You don't have a thigh gap?! .... {Gasp}

Hello, my name is Shelby and I do not have, what females are calling in this modern age, the glorious "thigh gap." And I am finally comfortable with saying it and actually meaning it.

A year ago, I secretly wanted it. I saw it on women I was pinning on Pinterest and thought to myself, "if only!" I see girls in the pageant system winning swimsuit preliminary awards and thinking to myself that I will never be able to achieve that because I don't have the best legs. I know now, such silly thinking. I've always struggled with thinking my lower curves are what I needed to lose {hellooo, where my body fat jumps to}. Ha, right. Again, quite silly. Such thinking comes from the pageant territory {I have such a love/hate relationship with the swimsuit competition}. It comes with being a perfectionist. It comes with a desire to join the modeling world {think J.Crew retail model, not runway model}. It comes with being a woman in the 21st century. Heck, it even comes with being a female, period. But mostly, it comes from allowing thoughts of not being "good-enough" to creep their way into my head. 

Its one thing if your natural body shape is more straight, less curvy, or you were born with petite limbs. It's another if you make it your goal {as I have done in the past} to center your whole exercise routine and dieting plan around how to get smaller legs. I use to let finding the perfect pair of jeans be measured by if they gave me slimmer looking curves and the thigh gap. I use to measure my body {sexiness} status by if I has smaller legs or not. And none of that is okay.

Most every 20- to 30-something girl I know have said something about this to or are dealing with it. It's all over my social media dash - Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook. Its a major issue that needs some serious addressing. What is an even bigger issue is the fact that middle school girls are now seeing and wanting the infamous thigh gap. That hit me hard recently. I don't want my little sisters {who are 13 and 15} thinking they have to have it. I am a role model. A role model who is wanting to promote self-esteem and confidence in yourself. Not just to my little sisters, but to every five year old princess, middle school lady, college girl, or business woman I come in contact. How can I encourage them to have confidence in their bodies if I am not doing the same? You too are a role model. Think of at least one person you have made a difference on. Got them in your head? Bet there are at least 100x more than you know about. But even so, that one person makes you a role model. And if you are a role model, what you do makes all the difference in the world.

Do you know who one of my favorite female figures is? Jennifer Lawrence. Do you know why? Because she loves, absolutely loves, her body and is so confident about the way she looks. She radiates confidence. She is my role model. {And come on, she is also Katniess Everdeen. Who couldn't want to be JL}

Also, on a side note... the only way to achieve a healthy body is to eat healthy, be active, and to mentally exercise. Don't let anyone lie to you letting you know diet pills are the way to go. Don't lie to yourself with cheat, quick methods to getting fit or reaching your fitness goals. Don't think skipping meals will benefit you by shrinking your waist - tried that one and trust me, it doesn't work because you body needs that fuel. Cheating never helps anyone, especially not in the long run. Even more so, because you and I are role models, what people see us do and hear us say is hugely influential on how they decide to do things. Trust me on that one too. Have fitness goals, but do not let them swallow you up or control you. It's hard not to at times, but try. Remember, you are a role model. People are watching you... what you say, how you act, what you watch, ect. How do you want to leave an impact on someone, even if its for the thirty seconds you come in contact with them?

I want to be strong. 

I want to be physically strong, but also mentally strong. No more of this talking myself down or comparing myself to others. I too want to radiate such strong confidence in myself. 

I want to have a strength in myself like no other.

After all, strong is the new sexy.

So, let me ask you... how can you be stronger?
What are your current fitness goals?
What are you doing to achieve them?
Who are your role models?
Why are they your role models?
How are you a role model for someone?

Take time to answer these for me! I love hearing how you have been inspired and how you are seeking to inspire others. Just post in the comment section below. And follow my pinterest board [BE: inspired] for more positive encouragement. 

I am good enough. You are good enough. Believe it. Claim it. 

Exhausted, but content.

Busy, but so thankful.

Overworked, but beyond blessed.

God is doing some big things. It just took some time for me to realize it.

Bisous, SLR

Clean Eating. Nom.

I am fairly healthy compared to the average American: I don't drink carbonated drinks, I rarely dive into a bag of Cheetos, I walk to work every day, I run at least once a week, and I don't consume an obnoxious amount of fast food (or even Starbucks drinks). My problem is I'm not quite sure what exactly I am eating. I am quite confident, however, whatever it is it includes a lot of sugar and isn't the best for my body. I'm certainly not even close to being overweight, but I would love to get away from processed and chemical-loaded foods.

I want to be extremely comfortable with my body knowing what I am putting in it are things that will help it and give it nutrients. It goes along with the simplicity I am trying to achieve; be healthy... get moving... and quit putting all that junk and unnecessary stuff in my diet. A quote that you may hear often keeps sticking in my head: If you eat garbage, your body will show it. I decided last week that it was time to get back to eating clean and trying to be a bit more active.

What is clean eating?
There are a few definitions out there. For me, eating "clean" means consuming tons of fresh veggies and fruits, eliminating all processed foods/preservatives/additives and refined sugars, eating five to six small meals a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two to three snacks in between meals), and enjoying lean meats and whole grains.

Click here for a deeper explanation from The Gracious Pantry. I like her explanation :)

So... what do you eat?
Food. Sorry, had to throw in a little smarty pants comment there. Really though, here is a menu plan for what I ate this week {from what I could remember}.

Sunday

Breakfast - Steel cut oatmeal, single serving.
Snack - banana
Lunch - ??
Snack - almond butter
Dinner - Leftover Thanksgiving food... don't remember, and I feel like I shouldn't.

