Amazing Amazon Dupes

Amazing Amazon Dupes

Can you actually find good dupes for high end products on Amazon? As someone who is a self proclaimed shopaholic, I am curious to find out if you can find trendy but cheap items online that are just as good if not better than their high end counterparts. 

Now I am all about splurging on something you really love and will wear for years come, but sometimes the trend is so fleeting it feels silly to shell out the big bucks for a single season stunner. Enter to the famous influencer approved Amazon dupe! I have always been apprehensive to buy certain things on Amazon, especially fashion or beauty items because of the horror stories I have heard of people getting junk items. Recently though I have been shifting my mindset and have become more open to dupes/ faux items as a way to have fun and get creative with popular trends. 

To embark on this journey, I purchased a handful of items to test to see if you truly can find a cheap dupe on Amazon for some of the most popular items influencers swear by. Reviews are king on Amazon so for this experiment I tried to stick with items that had 4-5 stars for 90% of their reviews and worked to find items that were affordable but also cute/ versatile enough that I could style them multiple ways.

Item 1) Schoolgirl Tennis Skort – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07P9PXQFM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This one was funny for me since I did wear a plaid skirt when I was in high school in NY at a girls Catholic school, so something about wearing a little plaid tennis skirt felt oddly homey. 

I was really skeptical of this one mostly because the reviews were sketchy AF on this listing, but I did some measurements and opted for a larger size based on reviews saying it ran small. 

Overall, I give this purchase a 6 – Is it a cute tennis skort that is “on trend” yes, but is it high quality and thick, no. Does it looks like a costume.. A little bit. My general verdict on this one is that it is perfect for the trend. I will wear it once or twice while the style is in and then will likely leave this skirt in my closet for Halloween next year. Not bad, but not great!

Item 2) Seamless Halo Hair Extensions – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D28PHD4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

I have been wanting to invest in hair extensions ever since I started my hair re-growth journey. (Read more on my hair journey here – https://wordpress.com/post/whowodwear.com/198) but professional grade hair extensions are not cheap and I have been on the fence on wether it is a worthy investment. For me I don’t plan to wear them every day and likely will only use them for going out or special occasions and because of this I decided it was wise to see if I could find an inexpensive set as a test run before taking the plunge into buying real ones. 

Enter my Amazon dupe quest! My goal was to find a good color match and good length/texture match and to spend less than $20. So I began combing through reviews and looking at photos and decided on a dark brown faux hair halo for under $9.99.

The verdict – Sub 10 dollar hair extensions are exactly like they sound, very cheap/fake looking however I have to give this purchase a hard 3/10 as the length and color was 100% spot on and once applied correctly I have to say it looked pretty damn good for 10 bucks. But will I wear this out for a special occasion? No, certainly not as up close/in person it is very clear that this is a fake wig/halo. In photos I think it looks fire but for in person I would say this halo did not make the cut. Overall, if you are a photographer or creative type and want some extra hair then this is perfect. If you are hoping to find date night or wedding party ready extensions then these are not them! Fun for dressing up and taking photos at home for sure, but these are not really street safe if you ask me. 

Item 3) Magnetic Eyelashes – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089JHV2TK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

I have wanted the Glamnetic or Silly George Lash kit for forever but ya girl cannot justify spending 75 plus dollars on fake lashes. So to Amazon I go!

I decided to try the Paulinrise magnetic eyelash set for less than 10 dollars because why not, even if they suck at least I did not spend 50 dollars on them. 

The verdict – These are pretty great for sub ~10 dollars! They stayed on all night, were not that terrible to apply and overall looked nice. I think these are awesome for someone who likes the option to wear false lashes for a night out or special occasion but is not a hardcore false lashes everyday type. I think for a wedding or something I would want to spend a bit more to get a better product but for random nights out I have to say this dupe did the trick!

