Learning to Love the Body You're In Right Now

I used to stand in front of the mirror and think, "I should look better by now. I used to be so much stronger." Sound familiar? If you've ever caught yourself in this mental loop, you're not alone.

Here's the hard truth I've learned: If you can't love the body you're in right now, you won't magically love the body you're chasing either.

I know this might sound surprising coming from someone who's competed on American Ninja Warrior six times, but I've struggled with body image my entire life. In school, kids called me "manly" and made fun of my muscles. I wore baggy clothes to hide my body because I was terrified of being "too much." Even now, I sometimes catch myself wondering if I look too masculine or intimidating.

The difference today? I have those thoughts, but I don't live there anymore. I catch them, reframe them, and shift to kindness instead of critique.

The Only Body That Matters

The truth is, the only body you have is the one you're in right now. Not five years ago, not ten pounds from now – right now. If you spend every day waiting to love yourself, you're going to waste a life that's meant to be lived with joy, strength, and power.

When you love the body you're in, everything changes. You show up differently. You lead differently. You take risks, speak up, and shine. That energy ripples into everything you touch.

Three Ways to Start Loving Your Current Body

1. Say it out loud daily. Thank your body for something it's doing right now. "Thank you for walking me through another stressful day. Thank you for hugging my kids. Thank you for keeping me alive when I wanted to quit." It sounds simple, but it rewires your brain.

2. Catch and reframe the thought. When you hear that negative voice saying "I feel so bloated and ugly," shift it to "I feel bloated today, and that's okay. My body is still strong. I'm still worthy. I'm still here, still showing up." These small thought shifts create massive ripple effects.

3. Move for love, not punishment. Stop working out because you're mad at your body or want to be "less." Move because it feels good, because your body deserves motion, because you're focusing on what you have to gain – not what you have to lose.

Remember: I move because I love myself, not because I hate myself.

You don't need to love every inch of your body every day, but you do need to respect it. Support it. Stand beside it like it's your teammate. Because this body has held you through heartbreaks, breakthroughs, and everything in between.

Your body is fighting for you. Your body is with you. Your body is yours.

The more you speak to it with kindness, the more unstoppable you become.