I’ve written a whole book (Stronger) about disconnecting the power cable of diet culture and being okay in my body, and using it for joyous movement but - it would be completely disingenuous of me to say that it’s easy or that it’s sunshine and rainbows all the time. It’s not all depressing news - I feel neutral in my body most of the time. On a day like today I actually love it and appreciate it, and then there are the other days that I can’t sugar coat - are just fucking hard. Weight training has given me so much - self worth, purpose, so much strength, so much gratitude and appreciation in my body! But it can’t protect me from things all the time - and this summer has felt particularly dire for positive messaging around bodies, the calories on menus, not to mention the fact that diet talk is in everything. As an older woman you are doubly fucked because that pressure to be slim is intensified x 1000 with little to no role models outside of it. I’ve had many times where I thought - should I just give in? Should I just drop the weight? And I’m lucky that as many times as I’ve thought that - powerlifting has saved me, and my community has reminded me what joy and mental peace is actually about. Funnily enough, it was listening to @romeshranga talking to @mrbigtomd on my favourite @wolfowlpod - saying that even if you get to that aesthetic, it really is about what is going on mentally. The swimsuit I’m wearing is @marahoffman which I bought in a sale, and it also helps to have something that fits and makes my body feel good. Not to mention she has a strong approach to sustainability and I’m all for that. I’m going to leave it here and say I had a good day, I love how I look, I appreciate my bottom cellulite and all, and my shoulders that have carried mountains, metaphorically and otherwise. (New followers - I don’t use filters on my grid posts - just adjust for brightness and contrast.) 🙏🏽❤️ #instagram #bodylove #swimsuit #bikini #over40 #instadaily