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When I first started my fitness journey I remember only really following people who looked how I wanted to look or had features like crazy abs or poppin shoulders or an insane glute to waist ratio or were crazy strong & athletic.
I thought that would “motivate” me. I think bodybuilding has desensitized me from fixating on following people for their physique. Honestly, lots of people look amazing & inspire me. But what I’ve come to realize in my own battle through mental struggles with food & body image and through helping so many athletes (female & male) after committing myself to studying & educating myself to support this community… Is that no matter what people look like, it doesn’t mean they have a method that when emulated would bring peace inside, & the best thing to do is what’s best for you. I now follow & engage with people for their stories, journey, experiences through this life-in & out of bodybuilding, & to see how they present themselves & their lifestyle among other reasons. I think this is where psych & mental health counseling education has skewed how I see what people share. I notice many things like their word choice, cadence, tone, eye movements, body language, things they’ve shared in the past that I can see informing their present. This is not to say I’m a mind reader or know everything about everyone (that’d suck!) Everything you or I share is guided by some sort of lens of experience, education, relationships, circumstance, etc and the same goes for the people you follow, they’re guided by a lens of their own. So when you follow someone consider where they’re coming from with what they promote or share or say they’re doing. There was a time when I didn’t know better and promoted behaviors I realize now are unhealthy because at the time that’s what I thought was best. I know I’m rambling in this post, I guess my sentiment here has multiple parts; are you desensitized from things due to exposure too?, do you take everything with a grain of salt?, has your experience of what motivates you shifted over time?, what lens are we all looking through?, do you notice this too? I’m curious to hear your thoughts as always! #BUILDMORETHANJUSTABODY
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Are we not to celebrate the body getting us to our goals the same way we celebrate the body that has “achieved” those goals?
No matter what season you’re in, your body is amazing! Believe in your ability to be & bring your best every day! To my current body, thank you for: - having normal hormones so I can have a healthy menstrual cycle, balanced moods, & to recover - giving me even better hunger & fullness cues - a fuller booty to fill out pants - letting me sleep through the night - giving me some extra cushion when I sit down - processing more food so I can lift heavier and build the muscle I need - having consistent digestion and energy To my body then, thank you for: - the endurance to run 5-8 miles nearly every day - making all clothing more comfortable - reminding me that I need food to live and function - sustaining me at the right times each day for work and workouts - making me sleep when I’m sleepy - making my hunger cues especially more noticeable To both, thank you for - giving me the peace of mind to know you’re responding to the plan- even if sometimes I question the way you respond - helping me push through workouts or long days - carrying me through challenging and amazing times - letting me experience life - giving me what I need to do every day tasks without 2nd thought - showing me unconditional love by doing the best you can with what I provide you - teaching me more about you through bodybuilding I am certainly not perfect in either body because I do not aim to be. I aim for sustainable efforts & the long-game vision. With this improvement season there’s been so much that’s been unpredictable or gone different than I expected or than I’d think but it’s taught me not to cling to results as though my life depends on it. Whether that’s a certain body size or shape, or how far I can run. These things matter to me but they don’t deserve to consume me. Instead I am focused on the way my passion for this life & the work I do & the daily efforts to getting where I want to go. I’m still learning, we always will learn in this sport, but that’s a gift. The more opportunities we have to learn, the better we get. #BUILDMORETHANJUSTABODY  1. Know your timeline
- If you have a big project, map out the little tasks required to complete the big project & how much time each task will take to complete, then plan accordingly into your calendar & planner. This has helped me to never miss school assignments even through competition weekends, moves, & terrible times in my personal life. I’ve never asked for an extension because the work has to get done anyways, so being prepared to do it with a schedule & routine will help you even through tough times. 2. Use your Phone for Accountability rather than Distraction - Let your alarm, airplane mode, & do not disturb be your friend - When you have an important task to knock out set a timer & stop the task when it goes off-race the clock while maintaining quality - If you’re thinking of other things you’d like to be doing instead it’s motivating to know you can’t do x until you either beat the timer or the timer goes off. Even if you’re in a funk, dedicate your time. If you make excuses to not do something bc it’s hard, it really only gets harder. Even if that 30-60 min was not what I expected it would be, I’d often find that the time spent brainstorming led me to other great ideas. 3. Be Conscious of your Energy Investment -To preface, I’m still working on this one. - just because we can spend 10 hours straight doing something doesn’t always mean we should. - It’s important to know your threshold for quality work. - I’m really good at this when it comes to my clients. I set aside the time necessary to give them the attention they deserve. But when it comes to other tasks like prepping a podcast or doing my follow ups or redoing a part of my site or creating content or reading for school, I can tend to get into a keep going mentality that actually sets me back the next day because 15 hours of work might be satisfying but not if it leads to only 2 the next day & less overall productivity. Don’t forget the people in your life who keep you grounded too! I’m grateful to have many people who support my flight but also help me know when to “land”.  Life's been wild the past few days! Moved to a whole new town! I am so excited for the adventure but definitely know I’ll miss home.
