Fit Villains: Selfish, Shameless, Sassy, Fitness.

Tomorrow’s my birthday (yay), and my biggest wish? That people start seeing fitness as it’s own reward, and not a means to an end.

Weight-loss & body shaping are fabulous by-products of getting fitter… but there’s so much more to love about getting sweaty on the regular and pushing yourself hard. So, I decided to sit down and make a top 10 list of my favorite things. Which became a top 25 list… which turned into a top 50. I could go on forever.. I love so many things about fitness & how it’s wriggled its way into my life.

Here’s an ‘ever-in-progress’ look at my fav fitness ‘things’ & ‘moments’. This is what keeps me loving what I do. :)

Disclaimer: While I mention this has nothing to do with looks, I mean the ‘pressure’ to look a certain way. I like seeing myself in the mirror most days, and that’s not a bad thing (like a fascinated animal, I like seeing myself move). But the things on this list represent what I like about MY body, or how staying fit has allowed me to notice certain things that I didn’t know I loved (like how flushed my skin gets after a workout, or how shiny & muscled my arms are when I kickbox). Those things might not be your cup of tea, but that’s just it: this isn’t about other people, societal pressure, or anything else. THAT’s the difference.

My favorite fitness things…That have NOTHING to do with weight-loss or looks. 

1. Sports bras with a wee-bit of padding. Helps the ego yes, BUT gives me a little extra squeeze to keep my girls in control during jumps.
2. The ‘I’m a beast’ pride feeling you get when you realize you can do something for the first time that you couldn’t do before.
3. Sparkly workout shorts & gear. Sparkly anything really. I like sparkles.
4. When I can feel my entire core when I laugh or giggle. 
5. Motivational messages on my blackboard at home. I leave them for myself, but still. What was once cheesy now inspires me while I pee.
6. Trying something for the first time and being nervous but not terrified.
7. ‘Fancy water bottle’ talk with other fitties at the water fountain. Ridges, temperature control, BPA free… sexy.
8. When I can ‘feel’ the muscles deep within in my glutes without touching them, the muscles you can’t get to, even with a massage. I like getting taller in my chair when I squeeze them together.
9. When I meet someone who knows what a burpee is, already has their own PR and we talk about different ways to do them. Fit nerd style.
10. That ‘UGH- Ohhhh - Ahhhhh- Ugh’ feeling when you’re stretching a muscle that’s really, REALLY sore. Borders painful, but you know you have to do it because it will get better. Tomorrow.
11. Children who assume I’m a superhero based on my workout outfits, and general badass-ness. They’re not completely wrong, depending how you look at it.
12. How healthy my skin looks after a workout. Fully flushed, no makeup, naturally wonderful.
13. Having people I haven’t spoken to in years ask me to work out with them on Facebook, based on status updates & posted pics.
14. Having people I haven’t spoken to in years ask me to work out with them on Facebook… and PAY me to do it. :)
15. My instinct to automatically ‘high kick’ when I get excited about something. (hence the alter-ego ‘Chichi Kix’ - Thanks Sharon!) 
16. Trying to ‘beat’ the people on the escalator when I take the stairs next to them.
17. The inspiration I get when I see someone overweight riding a bike, or going for a jog. Every cell in my body roots for them and I get inspired to push myself harder.
18. When people underestimate how strong I really am and I pick up something abnormally heavy to show them. Sometimes, I surprise myself. Sometimes I pick THEM up. All in the legs baby.
19. When beads of sweat wick off the ends of my hair & bangs when I’m moving fast or shaking it hard.
20. When I feel sweat dripping down my lower back and catch a glimpse of it in my reflection. Totally check myself out every time. 
21. ‘5 more minutes. You can do 5 minutes of anything’. On repeat in my head.
22. Finding ‘new’ muscles.
23. When my exercise moves go PERFECTLY with the music, like they were designed for each other (and sometimes, they are). If you don’t know what I mean, try burpees to ‘TubThumping’ - see below.
24. Looking at all my fitness DVD’s and home gear I’ve collected over the years. Just looking at it. When it’s organized and pretty.
25. Being able to stay on the dance floor longer now than I did at 18 years old. AND being able to put others on the floor to shame. You just wait til I’m forty. :)
26. Wearing my yoga mat & bag like it’s a purse/badge of honor.
27. Knowing that I can run for my life if I need to, and escape zombies. For a long while anyways: at some point I will need to sleep, but I can climb somewhere really high.
28. Feeling the wind on my sweaty, glistening face.
29. Connecting with other fitties via Social Media & getting the most kick ass comments/ideas/questions & more. I really have the best followers/friends/fans ever. It feels weird to say that. Fans? We’ll stick with fellow bad asses, ok? :)
30. My special connection to the song ‘Mortal Kombat’. Nothing gets me out of bed faster. Test your might.
31. When I’ve given my all, and (momentarily) collapse on the floor in a heap of myself.
32. When I catch someone watching me workout in the park, and see them suddenly bang out a set of crunches, when they clearly weren’t dressed for it.
33. Feeling the first ‘sweat’ break the skin after the warmup (usually during the stretch).
34. My kick ass sex life. No, seriously. Stamina, strength, endurance, flexibility… sexiest, funnest time of my life :)
35. Wringing out my sports bra before I jump in the shower and seeing how much sweat comes out.
36. Watching boys check themselves out in the gym mirror. Giggle EVERY time.
37. Sharing fitness with others & seeing their faces when they surprise themselves with how far they can push themselves. Watching people be proud of themselves makes my job worth it.
38. Mmmmmm….. Massages.
39. Doing pushups like a Marine.
40. When workouts feel like I’m playing. Playing, REALLY hard.
41. SHOES! New shoes in general, but workout shoes… oh baby.
42. Caressing my bum through Lululemon pants. Thighs too. Hell, I’ll touch anything wrapped in Lulu’s. Love it.
43. Skipping. Not with a jump rope. Skipping like ‘La-La-La’ skipping. And swinging my arms when I do it.
44. That after workout ‘sexy’ feeling followed by mandatory ‘flirting with myself’ time in the mirror.
45. My ‘energy’ MP3 player. One entire player with nothing under 140BPM, guaranteed. On shuffle, it’s brilliant.
46. Anticipating the release of new DVD’s.
47. The after workout shower (after the ‘I feel sexy’ turns into ‘I feel gross’).
48. Knowing it’s okay to eat that piece of cake. 
49. The shortened time it takes for me to catch my breath when I push hard. 
50. Pushing past limits that I thought were “set” when it came to my body. This is especially meaningful, since I’m besties with a body & brain that have with certain obstacles - persistent (and sometimes consistent) pain, hormonal issues, infertility, anxiety/depression   - and I’ve had a REALLY hard time dealing with all of those things, physically & emotionally. Knowing that I’m in control, that I can still get better at things, that I can push myself farther than I knew possible, that I’m not limited by a body that isn’t ideal and that I am strong enough, fierce enough, tough enough & good enough?  By far the sweetest, best & most important part of my fitness journey. Forget the banging booty. THIS is why I do what I do.. More to come.:)

What about you? What would you add to this list?