The Pippa Plan: Finding Strength, Facing Fear and Questioning Sexiness

It’s almost been two weeks since Anna and I began our ‘Strong Is The New Sexy’ campaign. In our introductory post, we explained that this month we’d be promoting the idea that being stronger, in terms of physicality and mentality, is both a positive and attractive way to be. The main focus of this campaign is women, but we hope to inspire men to apply the same logic to themselves.
 
My three-year housemate from Sheffield, Tom Haynes, got involved as our official Personal Trainer for the campaign. Tom, who is one of the most inspiring people I know, left university half way through our final year to pursue his dream as a Personal Trainer and bad-ass Entrepreneur. His main goal in life is to get everyone in the world squatting – the ‘SQUAT DOMINATION’ – so I knew he was key to this campaign.

We also had bloggers, fitness instructors, bodybuilders and artists get behind the campaign – more of which will come out over the next few weeks. It’s all very exciting, and we’ve been genuinely overwhelmed by the support we’ve had from our friends, readers and and the blogging community.

What I haven’t really done is explain properly why this blog – which has been predominantly entertainments based for 5 years – is now integrating healthy living too. The explanation is fairly simple: working on your physicality and mentality enhances creativity. The better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to push your talents and succeed. Before I go into my experiences during the first few weeks of the campaign, it’s confession time.  

Unlike Anna, who is pole dancer and all-round gym enthusiast, I’m very weak and haven’t seriously exercised by choice for about three years. I recently dislocated my right shoulder for the seventh time this year trying to change a Carlsberg barrel – which is really quite shocking, considering that I’ve been a barmaid for nearly 5 years. I’m the last person that anyone would go to when it comes to opening bottles (and for good reason). I even struggle to carry a normal sized suitcase. It’s all very embarrassing, to be honest. I’ve become known as the weakling in my friendship circles, because I’m 5’11 and an 8/10 with wrists that look like they’re going to snap at any moment – and I’ve had some comical history with frequent dislocations in both knees and shoulders. 

Saying this, these same circles often comment on how strong I am in mind. I ran a magazine for two years, and a blog for five years, both of which have been hit with both cynical and unnecessarily nasty comments, but it doesn’t phase me. I take constructive comments on board, and forget about the rest.  

However, what has been proven lately – whilst life hasn’t been running as smoothly, and job hunting takes its soul-destroying toll on a daily basis – is that physical and mental strength go hand in hand. As it turns out, this campaign is teaching me a lot more than how to squat properly.  

You see, I hit a low point during the Christmas period. Whilst I enjoyed spending time with my family, I felt somewhat lost and disappointed in where I am in my life at the moment. Living in limbo does that to you. Yet, over the last two weeks this feeling of being stuck has started to shift.  

I’ve been waking up at 7.30am every day, inspired by several conversations about productivity and sleep patterns, and this blog post by Circa’s CEO, Matt Galligan. I’ve then done the muscle workout put together by Tom, followed by 30 minutes of Wii Zumba, and by the time I’m in the shower I feel absolutely fabulous – which, former housemates and family can confirm, is usually the opposite to how I feel at 8.30am.

We’ve all heard countless times that exercise makes us happier, healthier and more productive – yet many of us, myself included, shy away from it out of fear. I’m afraid I’ll feel out of place if I go to an actual gym. I’m afraid of being tired through the day if I work out in the morning – and I’m afraid of being even more tired if I work out in the evening. I’m also afraid of the pain that exercise can cause sometimes and I’m afraid that I’ll do more damage to my body if I were to put any strain on it. I know I’m not alone in these fears. 

I’m in no doubt that someone reading this will be nodding away and possibly adding a few fears of their own. If you are, then you should know that these fears are here to be faced, and the closer you get to them, the more they’ll shy away.  

Whilst the discipline of my two-week-old lifestyle has its tough days (I’m still setting 5 alarms every morning), it’s getting easier. By 9am, I’m feeling confident, strong and sexy, sipping my coffee and figuring out what’s happening in the world. For the first time in years, my height of productivity has been happening in the first six hours of the day, rather than in the early hours of the morning.
 

On top of these productive and positive vibes, my creativity levels have been souring. My keyboard and songbook have not been given this much attention in months. Nor has my ideas book, which I have on me at all times for moments when I have a “bright idea”.  

I’ve been the weakling. I’ve been the woman who needs a strong man to carry her things. I’ve been the stereotype. Yet, I haven’t felt sexy and attractive; I’ve felt embarrassed. Strong IS sexy because building your strength is enhancing the best version of yourself.

The fitness plan, put together by Tom, can be done anywhere. All you need is motivation, five alarm clocks and the knowledge that you do have muscles, you just need to put them to work.  

Pippa Says x