#empoweredaf

And the game changed 😎👊🏼 #empoweredaf #strongmama #mindsetiskey https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn6_KldjeYQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13a18uwg27yne

If you ever *really* want to get under my skin and say something that'll make me cringe, say these words: . "Must be nice" . Maybe you're telling me about that girl you know who is traveling all over the world. Or that guy that is making lots of money at his new job. Or that friend who has a really flexible schedule. . "Must be nice" . I used to do this ALL THE TIME. I'd see people doing things I WISH I could be doing, and instead of doing anything productive with my observance, I'd just get pissed and think "psshhh must be nice". . NO. . I have 100% control over my life. I know this now, and I am FULLY EMBRACING THAT SHIT. . Don't like something? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Want what she's having? Get out there and figure out how to get it. Take risks. Try stuff. You're going to fail sometimes and it's going to be scary sometimes, but you are not getting ANYWHERE closer to where you want to be by woefully gazing at their life circumstance and saying "must be nice". . They made choices. Sure, some people may seem like they "have it easy", but most of the time those people worked their butts off to get where they are. They made their own choices and sacrifices. They took risks. They tried it. . Eyes on your own paper, my friends. Want something different? GO GET IT. . Rant over 😘 . . . #mustbenice #actionovereverything #actionoveranxiety #action #dosomethingdamnit #takearisk #failforward #livefearless #lifeisshort #getwhatyouwant #livehowyouwant #dreamlife #lifeaf #lifehack #lifetips #lifestylecoach #lifestyle #passionateaf #empoweredaf #saturdaymood (at Boston, Massachusetts)

This photo was uncomfortable to post. . When I first saw it, my eyes went immediately to the roll on my back. Yours probably did too. . Which is exactly why I'm sharing it 😏 . That first thought, that focus, is *exactly* what I'm working on disconnecting. Deconstructing. Dismantling. . When I looked at the photo again, I worked on reframing my focus. My hair looks AWESOME. The lighting was FABULOUS. My shoulders look STRONG. This alley way smelled like straight up piss, but gosh darn it did we have a fun photo shoot that day. . I'm trying to do this more often. Speak my untold uncomfortable stories and thoughts. Share my vulnerabilities. . Because EVERY SINGLE TIME after I do this, I get a message from one of you that you felt less alone. That this struck a cord with you and helped you think about your body in a different way. To learn to love your body a bit more than you did yesterday. And ding dang it if that isn't my purpose in life, idk what is. . Next time you have one of these pesky thoughts creep up on you, I encourage you to try to reframe it. What else do you see? . . . #vulnerableaf #shareyourshit #bodypositive #bodylove #bodyrolls #bodygoals #bootypositive #liveamari #amariactive #empoweredaf #strongaf #womenempowerment #kettlebellgirl #kettlebells #kettlebae #saturdayvibes #mindset #fuckyeah #thatisall {📸@stephpaulovich 😘} (at Boston, Massachusetts)

I've been talking a lot about #bodylove and being #bodypositive lately and it's time to get real with you. --- When I first began experimenting with lifting weights and cleaning up my diet, my body responded to this new lifestyle. It was lean. It had visible abs. It dropped 2 pants sizes. It coveted attention that I had always craved. --- But underneath the surface, that lifestyle evolved into a disordered relationship with food. That lifestyle left me turning down dates with friends because the fear and anxiety of tempting food or drinks was too much. It was filled intense fitness regimes and restrictive diets. It lead to whacked out hormonal imbalances that left me with amenorrhea and weight gain. --- It ultimately lead to a doctor telling me if I didn't change my lifestyle to balance out my hormones, I may not be able to have children. --- And with that punch to the gut, I began my #bodylove journey. I ate more. I exercised less. This scared the SHIT out of me. Even though I knew that the alternative was harming my body, I STILL had to fight the voices in my head telling me I was eating too much, or didn't deserve that rest day. --- I looked at the mirror and watched my body respond to this new lifestyle. It gained weight. It grew back into those 2 pants sizes. This was HARD. I didn't love it. But I knew I had to care for my body, no matter what it looked like. Body love became my practice. --- This takes time. And work. In the wise words of @negharfonooni: it's not looking at yourself in the mirror and saying 'you're beautiful'. That's bullshit. The first step isn't love, it's objectivity. It's looking at what is, and releasing any negative meaning that we have historically tied to it. This isn't easy, and since I'm in the biz of being honest, there are still days where I struggle. --- But I put the work in. And overtime I have come to discover the *incredible freedom* that comes with with this realization that your body is your friend. Life is much better on this side. Won't you join me? . #bikinirebellion #takingupspace #empoweredaf #happy #healthy #fitnessjourney #fitness #fitspo #breakingfitspo #beachbody #breakingbeachbody #toddlersofinstagram (at Boston, Massachusetts)

I surprised myself today. --- My morning kicked off with a pretty intense rollercoaster of emotions. Long story short: I found out I went on a date with someone who conveniently forgot he actually had a girlfriend 🤦🏼‍♀️. WHOOPS (also boy byeeeee ✋🏻✋🏼✋🏽✋🏾✋🏿) --- A few years ago, this kind of situation would have thrown me off. I would have felt angry, and disgusted, and sad, and probably would have spent the majority of my day obsessing over how shitty this news was. --- But you know what? Today I didn't. I felt the initial sting, I let the anger and disgust chill for about 3 minutes and then I moved on. Like actually for real. Next! --- I surprised myself with how little this actually affected my mood. I thought about how the old me would have been CRUSHED. And it made me realize that I have gotten to a point in my relationship with myself (💁🏼❤️💁🏼) that I am so comfortable and confident with how I am choosing to show up in the world, the insignificant actions of someone else can't shift my mood (nodding at @thinkgrowprosper for that one 👌🏼). --- So how *did* I spend my energy? I bonded with my fabulous girlfriends. I had a super productive day at work. I had the most high energy + positive coffee date with my new friend @nancyzacharakis_ . My Tuesday was pretty kick ass. --- So what about you? How are you reacting to an interaction that was less than pleasant? Are you going to let it kill your vibe? Or are you going to say FTS and keep on being fabulous? --- Pro tip: be fabulous 💅🏼💋 . . . #protip #befabulous #boybye #ladyboss #girlgang #empoweredaf #fabulousaf #movingon #next #inspiredaf #mindfulaf #reflection #selflove #singlesf #lifeaf #lifetips #juicyjourney #resilientaf #lifehacks (at Boston, Massachusetts)

The college tour is still underway; Boston is now wrapped! Do you remember going on college tours? It's exhausting and at the same time exciting. Check out barbmagazine.com link in bio for all that plus #horrorfans #puppydogeyes and more #ladieslikeus #doyourdream #empoweredaf #supportyourfriends #friday

Hi! So I am accompanying The Teenager on her Spring Break, which is also known as College Tour Of Duty. Link in bio. Or go to barbmagazine.com #ladieslikeus #doyourdream #empoweredaf #supportyourfriends #malala #nails #sandrabernhard

#fullbacktattoo it's not done yet photocredits go to @punta_hueca_mrs tattoo credit @joemurphct #empoweredaf #tattooedwomen #witchwarrior