Item 4) Oversized Vintage Crewneck – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08LNLXSTL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

I have been obsessed with the vintage hoodie look and recycled crewnecks that have a good worn in look to them but I am sorry Princess Polly, 100 dollars for a sweatshirt is highway robbery. I was skeptical of finding a good dupe on Amazon as finding a sub 20 dollar vintage looking item from an online retailer is a gamble no matter how savvy you shop, but I decided to try nonetheless. 

Decided on this listing as it had a cute photo and decent reviews however I was skeptical of if this item would even end up looking like the photos and unfortunately I was right. 

The end rating – I give this purchase a 3 – Is is a long sleeve navy top that is oversized? Yes, does it look vintage or worn in at all? No, not even a little bit. I have to say this one was somewhat of an epic fail, the “sweatshirt” is really just a giant long sleeve shirt. It does not look even in the slightest “vintage” at all. Will I wear it to relax in, sure, is it the cute fashion stable I wanted, no. 

Item 5) Vintage/Hype Girl Sunglasses – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BNHRLDW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

I am so here for the vintage sunglass look that I could not wait for summer to get myself a pair of these fierce looking shades. I decided I wanted a white and black pair since why not and was shocked to find how easy it was to find the exact style I was looking for on Amazon!

The 2 pack set I found was less than 20 dollars and I cannot lie I was expecting to get a pair of super cheap plastic dollar store sunglasses. Damn was I wrong!

The verdict – These are amazing! Do not walk, run to get yourself these glasses. They are not only fly as hell but they are sturdy and decently high quality for an Amazon find. I could not be happier with these and have to say these are a solid 12/10 as they greatly exceeded my expectations! Overall, I am obsessed!

So to conclude this episode of Amazing Amazon Dupes, I have a few pieces of advice for finding trendy dupes online. 

  • Reviews, reviews, reviews – Read as many reviews as possible and look at customer photos. This will be the biggest help when it comes to choose which dupe is the best of all as there tends to be many options to choose from. Even one really bad review can get me to re-think a purchase if it is recent enough and there is good evidence to support the claims. 
  • Size up/ measure yourself – Most dupes are not going to be the same size as your traditional fast fashion finds because they are coming directly from the factory or manufacturer in most cases. Assume the sizing will be weird and be sure to look at the sizing chart and take some measurements for yourself. I typically wear a 2-4 in bottoms and I ended up measuring myself for the tennis skirt and buying a large/XL as the sizing chart was really wonky. The large fit perfectly even though it was a size 8/10. Do not assume the sizing will be normal, as chances are the item will be much larger or smaller than you are thinking it will be. 
  • Assume the quality is low – Sub 20$ sunglasses tend to get a bad wrap for being pastic-y and cheap looking, with good reason. When buying an item on Amazon that is 50-75% cheaper than a brand name version you should not assume the quality will be the same or even close to similar. Prepare yourself for a bad craft project and then be shook when the dupe is better than you thought. It is way better to be good surprised than bad surprised when your new purchase is not as cheap looking as it cost in reality.  
  • Weigh the pros /cons – Is this an item you hope to have a year from now? If so maybe re-evaluate whether you want a dupe or the real thing. Some items are worth spending on, others not so much. You have to decide if this is something you want to cherish forever or love for a season or two. Who knows, you may even love the dupe so much you decide to go all in for the real thing!

Twenty Things I Am Leaving Behind In 2020

Twenty Things I Am Leaving Behind In 2020

2020 felt like we lived 3 years in the span of 1 year. It felt like an exhausting marathon of emotions and worries, with hurdles popping up every leg of the race. I am so grateful and humbled by this year that writing this was hard, hard to reflect on a year that felt like you could just not win no matter how hard you tried. A year that spawned growth and reflection but also pain and loss. Looking back I had an incredible year of self growth and a year of leaning into my health and letting go of body/size focused athletic goals but those goals and accomplishments do not stop today. I am so ready for 2021 and all the promises it holds so here is to a clean slate and one hell of a year!

