you can imagine, these models watch what they eat every single second of the day. My cousin said that one of the reasons he broke up with his girlfriend is because she got so obsessed with her weight that she changed into almost a different person and he hated how skinny she'd gotten. 

While some of the diet tricks models follow, like eating small meals every 2-3 hours, are healthy for you and do speed up your metabolism it is not worth all the immense stress and damage it does to your body. Plus, amazing amounts of editing go into every picture you see in the magazines and etc.

Ever noticed though, that almost no matter how skinny Victoria's Secret models get you can never see their ribs? Some people are naturally skinny, but that skinny with that huge of boobs? After doing some research I found out that doctors will do a surgery to remove models ribs!!!!! Being able to find out if Victoria's Secret models actually get this surgery is much harder to determine because they do not advertise it. I also found out the height and weights of some Victoria's Secret models. While some were more realistic weights, some were down right scary! 

Alessandra Ambrosio: 5'10 and 112 pounds

Gisele Bunchen: 5'11 and 130 pounds

Carmen Cass: 5'10 and 114 pounds

Adriana Karembru: 6'1 1/2 and 130 pounds

Caroline Trentini: 5'11 1/2 and 120 pounds

According to many studies, the way to find a healthy weight based on height is that 5 foot=100 pounds and for each inch over that multiply it by 5 pounds. For example, I'm 5'5 so my idea weight is 125 pounds. Compare that to the models that are 5'10 and should weigh around 150 pounds but instead weigh less then 115 pounds. What is this world coming to that these is our only role models?!

Instead of obsessing over what you eat, go out and exercise! I promise you'll feel so much better :)

XOXO

It all started with one dream. To change how girls feel about themselves.

I am a lone dreamer, and this is my journey.

As a sixteen year old I'm constantly surrounded with magazines, movies, books and TV shows that advertise the skinniest models and actresses and diss the ones who have gained 5 pounds. The world has set a standard that is unrealistic and damaging to girls confidence and self image. Instead of having good fit and athletic role models to look up to, we only have deathly skinny girls that starve themselves so they can look like they do.  My plan to change this? A movement that makes Fit the New Skinny.

This blog is a start to the movement and I'll continue to post as often as I can. Hopefully people will be inspired by this and make a change in their own lives and inspire other people to get up off the couch and instead of feeling sorry for themselves do something about it. Go for a run, take a class at the gym, go for a swim or ride a bike somewhere. Together we can make Fit the New Skinny :)

XOXO