I think back on so many amazing memories with family and friends and how that community made such an impact on my life. A huge part of my life for the last 8 years was in the gym in this pic. I remember signing up and going in the day before the grand opening and being told I could do a workout! It’s amazing how through all the changes of life, this gym was my constant. But that’s true of anything we make a habit or a lifestyle. And while I could go on and on about the incredible people at this gym, the memories, the moments, the preps, the lessons, meeting my love…what I'd really like to emphasize is that. No matter what life throws at you, if you have routine and community or a sense of purpose, you’re going to always have a place for peace. This same place can also be found in your mind. Using time to your advantage and choosing what will or won’t be a priority every single day. It’s not about sacrifice, although it can feel that way sometimes, it’s about choice and knowing that even if the choice you’re making doesn’t feel as exciting or enticing or is scary or leads to a questionable or inconclusive outcome, it’s still the next best step. I always encourage myself and clients, when facing the unknown or having overwhelm about decisions, that this is ALL an experiment, we make a choice, we learn, we modify variables, and we either try again and again and keep researching in new ways or we just come to a conclusion.  Being surrounded by women who are like minded and “get” you as a competitor is truly valuable.
The connections made over the weekend were so beautiful! I attribute this to everyone’s willingness to be open, honest, and supportive. I thought that it was really cool how much we all got to grow together. This was my inaugural VIP day and boy, what an eye opener it was! I am inspired to do more of these intimate group event days. The women were really able to support each other and immerse into the exercises we did. At one point, katie said she loved that this wasn’t just about bodybuilding but all around life & personal development. This was the goal. Because truthfully, even with the end goal to be more successful as a competitor, your life and all those things you do in addition to the commitments you have to bodybuilding matter! Whether it’s the confidence to ask for a raise or spend more time with family…it all will contribute to how you execute on each day. I am so proud of each of these women and know they’ll all be successful in everything they do! This vip day was eye opening for me though because I realized how quickly a close bond can form and how deep we can go with a small circle so everyone can be open and share. I wish I had made the first day longer with the growing number of attendees, noted!! (Plus, it would’ve been awesome to spend more time with everyone and fostering those connections). I’m also inspired to do massive events with contributors and various topic segments over multiple days. I’ve gotten a lot of requests for different locations like the east coast, Canada, and Australia! If you’d like to know when the next event is or you want to suggest a location…visit: www.celestial.fit/liveevents  Happiness is doing what you love and having it go by so fast that you can’t wait to do it all again.
Thank you to the bodybuilding community for giving me a place to belong and serve with passion. I want to be the best in the industry because I’m the best, not because I’m the only one providing mental health and personal development at this level directly to competitors. I hope to always have your trust, support, and faith that I have your best interest at heart and this is not just my life, it’s my purpose. #BUILDMORETHANJUSTABODY Want to request a location or receive the info for the next live event? Visit www.celestial.fit/liveevents .No words can ever describe how this feels
Running live events is and always will be a highlight of my life. I enjoy the connections made, similarities found, and seeing people make breakthroughs or be vulnerable and open with each other. My intention with these events is for everyone to feel heard, understood, respected, and supported. I want every woman to know that they can pursue this sport, be successful, AND have peace with food, their body, and their goals so long as they emphasize and prioritize their mind. We have different approaches, views, and experiences but what brings us together is a desire to #BUILDMORETHANJUSTABODY and I love combining psychology and personal development to help competitors, athletes, and women do exactly that. We didn’t just talk about things in the context of competing, but also life. With moms, nurses, teachers, business owners, and all sorts of occupations and roles, there is more to us than meets the eye and everyone is living and finding a way to improve themselves and let this sport help them improve, too. The focus of this event covered a wide variety of topics with many applicable steps, relatable conversations, and super interesting perspectives! Each event has been different even with similar content or topics covered because of all the different topics, people, and thoughts shared. I’m so grateful for each of these women who came out today as everyone was so kind, smart, and engaged. I can’t wait to do this again!! I’m so grateful to @teamelitephysiquefor letting us use the @contestprepcenter to host the event and definitely plan to be back, who doesn’t love vegas?! Yesterday my “Papa” passed away, my dad’s father & my last grandparent.