And with that here it is my list of 20 things I am leaving in 2020 and will not miss in no specific order…

  1. Broken tent stakes and broken pride – I will not miss the tent that broke in the middle of a wind storm in Telluride in the dark. If this was not a metaphor for 2020 then I do not know what is!
  2. My white BMW that was completely unsuited for snowy drives and off roading. You went on to a much better life owned by a 16 year old.
  3. A old job that made me feel less than and never good enough. Constantly struggling to find my passion and fire to be met with discouragement and judgement for dreaming too big.
  4. Not admitting when I am wrong or have hurt someone I love – 2020 has really helped me become more aware of how I react in situations and how my reactions affect others
  5. Sodas that are disguised as seltzers at WholeFoods – Another good metaphor for 2020
  6. Spending 30 dollars on Uber every weekend to go out. I have learned to find joy in staying in or walking/scootering to social events when possible!
  7. Uncomfortable jeans, pants or really any clothing. If there is one thing I am never doing again it is wearing uncomfy work clothes or outfits. None of that in 2021, comfy clothes only from now on!
  8. Eating the same 3 meals on repeat – Spending so much time at home has helped me grow my cooking skills and expand my recipe playbook, so for 2021 I will no longer be a recipe repeater!
  9. The fear of changing plans last minute or cancelling a trip
  10. The fear of NOT having plans on the weekend or not being constantly busy
  11. Constantly feeling like my body is a “work in progress” and instead focusing on living in the moment and being thankful for my able body and health.
  12. Always feeling like I need to be two steps ahead or prepared for anything and everything. You cannot predict the future and constantly trying to be ahead of time takes away from enjoying the now.
  13. Not listening to my body and never taking rest days
  14. Forcing myself to do exercises or workouts I don’t like – Running, or boring cardio is a no from me and I have learned that there are other ways to move without compromising my excitement and joy
  15. Compromising my mental and physical health for others and creating strong boundaries
  16. Worrying about small issues or inconveniences that are so small in the larger photo they are no worth my time or energy
  17. Holding on to past grudges or grievances
  18. Not making time to check in on friends. This year has taught me so much about putting in effort to check in on friends and loved ones and has helped me learn how to better support those around me both near and far in distance. Remembering to text an old friend to see how they are has been a blessing of this year I want to continue!
  19. Taking for granted my health, my family, my friends and life in general – If there is anything I learned in 2020 it is that nothing in this life is guaranteed and we need to live each day like it could be our last!
  20. Bad vibes, bad luck and bad attitudes

No more bad vibes here! Let’s go into 2021 full of love, hope and understanding

Things I Am Grateful & Thankful For This November

Things I Am Grateful & Thankful For This November

This November is starting off with some serious anxiety inducing events. Given that the world feels like it is on fire literally and figuratively at the moment I decided to take a moment to give thanks and reflect on all that I am grateful for this year so far – In no organized or particular order 🙂

  • My family and friends – I am thankful for all the love and support I am surrounded by each and everyday from everyone in my life 
  • My amazing boyfriend and apartment mate for surviving the lockdown with me and my little mischievous fur baby 
  • My health – Minus a few injuries this year, I am grateful for being COVID free and 95% healthy all year 
  • High waisted jeans and baggy sweat pants being in vogue 
  • My ability to move and exercise my body without pain or limitations – Pre and hopefully post ankle sprain!
  • Warm cat snuggles on a cold morning 
  • Being fully employed for an incredible company and influencer marketing agency and for finally finding my professional calling 
  • A tall glass of red wine after a long day
  • Fuzzy socks and shearling slippers 
  • 75 degree days in the middle of December in Denver 
  • Living in a country filled with regular citizens and activists alike committed to change, justice and equality for all 
  • Oversized sweaters 
  • Pumpkin spice everything

Grow Through What You Go Through

Grow Through What You Go Through

I firmly believe that every experience in our live serves to teach us a lesson, even if we do not see what the lesson clearly or right away. For me, I can say for certain that the tough times I experienced in the past have shaped me into the woman I am today. With that I know that often we leave things unresolved to come back later and find a big mess that we wished we had tidied up sooner. 

