This body positive blogger wants women to embrace their post-workout sweat patches

Marie-Claire Dorking
·Contributor
A fitness blogger is encouraging people to embrace their sweaty selfies [Photo: Instagram/plankingforpizza]
A fitness blogger is encouraging people to embrace their sweaty selfies [Photo: Instagram/plankingforpizza]

Women don’t sweat, they glow. On Instagram that is. Where fitness stars share perfect post-gym selfies looking like they’ve just stepped out of a salon, not a spin class.

In real life after a workout most of us are sweating from areas we didn’t even know could sweat from.

But the glossing over of our post-exercise sweatiness can be pretty disheartening for those of us (read all of us) who feel we should hide our underarm or down-there sweat patches for fear of looking unfit.

Maybe this is not glamorous or insta worthy, but this is me! Candid and in the moment. Sweaty, dirty and looking like I peed myself (I didn't, crotch sweat is all too real in light colored pants which is why I usually always wear black ). Sure I have "better" posed pictures but I liked this one best. It's not perfect. It's raw, it's real, and I think it embraces all my journey is about. I just pushed myself in a tough workout because I'm striving to be healthier, fitter, and stronger! I know with every challenging workout, I'm both mentally/ physically tougher and stronger. It gives me so much self empowerment to complete a challenging workout! Candid photos can often be unflattering but I've found that all my favorite pictures of myself are the unexpected, unplanned, and many times unflattering ones! Because it's not forced or posed, it evokes a carefree spirit and happiness to just be me, to be present with myself, and embrace where I'm at in this moment. This may not be "picture perfect" but I feel it captures my genuine (and awkward ) spirit and how I was feeling in the moment: both happy and free ✨ – #sweatyselfie #macros #crossfit #girlswithmuscle #fitspo #healthy #macrocounting #workout #gymlife #workoutwednesday #fitness #summer #abs #summertime #plankingforpizza #bodybuilding #weighttraining #workout #selflove #happy #workoutmotivation #fitgirl #fitfam #iifym #iifymgirl

A post shared by Jess : Orlando, FL ☀️ (@plankingforpizza) on Jul 5, 2017 at 1:05pm PDT

And the truth is that everyone sweats while working out. It’s our body’s way of naturally regulating our temperature. And that’s the message one body positive blogger really wants to get across.

Fitness blogger, Jess AKA Planking for Pizza, wants to encourage us to embrace how hard we’re working while exercising by proudly sharing our sweaty selfies.

Posting an image of herself complete with post-workout sweat patches, Jess also had a positive message to share with her 197K Instagram followers.

“Maybe this is not glamorous or insta worthy, but this is me!” she wrote alongside the image.

“Candid and in the moment. Sweaty, dirty and looking like I peed myself (I didn’t, crotch sweat is all too real in light coloured pants which is why I usually always wear black).”

“Sure I have “better” posed pictures but I liked this one best,” she continued. “It’s not perfect. It’s raw, it’s real, and I think it embraces all my journey is about.”

You're an enigmatic complexity! Your ephemeral being is so much deeper than buoyant breath and heartfelt heartbeat. To fully communicate in complete dimensioning, you must integrate thought processes by removing old negative behavioral patterns and expanding into your innate and intentional truth. You must understand that your exposed, naked, vulnerable vessel is simply the carrier of your soul. You're so much more than your external expression because you can be: -complex and simple -light and dark -strong and soft -weak and able -happy and sad -courageous and timid -insecure and confident -flawed and perfect -unique and normal -half and whole -shy and confident -paradoxical and magic -masterpiece and work in progress AT. THE. SAME. TIME. You don't have to be all or nothing or just "this" or just "that". You can be all these things at once or at different moments in time. You're a magnificent miracle in this expansive universe. WHO you are matters not the space in which your matter occupies ✌ Your energy, vibration, and essence are essential components to the existence of the root of your being ✨

A post shared by Jess : Orlando, FL ☀️ (@plankingforpizza) on May 19, 2017 at 1:07pm PDT

Jess went on to explain that the picture was taken after a really tough workout, but the fact that it was unplanned makes it one of her favourite snaps.

“Candid photos can often be unflattering but I’ve found that all my favourite pictures of myself are the unexpected, unplanned, and many times unflattering ones!” she says.

“Because it’s not forced or posed, it evokes a carefree spirit and happiness to just be me, to be present with myself, and embrace where I’m at in this moment. This may not be “picture perfect” but I feel it captures my genuine (and awkward) spirit and how I was feeling in the moment: both happy and free.”

