hi there, babe!

i hope this finds everyone well after the holiday weekend. i myself am busy preparing for our first flight as a family of 4. we're taking the littles to see their viejo & abuelita in texas for the first time since 2019 (and ramona's first time ever!) stay tuned to my instagram @barrebabemama for mini-burns and workout tips while i'm away because you know i will be all over a posture series after a (likely stressful) airplane trip!

this week's newsletter is short & sweet with some words about body image.

mirror mirror on the wall

y'all, the struggle is real when it comes to body dysmorphia, or the tendency to obsess over a perceived minor or imagined physical flaw. for me, it's more of a shopping problem than a confidence issue (i keep buying jeans online that are literally 2 sizes too big) but bdd is unfortunately a super common problem that can lead to extreme and unhealthful behaviors (and just too much stress.) when i don't love the image reflected back to me in the mirror or onscreen, i resist the urge towards panicky sit ups and spartan carb restriction and shift my focus instead with the following tips:

1) focus on what i like about my body and literally don't look at the rest for awhile. i remind myself that no one cares about what i look like nearly as much as i do, and i give myself some heartfelt compliments.

2) take a little extra time with something about my appearance that's easier to control, like blowing out my hair, matching my shoes to my hat, or wearing nice lipstick. it's good for morale.

3) focus on posture exercises (like "Y-T-W" arms or magic circle from class). posture practice boosts mood and body image almost immediately. plus, strength training, especially for booty, is particularly empowering towards giving less fs about looks and more about badassness.

4) pretend i'm a beloved friend, barrebabe, or baby ramona telling me she's feeling down on herself because of body image and immediately soften the tone of my internal monologue. i know i wouldn't want any of my babies or babes to EVER feel bummed about body stuff, and i include myself in that category. change starts from within!

that's it for now, babes. stay cool & keep pulsing!
with love & planks,

annie