Today I want to talk to you all about STRONG vs Skinny! There is such a huge difference between the two yet I feel like our culture of looking at skinny models can really mess with our heads. I won't lie, it took me a long time to figure out that the only reason models are so skinny is because they are basically trying to be "hangers" for the clothes they are modelling. Skinny does not always look good in a sports bra and shorts! Simply put, skinny looks good in clothes, strong looks good naked! I want to encourage all of you that are striving to be fit, to focus on being STRONG and stop focusing on skinny. Trust me when I tell you having a great body IS a side effect of being strong!

I recently did a video shoot with Alex Ardenti and it was not just a shoot, but also a tough workout. We were aiming to show the beauty of strength. This meant I didn't do the usual tricks of the trade like pulling all the water out of me and dieting like a crazy gal for weeks up to the shoot. Instead, I aimed to be physical that day, not just ready to pose in front of the camera. As a "normal" female, of course I doubted myself a bit as I looked in the mirror and didn't see a shredded six pack, my butt and legs weren't perfect, and my make up was super natural. I questioned if I was going to be happy with the footage, but kept reminding myself that I wanted everything to scream strong and confident. When I walked in to the UFC gym that we were shooting at I was a bit nervous! But when the sweat started to drip and I was genuinely working out at max intensity, I realized how great it felt. It felt amazing to hit, kick, throw,and lift and know that this was something I'd worked up to for years! Strong...not skinny!

I can't wait to share the video with you all when it's done being edited. I promise it'll be very inspiring! Here's a few iPhone snapshots from the shoot. Now...GO TRAIN!