Hi Friends!
Let’s talk strength today, shall we?
I’ve always considered myself an athlete. Growing up I played almost every sport under the sun before zeroing in on volleyball. In college I branched out and tried rowing, thus becoming a college athlete…something I never thought I’d be. Now, 10 years later, even though I’m not on an official team, I still consider myself an athlete.
Under Armour just launched the third round of their What’s Beautiful campaign. Have you heard of it? It’s a competition to redefine the female athlete….and I love everything about it. This campaign is all about encouraging and empowering women to set goals and then GO GET THEM! It’s about encouraging them to do things they never thought they could do. It’s about challenging them to tell their story and prove to the world that they have what it takes to be epic. And it’s about helping people realize that the female athlete is more than just someone who wears a jersey or plays on a field or a court.
As part of my partnership with Fitfluential, I’m participating in the What’s Beautiful campaign. This is unlike more traditional Fitflential campaign where a few ambassadors are chosen to review a product. This is a movement. Over 300 amazing fitfluential ambassadors, including me, have joined the movement and are part of a sponsored campaign for the What’s Beautiful program with Fitfluential & Under Armour. Our job is to inspire YOU to join the movement as well!
Anyone can participate. From anywhere. All you need is a goal, a positive attitude and a desire to prove yourself!
When you sign up for the campaign, you declare a goal. It took me a while to come up with mine. At first I thought about something personal, like add 20 pounds to my back squat. But then I realized, this campaign is about more than me. This is about all women. About encouraging them to believe that they can do anything they set their mind to. This is the goal I came up with:
I WILL : Help women realize that lifting heavy weights and having muscles is healthy and beautiful, not something to be afraid of.
Because it’s something I remind myself of every single day when I head to the gym. Because weight lifting is one of the BEST things you can do for your body. Because ANYONE can start lifting weights, no matter what age or size you are, no matter what shape you’re in. Because the beautiful thing about strength, is that you can always get stronger.
Here are a few things lifting weights can do for you:
- Help you gain muscle and lose fat.
- Help make everyday chores easier.
- Help you build and maintain strong bones.
- Help protect against injury.
- Build your confidence.
- Increase your mental strength.
- And so much more!
I’ve never been afraid to lift weights. I can still remember the day in high school when I got my picture in the local paper for squatting 135 pounds. I’ve never been so proud as when I was able to put those huge 45 pound plates onto the bar, lift it onto my back, squat all the way down and stand back up. I felt like a badass. I felt STRONG. Over the years, I’ve done all kinds of strength workouts. I’ve used barbells, I’ve used dumbbells, I’ve used household objects like milk jugs filled with sand. And now, at 28 years old, I’m stronger than I’ve ever been. I can put 95 pounds on a barball and push it up above my head. I can hold 100 pounds over my head and squat all the way down and back up again. I can put 185 pounds on the bar and pick it up off the ground.
I have muscles. I can see my own strength in my shoulders, my legs and my back. And you know what? I’ve never felt more beautiful.
Because, my friends: Strength is what’s beautiful. Having muscles is beautiful. Beauty, in my world, is not defined by starving myself to be as thin as the models you see in the media. It’s not always about wearing makeup and fashionable clothes.
Beauty, to me, is in my strength. It’s about sweat, effort, determination and desire. It’s about being HEALTHY. It’s about being proud of myself. And it’s about being mentally strong enough to KNOW that I can do anything I put my mind to.
So this is me, encouraging you to join the What’s Beautiful challenge. Set a goal for yourself. Aim high. Dream big. Pick something you’ve been wanting to accomplish for a while- start running, run a marathon, join a gym, become a yoga teacher, learn how to lift weights, gain 5 pounds of muscle, stop the negative self talk…whatever YOU want.
Here’s a little bit more about the What’s Beautiful campaign from the Under Armour website:
Together we’re redefining the female athlete by setting epic goals and pushing past where we’ve ever been and where we thought we could go. Join us. Set your own personal goal. Then document your journey by posting videos and photos that tell your story from start to victory.
We’ll continuously post challenges for you. But that’s just the beginning. Show us your journey. Show us what makes your story the one that stands out from the rest. If you meet your goal, set a new one. Make it even bigger. Prove to everyone, and yourself, that you have more than what it takes.
Each week, Under Armour will be giving away swag bags full of loot to participants. they will feature top performers on their website. after 8 weeks, they will announce 10 finalists who have documented the most impressive & motivated journeys toward the goals. mid-july, winners will be announced! three winners will receive a trip to Costa Rica for a 4-day retreat.
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Tweet or share your goal on Facebook so others can support you.
Use the hashtags #whatsbeautiful and #IWILL
Tell ME your goal in the comments so I can cheer you on!
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I’m a female.
I’m an athlete.
I am strong.
I AM what’s beautiful.
Let’s chat: What’s your goal?!
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
Beautiful, Lindsay!! I hate the stigma that accompanies women and weight lifting, but I do believe that things are changing, and I am grateful for the strong women leading that change! Strong IS beautiful! WE WILL! 🙂
Love this movement. Ever since it first came out, I think it’s so inspirational to hear others stories!