This past weekend I spent a lot of time reflecting on my life, my choices, things I have said and done and most importantly people I have hurt. Now I will preface this by saying that I by no means am here to say that I was some kind of horrible brat/mean girl in college and high school who tore others down leaving a wake of destruction in my past. HOWEVER, I will admit that I certainly contributed to a lot of the drama and negativity that I was wrapped up in prior to growing up and owning my mistakes as an adult. 

I think that we can all look back and find a time in our life when we were not our best selves, I know I can! With everything going on in the world, the uncertainty, the hate, the fear I felt it was time to tie up some things that I have left unresolved from my past and make amends for things I am not proud of. My existential brain spiral was screaming at me that if the world ended tomorrow would I be okay knowing that there are people I owe apologies to or who I have lost touch with and the short answer was no. So I did something bold and scary and ultimately, I feel it has helped me grow. See for us to grow we must experience things, whether those things involve pain, fear, or disappointment or all three! 

Experience and opportunity are the best teachers, so yeah, I texted someone I have not spoken to in 4 years! Yes, it was scary as hell, but ya know what? This person responded back with hope, love, and mutual respect as well as some words of regret for the unravelling of our friendship in the past. See I had walked into this conversation thinking that I did not deserve a response to my 4-year late apology, but this person surprised me in the best way. They showed me that we all have moments, hell even years of our lives where we do not do the right or the best things and damage relationships unnecessarily but that it is okay. 

I have grown up tremendously since my drama filled first two years at college and looking back has been hard for me. I have felt ashamed and upset with the way I treated not only others but also myself and can now see where I went wrong. But really the most important thing I have found is that I needed to be that person 4 years ago, I needed to experience those things because I learned from those mistakes and have grown better because of them. 

I have zero regrets about unpacking my past and my emotional baggage because I know that if I want to move forward and keep thriving, then I need to feel unburdened and mentally well. 

And that is the Thursday tea…

Keep following my Instagram for more of my daily life and insights! @who.wod.wear 

Falling Back Into Blogging

Falling Back Into Blogging

Ahhh Autumn, what a wonderful time. A season filled with endings and new beginnings and lots of cozy PSL and sweaters. It has been quite a few weeks since I wrote something and I will be perfectly honest it has been hard to come back to writing long form content after taking a long hiatus on here. 

When I started this blog it was because I was frustrated with the progression or lack thereof in my professional career and I thought why don’t I channel this negativity into a creative passion project. As it turns out my blogging helped me in securing my current position and with that I have had to take a step back from my blog to focus on transitioning into my new big girl job. See when I took a step back from writing it allowed me to see that my new job was igniting a new passion in me: Advocacy! 

In my new role I have the unique opportunity to be an advocate for both YouTubers and lifestyle brands as they navigate sponsorship deals and paid partnerships. I am able to advocate for the overall project vision and am the key piece in communication between the brand and creator that creates a healthy and happy strategic partnership. This has been such a big leap forward for me in responsibility and workload which has led to some creative burn out. See as I work I am charged with protecting and fighting for other influencers and because of this I have lost my own voice for a short period of time and had to pause my own influencing projects. I have been so worried about other influencers that I have had to pause my own accounts to give me the mental space to live my life in the present and savor all of the small moments that often get lost in the craze of work/life balance. 

I love my new job and I have ZERO regrets about taking some time and space to get grounded with my career so that I can come back to my blog fired up and ready to inspire once again. Fall is about change, changing seasons and leaves and changing closets (HELLO BOOTS! My old friend, we come to meet again 🙂 I have lots of exciting things happening soon including a big fall fashion haul from H&M, some new home decorating tips and a much awaited skincare sample testing for a BIG new beauty and skincare brand that I actually found through my job! 

I LIVE for spooky season so what better time to stage a comeback! While I will likely only post 1-2x a week on here I am super excited to get back to writing once again. 

