Namaste Real – Wellness & Running – Train With Ally

Introductions are always awkward. At least they are for me.

“Hi – let me tell you about myself whether or not you asked!”

Well, you’ve landed on this blog, out of the millions of blogs on the interwebs today, so I suppose you’ve sort of asked for it.

So, hi. My name is Ally. And I’m here to share my experiences and wellness journey with you.

My experience? I’ve tried ALL THE THINGS when it comes to being “healthy”. I’ll never forget the night I was eating a bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (yes, a whole bag) and thought: “Tomorrow morning I’m going to eat an apple and sign up for the gym”. But hell, that wasn’t even step one on this journey. Before that, I was around 11 years old doing my mom’s Jane Fonda videos and diving head first into the world of cardio. Better yet, I can remember back to being 5 years old and doing sit ups in my Grandmom’s living room to get “skinny”.

Yes, I thought those things would equate to being healthy. Well, skinny. I thought being skinny and healthy were the same thing – HA! NOPE. 

And it wasn’t until recently that I realized that those were just little puzzle pieces in a giant jigsaw of the world of wellness.

So, why am I sharing all this?

I’ve made a lot of mistakes in this journey of health, fitness, and wellness. The puzzle pieces were not quite fitting together right. But lately, I’ve been starting to see a picture form. An amazing, beautiful piece of artwork. An image of a life that I’ve strived for as long as I remember coming into clear view.

No, I don’t have six-pack abs. I’m not a die-hard vegan or paleo follower. I haven’t qualified for the Boston Marathon. I’m no cross-fitter. My Warrior One yoga pose isn’t very pretty either.

But that’s okay. I’m the healthiest and happiest when it comes to my fitness and nutrition than I’ve ever been. Because recently I’ve found this harmony. I no longer track calories or macro nutrients. I use food as medicine and fuel to nourish my body. I no longer workout to burn calories or beat up my body. I use performance goals to motivate me, and take it easy when I know my body needs it. I listen to my body and what it’s trying to tell me.

You know how the farther you get in a puzzle, the easier it gets?

That’s how this feels journey to me now.

And still you might be wondering, why am I sharing all this?

I’ve recently found this passion. A passion for sharing my journey and these experiences I’ve learned from along the way.

There are enough 12-week programs to last until my grandchildren are born. I’ve seen every type of protein snack imaginable marketed to me on social media. If I see one more inspirational quote that says “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” I might lose my mind. And ladies – we get it. Your ass is huge. And we know half of the reason it looks that way are your Lululemons and the way you’re posing. Just stop.

And these are just a few examples of things I see wrong with the fitness industry and the media. The messages I’m trying to drown out.

And I’m not saying these are all inherently bad. However, there are still so many of us out there who feel confused, overwhelmed, or under-informed on our own bodies that we live in every single day. I wanted needed a place to share my thoughts, feelings, experiences, and delicious recipes with whoever I can. To spread messages of true fitness, health, wellness, nourishment, body acceptance, happiness.

So…Hi, my name is Ally. and I’m here to be real. To share what I believe. To inspire at least one person to pick up at least one good practice in their life. To begin to see that clear jigsaw puzzle image of themselves where they want to be. To see themselves differently, and better.  To see the world differently, and better.