I absolutely love this! Lifting has so many benefits…physically and mentally! I often think “I can’t” but then I DO and I know I CAN. It’s about believing in yourself and feeling empowered, strong, and beautiful.
I LOVE this!!! I love strength training and seeing muscles grow and develop. Makes me happy.
I love this. I read about this campAign from another blog. I love campaigns for women. I will definitely be checking this out.
Can I ask you a question – I’m confused about all the different UA campaign teams. I love so many of them. Do you/Can you join more than one team? Or do I have to pick one?
you can def join more than one team!
Lindsay I love everything about this post. Truly. So inspiring and beautiful and strong. I love the What’s Beautiful campaign and everything that it symbolizes. I participated in the first round but haven’t been as active. All you beautiful women are inspiring me to get involved again!
I enjoy strength training but have to say that I’m not the strongest and it’s a total let down for me sometimes.
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hang in there! i wasn’t strong when i started either!
I love the goal you set! I still have to convince women every single week to not be afraid to lift heavy weights in BodyPump!
Good luck with this challenge! I’ve never been afraid to lift weights; I just have never been super interested in it. I prefer my strength training to consist of a regular yoga practice. 🙂
totally cool! yoga requires TONS of strength. so impressed with people that can do it!
Great movement!! Very inspiring–especially your stance on it: strength!
I love your goal & this fantastic post. My goal is to be my own personal best. I’m a military veteran. My short term goal is to get back to my glory days: 50 push ups in 2 minutes; 75 sit ups in 2 minutes; and 2 mile run in 16:20 minutes. My long term goal is to be a serious contender for a physique figure fitness contest. I WILL. See you around on UA!
what’s awesome! you’re gonna rock this!
I love your goal! Let’s ditch the dinky weights and strive for all our potential!
AWESOME post, Lindsay!!! I’m still trying to figure out what my goal will be as I have some stuff going on right now, but you wrote this up so beautifully!
GREAT GREAT GREAT post! Strength is a huge thing of beauty to me.
This sounds like a wonderful campaign, I love that you’re encouraging women to go after their goals and to not be afraid. I don’t lift “heavy” right now, but I do a lot of bodyweight strength exercises and high reps/low weight dumbbell exercises. And it’s so true! Chores and almost every aspect of your daily life is a lot easier when you’re stronger. I wouldn’t trade my strength for anything.
love it!!! you rock!
My goal is similar, but different. 🙂
I want to be a strong mom and show my son that it’s cool to have a mom who can do pull-ups!!
GET IT GIRL! STRONG WOMAN! #IWILL
What an inspiring post! Thanks for sharing!
I do crossfit too, now for about 3 months and I love love love lifting! Its changed my body a lot in only 3 months. I need to join this campaigne. Ive heard about it but never joined! PS. side note, I cant get on FB at work, so if you have any details about the shuttle on SUnday from Blend can you email me!? Im def riding back with you guys!
This is so awesome, Lindsay. I need to figure out what my goal is, but I am with you…strong is where it’s at. Can’t wait to follow along and participate in this incredible campaign.
Once again Lindsey, you’ve nailed it. I have always been a strong girl who would rather lift than do aerobics class. CrossFit has been perfect for me and is making women realize strong is beautiful! In 8 weeks I plan on doing a pull up… :-). As always, thanks for the inspiration!!
can’t wait to see you do one! i want a video!!!
One of my goals is to run a race a month which is allowing me to constantly stay focused on my running. I also want to learn to do a handstand, thus strengthening my core and confidence as an athlete.
yay for handstands!!
My biggest goal is to continue on the path I be living 🙂
Love that necklace!
This post couldn’t have come at a better time! I recently decided that I would no longer be intimidated of heavy weights at the gym and joined a women’s group training session where all they do is lift heavy. Today was only my second time going, but it feels really good to finally stop being scared and just do it! My goal is to join them 5-6 times every week and hopefully see my body transform in a way that cardio alone would never change it. I have also started to eat clean and can really tell a difference in my performance, appetite, moods, etc… When I ate junk, I felt like it, too, but now I love feeling healthy! Thanks for the meal suggestions and encouraging posts!
SO AWESOME!!! keep it up!!
I love how you described it as a movement- yes! I’m in. Most of my goals are running related, but I am working on strength as well, so I’ll join your team!
This is so inspiring! I did the first one and my goal was to run a 3:45 marathon, I did that in April! This is such a cool program, I would love to be a part of your team!! Let’s do this
Love this!!! It is sucha great campaign. My goal is to run a sub-22 minute 5k. I know the important of strength training and it helps my running very much! I will be increasing my strength training along the way!
yeahhhh girl! you got this!
I love your goal (and that’s one of the reasons I love your blog!) I have already signed up. My goal is to continue to be active through the next 8 weeks of pregnancy — I just entered the third trimester (the home stretch) so I anticipate that will get a little more challenging — but so far I’ve been able to continue lifting weights, spin class, and doing prenatal yoga.