Ta Ta for now friends and I am excited to bring the passion back to Who WOD Wear!

Be Bold! Be A First Texter

Be Bold! Be A First Texter

I love texting first! I used to be terrified to reach out to people first via text to initiate plans. I hated being the one who was always texting people and was constantly worried I was being “needy” or a bother to my friends. Not anymore!

Post college life has taught me so much, and two of the most important lessons I have learned is how to not give a damn what other people think and to let go of the fear of rejection. Looking back, I missed out on so many social events because I was worried about what people would think if I invited myself somewhere or tried to initiate plans first. I would never text people first or try to plan things from scratch simply because I felt like it was uncool to text my friends first. It wasn’t until I was thrust into the adult world that I realized that I would never see my friends if I didn’t start exerting more effort into planning social gatherings.

As friends moved away post-graduation, I also had to confront a whole new fear – making new friends without the safety net of college. Making friends as an adult was hard work! Meeting new people and expanding my social circle demanded more effort from me as well as more confidence. One of the closer friendships I have made post college actually came from my first office job and had I not started forcing conversations and inviting myself to hang out with this person I never would have ended up joining her kickball league and making even more social connections! Much to my surprise, the more I got comfortable with putting myself out there socially the easier it became for me to do and less uncomfortable it felt.

Now I am the self-proclaimed “social chair” of my friend group because I am constantly sending the first text or trying to rally the crew to make moves on a Friday night. I have learned that none really cares if you send the first text, what they care about is the fact that you were thinking of them enough to reach out and make the first move.

So often I find that when I am a busy bee, I am on hyperdrive, constantly cranking and hustling while completely forgetting to water my friendships with love and attention. I can go for months without touching base with some of my friends, others a few days, however I have made it my business to no longer feel shame or guilt sending that first “Hey, I know it’s been a while since we spoke….” text or call. Taking that step forward can be scary and putting yourself out there vulnerable to the judgement of others is nerve-wracking, but if you want to grow stronger relationships someone has to make that move.

Relationships are a two-way street. They take both parties coming to the table to make memories and magic happen. For me, I cannot sleep knowing I did not hold up my end of friendship. That lingering fear of friendship disappointment is what drives me to show up and reach out to my connections first! Maybe your college bestie feels bad you have lost touch, or maybe that friend from work is secretly hoping you invite them to happy hour next week. You never know who in your network is just waiting for you to make their day with a text or call!

So, I challenge you…be bold! Text first and text often, you may be shocked to find out how quickly your social anxiety melts away the more you put yourself out there to shine.

Silk Midi Skirts For Summer

Silk Midi Skirts For Summer

The mid-summer heat is here, and we are in full skirt mode now! Skirts have always been a somewhat non-existent staple in my adult closet, probably due to having to wear a brown wool plaid one every day for 4 years when I was in high school at a Catholic girls school in New York. I tepidly bought a skirt here and there in college never really loving anything I found until recently. The silk midi skirt trend has been on the rise since 2019 and is making a 90’s comeback like no other this year! At first, I was unsure how I felt about this throw-back Thursday look but as I went through Pinterest and found styling ideas that spoke to me the more, I felt like I needed to have one of these skirts in my life.

My first silk midi skirt purchase was from NastyGal and I went with solid black to start before I jumped into some of the crazier prints and styles. Much to my surprise this slim piece was the new office staple I was searching for! From a business trip in Calgary mid snowstorm to stomping around NYC with my sister this skirt could do it all in style. I loved that skirt so much that when I was traveling in Tulsa, I ended up buying a coral silk midi skirt from a local boutique and it has quickly become a summer staple for me.

I love pairing my midi skirts with a grungy band tee or a slinky summer blouse for an easy look that can go from day to night in an instant. What I love about this trend is the versatility and ease of styling! Nothing bothers me more than buying what you think is a staple only to find yourself having nothing to style the piece with and eventually letting it collect dust at the back of the closet. The silk midi skirt is not that piece for me! My silk midi skirts are go to summer pieces that offer a wide array of styling options and always feel fresh when paired with a different shoe choice. These skirts look fire with cowboy boots to platform sandals and everything in between!

