At this time of year we are all committed and working hard toward achieving our health and fitness goals.

Early last year Andrea at Imperfect Life wrote a blog post titled 10+ Reasons I Love My Ugly Body. I remember the first time I read the post and how much it struck me. The honesty, the vulnerability, the strength. I’ve looked at that page at least 20 times since then and wanted to share it with you today.

Andrea lost 164 pounds, hit her doctor’s recommended goal weight, and became a personal trainer. She does crossfit 4-5 days a week, eats clean, and competes in crazy races. And this is what her body looks like after weight loss:

In her post Andrea shared her struggle with trying on clothes and feeling frustrated with an “ugly” post body weight loss. It’s something a lot of people who have lost weight have struggle with. You work so hard to lose weight and then your body just doesn’t look how you imagined it would. You still don’t have the dream body that you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Then Andrea did the thing that inspired me so much. In her own words:

I decided that it was time to REALLY celebrate what my ugly body CAN DO rather than focus on what it looks like…or doesn’t look like. So I asked my friend Emily, the amazing photographer at Southern Star Photography, to take some pictures of me DOING the THINGS I have NEVER, EVER…EVER in my entire life…not even as a kid (with the exception of the cartwheel) have been able to do until now.

So here you go!  Today I am celebrating what my body is capable of doing because of the lifestyle changes that I’ve made and the hard work I’ve done in and out of the gym.

I am PROUD of my ugly body because…

THIS BACK AND THOSE ARMS

ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THIS (no strings attached!)

…..

Andrea’s post and celebration of what her body can do made me feel just as great about my body. I have some of the same pudgy spots and skin that didn’t bounce back after weight loss like I thought it would. Sometimes it bothers me but I’d much rather be able to do cartwheels and play with my dog and ride a bike and celebrate the amazing life I have now.

It’s a post that’s worth a read in it’s entirety (comments included) so head over to Andrea’s blog and read it now!