Monday: Finally, a day off.

Breakfast - Missed, slept in :)
Snack - banana, almond butter
Lunch - dressing, sweet potatoe casserole
Snack - N/A
Dinner - Cup of Royal Wedding tea.

Tuesday

Breakfast - skipped
Snack - SPARK
Lunch - Protein bar, banana
Snack - N/A
Dinner - Salad with spring greens, spinach, tomatoes, turkey, lemon juice, olive oil, carrots.

Wednesday

Breakfast - Banana. Rushed to work without eating breakfast. Fail.
Snack - SPARK. Go Lean cereal (dry, no milk).
Lunch - Apple slices and almond butter.
Snack - leftover dressing (1 cup), leftover mac & cheese (1 cup) - yay for cleaning out the fridge!
Dinner - green beans (seasoned with mrs. dash table blend), cubed sweet potatoes (seasoned with olive oil, nutmeg, mrs. dash italian blend, garlic power), and slice of ezekial bread.

Thursday

Breakfast -Advocare meal replacement shake (chocolate), made with almond milk
Snack - celery sticks, banana
Lunch - protein bar
Snack - gluten-free cinnamon cupcake | leftover sweet potatoes from last night.
Dinner - salad with spring greens, spinach, turkey, cherry tomatoes, carrots, orange bell pepper, cranberries, lemon juice, and olive oil. Glass of red wine.

Friday

Breakfast - Egg white omelet with spinach and tomatoes
Snack - N/A
Lunch - Turkey and mustard sandwich on ezekial bread
Snack - Protein Bar
Dinner - Tuna with some weird sauce that I don't remember, hehe.

Saturday

Breakfast - Egg white omelet with spinach and tomatoes, hot tea (white), cantaloupe
Snack - Protein Bar
Lunch - Celery sticks, cucumber slices
Snack - Uh... let's just say it was a cheat meal.
Dinner - buffalo chicken sandwich w/ tomatoes, lettuce, spicy mustard. {Best. Sandwich. Ever}

Remembering to pack food and eat it work seems to be the hardest part of sticking to clean eating. I work around carb-loaded pastries all day. Its hard to say no to those Pain au Chocolates... especially with the ten-hour shifts I have at times.

The past week was decent. I am finding that with healthy eating and clean eating it really is alright to have a little splurge every once in a while. As my boyfriend puts it, enjoying the once a week cheat meal makes the rest of the week more enjoyable.

 {VIA PINTEREST}

Grocery List
Sunday morning I went grocery shopping. Here is what $75 got me:

Oatmeal, old fashioned rolled oats
Stalk of celery
Almond milk
Almond butter
garlic powder
bell peppers - three pack of red, yellow, and orange
carrots
cherry tomatoes
spring greens 1/2 spinach 1/2
tuna
tilapia
mustard
lemon juice
detergent, 2
egg white blend
green beans
cucumbers
Kashi Go Lean
bananas
apples
sweet potatoes
onion
cantaloupe
bag of frozen mixed berries

Mostly all of the above was organic. I feel like I could have spent much less if I didn't get organic, but in trying to avoid the chemicals I just picked up the 'ganic. The above list should be able to last me at least two weeks. Over the next few weeks its my goal to be able to spend less than $30 to buy groceries for a single week.

And there are my thoughts for the night. Now go eat some oatmeal.

{PS - Will expand upon my work out schedule and running plan later this week!}

{VIA POSTHEROES}

"Have less, be more."

Sacrifice.

Happy Veterans Day!!

Remembering our fallen heroes, those we have served, and those currently serving. Because of your honor, commitment, and service, I am forever grateful to live in the land of the free. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for all you have done to ensure this country's safety.

Especially thankful for my granddad, my surrogate granddad, my big brother, both of my brother in laws, and my sister in law. I appreciate you each so much and pray God blesses you in astounding ways for all you have done (and for some of you, what you are still doing) for our country.

Also, thank you to the families of our military veterans and current service men and women. Without you on the home front offering support, love, and strength for those fighting, they would have not gotten through. I have an extra special appreciation for military families after last year.

Blessings,
Xoxo, Shelby

Close Enough

In case you do not know me well enough to already know this, I love France. I love learning and speaking French, I love Paris, I love french food, I love the culture, I adore the architecture, their style is perfect, the french accent gets me every time, everything. {Sidenote: I certainly think God will have me over there eventually, possibly for missions} Anyways, I say this to say; recently, God made things fall into place to where I now work at a French/European market in Atlanta. asgdksgbalgbasfg. While you're asking yourself why this is so grand and why I am this excited about it, let me remind you again... I. Love. France. And now I work in a french shop with real french individuals, with french music playing, with french foods, and working on my french. Thank you, Jesus. I about cried when I was offered the job. So excusez-moi while I get giddy about God leading me and taking me on new adventures... even if I cannot be in France, this is close enough :-)

Since its Wednesday...

..... here are my unashamed #wcw woman crushes:

Jennifer Lawrence

Let's be honest, she is perfect. I love that she is a "curvy" woman in a "straight" Hollywood culture. She is so goofy and weird. Also, the fact that she kicks booty and plays Katniss gives her so many points. 

Blake Lively

She is so naturally gorgeous. AND she is married to my man crush, Ryan Reynolds. Plus, I get that I am her brunette twin all the time. I think its the smile ;)

Bekah Stewart

Grateful for Tumblr that allowed me to find her and let us meet. Such a strong yet simply beautiful woman who I greatly admire. If my future boys could be as cool as hers I would be ever so thankful.

{Follow her adventures}