My advice for buying your first silk midi skirt is simple, stick with colors and cuts and that you know will flatter your shape! If you hate large leg slits, then don’t look for skirts with leg slits. If cheetah print is too intense for you (me too girl!) opt for a more neutral print or color to start, then slowly explore more bold prints and patterns. Have fun with it and don’t be discouraged if this trend doesn’t ignite your passion fire. There are plenty of other summer skirt trends and thousands of other cuts out there that you will surly find another look that is more to your liking!

Freck Beauty Review

Freck Beauty Review

No beauty look is complete without my Freck Beauty OG Freckles. Who knew that little fake freckles could make me feel so cute and flirty! Now, I will preface this review with the recognition that these little freckles are pretty expensive for the small packaging size, however I will argue they are totally worth it!

About a month ago I saw a post from one of my favorite podcast comedians boasting about how the addition of some fake freckles on her nose and cheek area made her feel like 1000 bucks. Instantly I was intrigued! As someone who has real freckles along my nose, I was especially interested in how simply dotting some eye brown pencil on my real freckles could help them pop and look more noticeable.

So, I gave it a go with my Anastasia Brow Pencil in dark brown. I loved the way the eyebrow pencil made my pale freckles pop! I went from city chic to girl next door cute in a matter of minutes but was disappointed at how my sunglasses and sweat would wipe the fake freckles away. This went on for a few weeks before I finally decided to take the plunge and invest in a real fake freckle make up product.

Enter Freck OG, this teeny tiny little bottle filled with fake freckle goodness is my new favorite beauty product of summer 2020. Simply dot these little bad boys on your nose bridge/ upper cheek area, blot and go and these freckles will stay put all day long. Only a shower or a workout can swipe these fake freckles away. I was amazed at how natural they looked, despite the strong staying power. Do be careful of how you dot since they are pretty strong and if you do wrong you will be left with an all-day stain or awkward looking blot on your face. I like to blot them quickly with a tissue before I leave to make sure they are dried on but not too dark or unnatural looking.

Now I don’t leave my house without these cute freckles splattered across my face! They are the perfect selfie accessory and make even my sweat pant work from home outfits look cute. Even better, that little bottle has lasted me over a month with near daily use! If you are in the market for a fun new beauty product, definitely check out Freck OG or any of their other products. What I love about the brand Freck is their inclusivity and commitment to showcasing models of all races in their marketing campaigns. Not only are their products long lasting and cute as hell but they are also changing the beauty industry, by bringing freckles to people of all races, ages and genders!

Check out my Instagram @who.wod.wear for more of my daily beauty looks!

We Accept The Love We Think We Deserve

We Accept The Love We Think We Deserve

Before meeting my current partner, I used to find myself seeking validation from men who I felt I deserved. Rather than finding value and worth in myself I was always craving attention from others, specifically romantic partners. I can very vividly remember chasing after some sub-par frat guy in college in hopes of finding someone who would love me the way I loved myself. Little did I know that that love for myself was lacking, and that the rock solid, healthy relationship I was actually craving was one with myself and my body.

I was constantly jumping from one toxic fling or “something” to the next never understanding why things weren’t working out for me romantically. I was constantly down on myself and felt like I was unworthy of a decent partner because I could not see my own beauty. At around 22 that the lightbulb finally went off for me, I was seeking relationships that were a direct reflection of my own relationship with myself and my body. Even after losing 30 lbs. I never felt worthy of a solid, healthy relationship because I didn’t even have one with myself. I was shocked and angry that my dating habits at 125 lbs. were not all that different than when I was 155 lbs.

