hey hey, barrebabes,

i hope this finds everyone well! today i have for you some words about vanity vs. virtue in the fitness/wellness realm, and a sparkling new playlist. happy reading!

no judgment

i don't know about your instagram feed, but my search results skew heavily towards super fit pretty people eating small amounts of expensive plants in very nice lighting and, while i fully realize that i, too, am yet another chipper small-ish blonde giving out unsolicited wellness advice, i'm calling bullshit on all the virtue-signaling superfood smoothies and unnecessarily intense workout plans and calorie goals.

i hear a lot of language eating & exercises habits that smack of what parenting expert amy mccready refers to as "blame shame and pain" words. from "i've been good lately, but then cake/cheeseburger/watermelon margaritas" and "i've been so bad, i haven't worked out all week" to more subtle/sinister cues about what so-and-so thinks you should be eating because she herself is paleo/vegan/gluten-free/counting macros/hasn't had a cookie in 5 years because she wants to "be an inspiration to her clients." (i actually met someone who told me this. i was honestly kinda bored).

here's the deal, babes: eating well and moving often are not in themselves virtues (nor is self-care). neither are small indulgences, second helpings or having bread and wine in the same meal actual sins. the best way to eat/move/find balance is always as unique as your own individual dna, and there are as many "right ways" to do it as there are stars in the sky. this spectrum of healthful practices help make us into better versions of ourselves, but they don't make us better than anyone else.

please hear this: i think it's cool that you are grain-free, plant-based, or obsessed with oat milk or keto casseroles. and i think it's cool that you do spinning and marathon running and hot piloxing and bootcamping every day - IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD. it's just that i think that often we're confusing vanity for virtue and it's not cool to be judgy of others.

rather, the virtues i see in fitness/wellness are:

patience - with progress and results
commitment - to the whole self
honor and integrity- being true to where your body is today
kindness - to the community moving around you

and i think that any time we reduce waste, limit excess, consume less, question labels, shop locally and mind the planet, we are making virtuous choices - and i think that how exactly you do that is up to you :)

finally, if you catch me being snooty about whatever the hell i just had for dinner, please - call me out. i am well aware of how lucky i am to have access to high quality local & sustainable food, just as i am well aware that having such an amazing crew of barrebabes show up regularly for my class is the biggest reason i am able to work out consistently. just say no to body shaming, food shaming, and most definitely to "no pain no gain" mentality!

music for your ears

i love music, and i love to share it with you, so until we can go out dancing at shows again, please enjoy my latest barre class playlist :)

that's it for today, my loves. let me know if there's a specific topic you'd like to read about here, and in the meantime, keep pulsing!
with love & planks,
annie