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You’re so amazing Sarah! Great job staying active!!
I love strength training. It makes me feel strong, confident & energized! As soon as I brainstorm a goal, I’ll be joining the movement too!
woohoo! awesome!
I don’t really have consistent access to heavy weights, but I do want to add more strength training to my routine. Do you have any favorite body weight routines?
yeah! i have a couple under my fitness tab!!
yes! Strength is beautiful! I love your goal and am a believer in lifting weights. I’m joining the movement, haven’t decided upon my big goal but I will by days end then be on a roll to meet it!!
I love this! What a great idea for a team. I must admit I was one of those girls who thought being strong meant being one of those huge body builders with veins popping out. Now I know better.
You are a true inspiration. 🙂
thanks so much girl!
I signed up but then realized they wanted videos and pics and I am just not interested in all that when I am working hard :-/
it’s not for everyone! keep working hard and do your thing!
Love this! Your post is really truly inspiring! My goal 2 fold: to complete a 5k race (not just on my garmin) in under 30:00 and to really start seriously incorporating strength training into my training schedule. As a runner, I feel like I am faking it when I go the gym to lift.
love those goals Beth! Good luck!
YEAH!! Such a great movement, and this is SUCH a great goal. I’m on board #IWILL 🙂
Completely inspiration 100% beautiful post! Learning to love and desire strength in every aspect of my life including my body and mind is what helped me to overcome anorexia. Being strong, fit, healthy and fueling my body for optimum performance is now my long term and every day goal.
LOVE IT!!!
There is NOTHING sexier or more beautiful than a woman who embraces her own strength and is CONFIDENT about it. I love this movement and what you’re doing to move it forward in such a positive and uplifting and beautiful way!
Thanks Jess!
This is great! My goal- I will complete my first 5k and lose 20 pounds! I will eat healthier, drink more water, simplify my life and motivate others to follow suit!
woohoo!!!! great goal!
Love this approach! I agree, strong is beautiful. You’re going to inspire lots of people, I’m sure.
this is the best post I have read this morning – I have been doing weight lifting for past 2 weeks and even though its only 20-35# pounds I feel so strong and great!!! I love this movement. My goal is to be able to a real pushups 30 times by the end of this month.
not only!!! 20-35# is a GREAT start! keep it up girl!
How can I resist? I love my Pilates and think it is strengthening my core but I need to lift for my bones. Our gym is still damaged but I do have some weights to start with. No idea about a goal though.
This post gave me chillls!!! Very well said, LOVE IT. And I love your goal. Lets do this! 😉
thanks Brittany!
You know I LOVE this one!!! Reading this makes me so excited to start on my goals too. For my #IWill I’m going to gain some hardcore muscle and get back on the satge bigger and better in 6 mos!
yeaaaaaaaaah girl!
This is a great goal! I first started weight training about a year ago and am absolutely amazed by how much I love it and how much stronger I am because of it! I love the idea of “normalizing” (though I don’t like that word!) weight training for women – it doesn’t mean that you’re going to become big and bulky, just a stronger, leaner version of yourself!
exactly!!! keep it up girl!
You rock, Lindsay! Love how you wrote this! My goal is be able to do full tricep pushups and one hundred burpees consecutively as fast as I can!
those are awesome goals!
This was wonderfully written and truly inspiring. Thanks for sharing!
thank YOU for reading!
Awesome! I know this seems vain, but I really want to have defined abs. I already work out 4-6x/week and eat pretty clean, but my stomach is my “trouble spot”. I’d really like to see it tone up over the next 8 weeks!
I LOVE this campaign and your focus for it, it’s awesome. strength and muscle IS awesome. And beautiful. Well done 🙂
thanks girl!
A great post on this Lindsay!!! As you know – I am all about muscles! I was doing this before many women were so I have been trying to share this thought process for years! 🙂 LOVE!!!
Hi, I love this post, it is so inspiring! My goal was to take on running and I started last month training for my first 5K which is on May 26th. I love your STRENGTH goal and I wish I can be part of your team (I’m not a US/canadian resident), because I lift but I seem stuck with the smaller weights and I want to be able to lift heavier. I will follow your “movement”, and take on the challenge of lifting more frequently and heavier even if I’m not eligible to enter. Thank you for the inspiration 🙂
awesome!!! i’m so happy to hear that!!! yay for strength!
I have two big goals right now: Strengthen my back and core so that I can decrease the number of back injuries (but I don’t know how to define it or measure this goal) and run a marathon in October.
My problem is that I am down for the count with a back injury (hence the goal) and can’t really start until the first week of june for either goals. Is that too late?
Also, I’m debating on doing this individually or just joining your team since the back strength aligns with your goal. Suggestions? I do want to go for the big prize, but I dont’ think I will have enough time to really be a contender.
i don’t think it’s too late to start in june. you might not be able to win the big prize, but i still think it’s worth getting involved when you’re able!!
I think I may sign up with your team using the back strength goal. I can at least help you out!