He was the most humble man Ever with unforgettable grip strength and a sense of humor that always led him to teasing & messing with us to make us laugh! I have fond memories from doing Lincoln logs on the floor to long conversations on the phone as I got older. I remember the sound of his voice so well that even when he stopped being able to talk I could hear the stories he would tell me in my head. I remember his laugh & how he would always shave his beard walking around the kitchen with an electric razor! I remember how he would stomp really hard for fun and the way he was always so well dressed and his hair always combed. He loved my grandma with his entire being and never stopped loving her even after she passed. He made my childhood & young adulthood so sweet even from miles away. I recall many visits to his farm to shoot guns, drive the tractor, & always having to eat iceberg lettuce salad with ranch dressing before dinner hahaha! 1 trip me & my sister even got to paint his exercise room wall! We drew airplanes to commemorate his incredible career in the air force (which he is wildly decorated in but would never tell anyone) & big buildings. He was always looking to teach us something through actions or stories or projects. He even taught me how to remove my thumb at one of my birthday parties on our piano bench when I loved magic👍🏻 I always loved putting my arms through his arms & I can still feel the way his hand veins felt bc I’d always play with them & he never minded! I was so happy when he told me he bought my book & then he would send me little things that were interesting for fitness or brain or writing. He was heavily engrossed in ancestry too which always amazed me but also didn’t surprise me because I knew him to be patient, curious, & dedicated. The only thing I’d change about my grandpa was his “3 day fish rule” which basically guided him to only stay for short periods of time when visiting because he didn’t want us to think he went bad🤣 I am so grateful to have had him as my papa, i’ll always love him & keep all our memories together strong in my heart & family.  Thankful I chose to live and trust there would be light again when I was in darkness.
Thankful I chose to work through my demons when I thought I had no chance of beating them. Thankful I pursued what others thought impossible so I could live the life that gives me purpose. Thankful I always spoke my mind when it could have been easier to blend in. Thankful I have been through all the challenges I have so I can help others. Thankful for the people who believe in me and encouraged me to do more. Thankful for those who questioned my ability so I could improve and be better. Thankful for the uniqueness of every person I meet and see that reminds me of how beautifully magical this world is. Thankful for the abundance of love, trust, and vulnerabilities around me that helps me to feel this way. I can be grateful for what I have and who I am because I chose to find meaning in everything I’ve faced. I never became a victim to circumstance for too long and always found a way to be empowered by it. This is a reminder to myself that It is a blessing to be alive. Your life matters and life matters more to others because of you💖 #BUILDMORETHANJUSTABODY I am so grateful that I got to see and meet all these amazing women today! Sone of them I’ve met before and some were fresh faces!
I always have such a wonderful time with @ingridromero1 and leave feeling so empowered and loved because she is an inspiration and an uplifter. We just get each other! And I always learn something new from her! When I saw that she and @alexastimp@theshoefairy_ were doing this event right near me at @hardcorefitnessagoura I knew I had to make it happen! I was so grateful to come but then so humbled to be able to contribute some as well and help a group of the girls pose with @maluaduartepro it was sooo fun!!! ☺️💖 I needed this type of connection time and I got even more than I bargained for!! Thank you to everyone who was there and trusted me or talked to me or shared with me. I am especially grateful to have met my beautiful client @macrofitdenise in person it was such an amazing emotional moment to see her there and hug her! I am also so happy to have seen my @teamedge1 sisters! ☺️💖💖 Being part of this industry is like being In an amazing warm, supportive, and beautiful family!! |
Celeste Rains-Turk
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