Finding My Fit: Powerlifting and Eating Disorders

Hi there all! I recently put out there that I was looking for topics for my blog and I got some great questions/topics...IDK if I could write an entire blog post about them so I'm going to lump them all up into one Q and A post. If it goes well this might be something that I do from now on. 1. What is in my gym bag? Well I think to start off with...I don't really use a whole lot of special things. Mostly my gym bag ends up with things everyone needs: deodorant, clothes for the day, toothbrush and toothpaste, makeup, etc. I don't really use anything special- I do have boxing gloves from Ever-last in my bag right now. I also use a belt when doing any really heavy lifting- it is a Scheik- you can find it here:  https://www.roguefitness.com/schiek-2004-lifting-belt-pink 2. Do you write your own programming? Yep! So right now I am working on split days. Upper body is one day, then lower body...and I rotate out what heavy movements I am doing. A sample upper body day wou...

"You don't want to get too bulky, you'll look like a man!" I hear this all the time. If it isn't someone saying to me directly it is said by someone else about themselves. When I tell people that I am into power lifting, weight lifting, and getting strong in general people all give me a bit of side eye. They are totally ok with me losing weight and getting more and more close to the "ideal" body- which is absolutely the most ridiculous thing I have ever said in my life- they are fine with me getting smaller and smaller, but the second I start talking about gaining muscles they freak. We are as women, conditioned to take up less space, be smaller, be "pretty" and "petite"...but why? The answer is rooted in the oppression of women as a whole. I love the look of Sara Sigmundsdottir- #goals When women are constantly told to look and act a certain way- whether that message comes from films or tv or magazines and ad campaigns- it al...

Check out more update to the min. posts from me on Instagram @powerhousebarbie

"So how are you handling everything?" Dude the answer is not as well as I would like . I am not one of those women who blames everything on hormones- in fact I like most women- find that excuse outdated and quite sexist. I'm not a slave to the chemicals in my body but they do play an important part of your over all health. I have been on birth control since I was somewhere are 16 or 17 years old- not just to prevent pregnancy but also to help me with horrible, crippling migraines. I'm talking like four days of hell- pain, nausea, light and sound sensitivity and more. One of the best things to come out of my weight loss has been an improvement in the length and the intensity of my head aches. This year I have only had about 2 or 3 really bad ones when I used to be able to count on at least 12 per year. So that has been a significant change for the better- something that has gotten worse- or rather something I have started to notice a problem with have been mood...

"You are such an inspiration! " Sometimes I really feel like Supergirl- then I come back to reality. Lately, I have had a lot of conversations with people about my journey, about this blog, about all kinds of things- people keep telling me how inspiring I am. That is amazing, and most of the time I light up from the inside out because helping people feel better and do better and be better is part of my mission.  But then there are moments, some times whole days, where I don't feel very inspiring. I get a real case of impostor syndrome, which if you don't know is... a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud".  A little info-graphic never hurt no one... So yeah,  I get that feeling alot. Don't get me wrong if you find my story inspiring that is GREAT! Please tell me all about it. But also know that sometimes if I maybe don't look as con...

Just wanted to post a short collection of shots for Transformation Tuesday! If you want to follow more of my day to day life you can follow me on Instagram @powerhousebarbie! This is a shot from the previous Ren Faire season to this year! Like it says on the tin! Great out doors shots for comparison! Some nice progress pictures for not only weight but muscle definition!

So during my last #ThoughtProvokingThursday I got a request to talk about my meal prep routine. Meal prepping has been one of the best things I have ever done to help me meet my weight loss goals. I know it can seem intimidating but honestly meal prepping is so flexible that you can make it as complicated or as simple as it needs to be. I usually take Sundays to meal prep for the week but since my weekends are currently occupied with performing at the Carolina Renaissance Festival, so this was all done on Friday afternoon. My prep usually ebbs and flows with my tastes and what I seem to be wanting. Sometimes it is the same thing week and after week and sometimes I like to switch it up. The point is- you are in control of your prep so make things you like and will eat. Seriously people, get a good food scale. I got mine on Amazon! Tip #1 I usually give to people who want to start prepping is- go to the store and buy yourself some nice containers, preferably with dividers. It...