This testimony comes from my sister, Jenny Bravo. As much as I annoy her on a daily basis by waking her up at early morning hours, talking her ear off about food and workouts, and other sisterly acts of love, she surprised me with this great testimony.
I never realized how much I needed my sister until we were living in the same city, in separate places, trying to survive college. Monica is three years younger than me, but in so many ways, she’s miles ahead of me. She is the epitome of a perfectionist: nutrition, fitness, academics, you name it; she’s figured it all out. And to my surprise, when we’re together, we become this unstoppable team.
Like most girls, I’ve experienced ups and downs with my weight and sense of body image. I’ve tried different diets and experimented with fitness programs, using trainers and that kind of thing. It wasn’t until a few summers ago, when I had to get my body in shape for a role in a play, that I really committed myself to the paleo lifestyle. I ate really clean, never cheating and staying active as much as I possibly could, and I’ve never felt happier with my body. I did laps, I danced, and just tried to make it a fun experience.
This year, with Monica at school with me, I found my way back into it again, incorporating the Whole 30 into our routine, and then taking it from there. I didn’t cringe when I went bathing suit shopping, and I had a great time just remaining active with my sister. We cooked together, did weights together, and walked on the levee together. It’s been an amazing way for us to spend time with each other, and she’s a fantastic motivator. If I cheat, she doesn’t punish me for it. As long as I’m honest about it, we can go from there.
If I had an advice to give, it would be to find someone who motivates you when you feel like you can’t motivate yourself. For me, I try to keep health in mind first, and remind myself that I want to live a long time for those that I love. On the days when I feel like I can’t push myself into going to the gym, that’s when I lean on Monica. She pushes me to do that extra set of squats, that extra wall sit, to go as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Admittedly, I struggle with a sense of guilt when it comes to this kind of lifestyle. It’s extremely common that when we fail, we just want to give up. However, I’ve learned that if I do fail, I just have to forget it and get back to the goal. It’s too easy to quit when things are hard, but that’s why success is so worth it. Being accountable to my sister is something that has definitely helped to keep me on track. More importantly, being accountable to myself, which is sometimes even harder to do.
As a challenge, to both you and myself, I would encourage a lifestyle of activity. Go outside. Play with your dog, swim in a pool, run around with your kids. The way I like to look at it is that you’re just getting the most you can out of life, while you can. That’s why sharing this with Monica has meant so much to me. She directs me when I can’t do it myself, and that’s important.
Want to be the next Testimonial on my blog? Send me your story at bravoforpaleo@gmail.com, and I may feature you!