When I first started my journey, I stopped going out with friends because I was worried I'd "ruin" my progress by allowing myself to let lose and have fun. But that became lonely and I missed going out. I went through another "socially isolating" period at the beginning of this year because I've been so focused on both fitness and life goals. However, the past few weeks I've been striving for more balance and allowing myself to go out more. Last night I went out to celebrate my friend's birthday! And I had fries and pizza Two foods I normally don't ever eat and believe me they are my FAV foods!!! I don't avoid them because they are "bad" but because they don't fit my "macro budget". So yes I went over yesterday. Do I regret it? Nope because memories are greater than macros sometimes! But my body is like "whoa girl, what's up, this is new, not sure this feels great, can I get some veggies please?" I do have 12 weeks left to my deficit and I want to remain focused and strong yet not feel like I'm restricting myself from living life. So today I'm setting some parameters for myself and guidelines on how flexible I'll allow myself to be the next 12 weeks! I want to be consistent and focused but allow myself to live life too! This all being said, starting Monday, I'll be doing an accountability challenge in Plankingforpizza Private Group on Facebook. It's not results driven, but meant to establish new habits or work on small goals you're aiming towards. So if you're interested, all the deets and accountability will be held there Oh and just a gentle reminder today: I'm not always 100% compliant. I make mistakes. I don't have a 6 pack or flat stomach. I still have little tummy rolls when I sit. And still have cellulite, acne, and stretch marks. But remember none of these things make you a bad person, they make you human! These things may make you feel insecure at times, but the most definitely do NOT make your flawed. They make you normal. Find what makes you, YOU, unique, different, not the norm, and embrace the heck out of that shit! That's your magic ✨ – #macros #girlswithmuscle #fitspo #healthy #selflove #bopo #fitness #iifymgirl #workout #fitfam

A post shared by Jess : Orlando, FL ☀️ (@plankingforpizza) on Jul 8, 2017 at 1:25pm PDT

And the inspirational post really struck a chord with Jess’ followers with many taking to Instagram to praise her for her body positive sweat stance.

“But you look fit happy and self-confident and that’s all that counts,” one fan wrote.

“Boob and crutch sweat are always in the cards for me,” added another.

“This is actually the best thing ever! I love seeing posts like this because then I know I’m not the only one who is completely drenched after a workout!”

How much sweat is too much sweat? Someone asked me if people like my sweaty Instagram stories and my feeling is that, honestly, I don't really care all that much. I post those for myself, as a fuck yes for showing up. I have anxiety and I have a tendency towards depression but I have found if I sweat like this, EVERY SINGLE DAY, I feel better, I'm calmer, I'm a better mom and those fogs of anxiety or sadness seem a little lighter. I've been picking my skin less, engaging in less binge eating and I've just felt better about myself.(And obvi I go to therapy too) My goal is not some perfect bod (I like chips and salsa and margs too much for that) My goal is to feel the best I can in my body and my brain for the rest of my life. ❤️@lekfit @shapewithangela @soulcycle #ipaidforthis

A post shared by Busy Philipps (@busyphilipps) on Jun 20, 2017 at 1:27pm PDT

Jess isn’t the only one to hold a positive sweat stance. Earlier this year actress Busy Phillips took to Instagram to share her own sweaty selfie.

“How much sweat is too much sweat?” she wrote alongside a post-workout selfie. “Someone asked me if people like my sweaty Instagram stories and my feeling is that, honestly, I don’t really care all that much.”

“I post those for myself, as a f**k yes for showing up. I have anxiety and I have a tendency towards depression but I have found if I sweat like this, EVERY SINGLE DAY, I feel better, I’m calmer, I’m a better mum and those fogs of anxiety or sadness seem a little lighter.”

“My goal is not some perfect bod (I like chips and salsa and margs too much for that) My goal is to feel the best I can in my body and my brain for the rest of my life,” she concluded her inspiring post.

So next time you’ve just stepped off the treadmill and you’re dripping in areas you’d really rather not drip from, don’t shy away from the camera. Be proud of your patches, because they’re proof you’ve worked hard and put in the effort.

So share that sweaty selfie, you’ve earned it!

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Read more from Yahoo Style UK:

How to stop your thighs chafing in the heat (and it doesn’t involve Vaseline)

Don’t sweat it: How to deal with excessive sweating

Don’t Sweat It: 6 Surprising Health Benefits Of Sweating

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