How could I ever expect a man to love and respect me unconditionally if I could not even do that for myself?  It was then that I realized I had been seeking the love I thought I was deserving of, which as I look back was a very low bar for any adult male to meet. I was letting romantic partners treat me like trash and manipulate me because I was so focused on the attention they were showing me that I rarely took a step back to evaluate how I was lowering my worth to meet their lukewarm feelings and actions. The truth was that I didn’t think I could “do better”.

Putting in the work to repair my relationship with myself and my body was what finally set me free from the toxic dating habits that had gripped me since my high school boyfriend, dumped me during my 1st semester of freshman year of college. I spent most of my early 20’s believing that I didn’t deserve a partner who cared about me, respected me or who met my social-emotional needs because I didn’t see my own beauty and worth. After confronting my issues with myself and my body I was able to solidify my own self-love and respect which eventually helped me in navigating my needs and worth when it came to my dating life.

I actually met my current boyfriend when I was still in the process of understanding what a healthy relationship looked like and as we very slowly eased into dating, I began to see what love could look like for me. Love free from judgement, filled with respect, support and acceptance of one another. A love that would push me to be my best self and would never ask me to show up as anyone else other than me.

Perks Of Being A Wallflower said it right, we truly do accept the love we think we deserve. I truly believe that until we can at least respect and love ourselves to some degree, we cannot expect anyone else to meet us on that same or even higher level. Now we don’t all have to have Lizzo level of self-love and confidence to find romantic love, but if you have a negative relationship with yourself, I can almost guarantee that that negative mindset affects how you choose your romantic interests. If you are like a young me, jumping from one rotting/toxic romantic fling to another then I highly recommended taking a step back and evaluating how your own perceptions of yourself are contributing to your negative dating behaviors.

Take a note from Lizzo’s ultimate bop “Soulmate”

‘Cause I’m my own soulmate
I know how to love me
I know that I’m always gonna hold me down
Yeah, I’m my own soulmate
No, I’m never lonely
I know I’m a queen but I don’t need no crown
Look up in the mirror like damn she the one

Why I Don’t Weigh Myself Everyday

Why I Don’t Weigh Myself Everyday

I used to be someone who religiously weighted themselves as soon as I woke up before food, water and vitamins and would let that number dictate the mood, training and food choices for my day. 

Scale up meant time to cut the carbs and up the cardio, scale down meant I was being good and was deserving of a treat, rest day or to wear a crop top. I was a slave to the scale number, letting it control how I viewed myself and my worth. Every workout I would twist and turn in the gym mirror making sure I looked the exact same way I did before, begging the mirror and scale to confirm my worth. My lifestyle was bound by how much weighed and my entire fitness routine was focused on getting the number as small as possible. 

Making the shift from traditional body building workouts to functional crossfit style training was one of the biggest factors that contributed to me letting go of my obsession with the scale. There were no mirrors at the box, so I could constantly pick and stare at my stomach during my workouts and as I began doing more functional fitness style workouts my body composition rapidly began changing and I started to realize that that number meant little to nothing about my physical fitness or even the size of my body. I saw people of all sizes, shapes and walks of life at the gym and some of the best athletes at my box were people who were older or of different body shapes than my own. 

Crossfit helped me see that I could weight anything and not only be fit and lean but also be an incredible athlete. It also helped me to see fitness as functional for life not just a function of weight loss which in turn greatly shifted my mindset about my body and lifestyle choices. So I started to weigh myself less and less. I have been relying more on photos to help me see my body change and to my surprise as my weight has fluctuated a lot in the last 2 years since starting crossfit style training my clothes still fit, nothing is tight. The only thing that has changed is my body’s relationship with gravity and hell maybe I grew a cup size along the way due to my hair re-growth process!  So why let such an insignificant number control so much of my happiness? 

I say screw the scale! I would rather rely on other metrics to track my progress when working towards an aesthetic goal than be a slave to the digital number gods. The scale is helpful if you are just starting your weightless journey but I highly recommend tracking other metrics such as measurements and progress photos to help inform changes to your weight loss plan.