What I Learned Through 2 Weeks 2 Wunda
One of the hardest parts about growing up in China and being half-Chinese, half-white is that I have never really fit in with the way I look. I am naturally curvy, which is something that my mom had always disliked. Unlike me, my Chinese mother is 4'11", thin, and believed that if I wasn't skinny then no man would ever marry me. Growing up, I was constantly critiqued for the way I looked and every conversation with my mom was about ways I can lose weight and parts of my body that she would point out and say, if this was skinnier you would be beautiful.
A couple weeks ago, I was in the studio with Amy Jordan and discussing my weight gain during quarantine and pointing out to her all the places that I would like to be skinny - just the way that my mother had told me. She coached me on redirecting negative self talk to being grateful for the things that were working - like my strength and the ability to take class. Amy promised me she'd help me stop negative self-talk. With COVID, and like many people during the pandemic, I had lost all confidence in my body and constantly was wearing baggy clothes to cover up what I looked like. Women are constantly being told how they should look, and for me, not only were there societal pressures, but even pressure coming from my family saying that I did not meet beauty standards.
The reason I decided to start 2 Weeks 2 Wunda wasn't because I just wanted to lose weight or have a "bikini body," but because I was ready to feel confident in my own skin. Throughout my time at WundaBar Pilates, I discovered that working out isn't about focusing on weight loss, but about understanding the way my body moves and all these other small muscles that I have never even thought about activating. The focus at WundaBar, and the focus that Amy Jordan has taught me, is on bringing energy to all aspects of my life through movement.
2 Weeks 2 Wunda was about reconnecting with myself. I stopped worrying about the scale and the latest diet trends to make me skinny. Because trust me, my mom has put me on all of them. The best part of 2 Weeks 2 Wunda is that I was able to not count my calories and to not judge myself based on pounds. By the end of my 2 weeks, I was able to look at myself in the mirror and be PROUD and CONFIDENT. Everything that I did not think I would be able to accomplish my entire life.
I have always been trained to believe that working out is about losing weight, which meant that I would dread going to the gym since it seemed more like a chore than an activity. With WundaBar, I walked through the door not thinking about weight loss, but about how it made me feel energized, stronger, and mentally and physically more balanced.
Whether you are feeling the post quarantine drag or feel like you have lost touch with your body, I encourage you to challenge yourself and take on 2 Weeks 2 Wunda. Don't look at it as a "weight loss transformation," because our goal is never to please other people with the way we look, but look at it as finding the time to make yourself happy. I can't wait to hear your stories!
Annemarie's 2 Weeks 2 Wunda Tips
Drink LOTS of water!
Do not limit your calories or turn to a diet. If you're craving that cookie, then eat the cookie!
You're going to be SUPER sore between 3-5 days. Do not let this discourage you! Use it to push yourself and know that it means you are putting in WERK!