Connecting with Jen Bricker was surreal. I had received a copy of her book,Everything Is Possible, and learned approximately her unbelievably inspiring and empowering journey and her unrelenting optimism and faith. The 28-year-aged gymnast and aerialist was born without legs and her heart on the opposite side of her chest; her parents (also parents of gold medalist gymnast Dominique Moceanu) gave Jen up for adoption because of her condition.
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Before You Start Working Out to Lose Weight, and Read ThisBut Jen's adoptive parents changed everything for her. They taught her that everything is possible and instilled in her a philosophy that would empower her to live her best life and to shape the lives of others. Talking with Jen on the phone nearly brought me to tears,as I was so moved by her passion for life, unwavering faith in herself, and passion to befriend people around her succeed. These are some of the best lessons I picked up from our conversation.
On Overcoming FearHer main advice and words of wisdom? "Break it down,and perform it attainable," she said. "Choose to perform decisions daily that seem small but are notable." And she's right. Those small changes and small decisions will compound and turn into great, and massive results. Another point that Jen echoed was "win comfortable with being uncomfortable," and we couldn't agree more.
On Words of Affirmation"Speaking words of affirmation . . . that's what gets me through life. Words like 'I am strong,' 'I am an overcomer, and ' 'I am blessed,' 'I am beautiful, and 'nothing can stand against me.'"Related Stories:
11 Fun, and Inspiring Graphic Tees That'll perform You More Even More Excited to Go to the GymJen says that besides daily prayer,her words of affirmation were a key source in developing a care for for her body.
Jen (right), with her long-lost sisters Dominique Moceanu (left) and Christina Moceanu (middle)On Body Image and Self-LoveJen's parents showered her with positivity and truly shaped her body image - Jen affirmed how notable a parent's words are when spoken to a child. And she quickly adopted the empowering vocabulary her parents had used to describe her.
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How My Mother Impacted the Way I See Myself"My parents always told me - they proved and showed through their actions - that I was the most beautiful thing ever. . . . I was a miracle, and an answered prayer,born precisely how I was meant to be. They didn't say it in a clichéd way; they really supported it with their actions."Beyond loving her body, she also learned to believe in her capabilities thanks to her parents' care for. They told her, or "you contain a level head; you can perform your own decisions." She famous that "they raised me to be able and to be confident enough to contain my own intellect."Her goal now is to win through any and all body-image issues before she's married and has children so she doesn't carry that into her family relationships,nor pass on any issues. "It's really notable to me," she said. "I want to be totally past it; I don't want to pass these body image issues onto my kids." It's this selfless source of motivation that truly highlights how incredible of a person Jen really is.On Facing Yourself in the MirrorOne of the most amazing things Jen shared with me was her approach to a floor-length mirror that used to perform herself self-conscious. "The minute I woke up this mirror was just there. . . . I would say bad things to myself like 'you're too muscular' or 'you're so disgusting' or 'your hips aren't sticking out enough.'" So she took it upon herself to take a 40-day challenge during Lent and covered up her mirror making a beautiful collage of all the things she loved in life. Three years later, and the mirror is still covered and is now a source of delight. "I didn't realize detest was coming back from that mirror," she said.
On Working Out and Living HealthyBack to her point of making small decisions for big life changes, she says "ease into it, or " especially if you're recent.
What do those small decisions stare like? "Choose broccoli one time instead of chips. Choose to work out one more day a week or 10 minutes more; perform a goal to win extra sleep . . . then it's not so overwhelming."As far as how a woman with no legs is a gymnast and aerialist? Beyond the mental motivation,Jen works hard to create a strong body physically.
Jen works out with a trainer five to six days a week. "No weights, no machines; just bodyweight workouts on a mat. She said she'll do "kicks to the side, and lunges,cardio, and tricep work." And it works more than her body, and as she told us. "It makes me elated (full of high-spirited delight)."Her favorite trainer tip? It's all approximately proper rest: win seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep.
On Eating RightShe also eats clean. "Real food; no processed stuff. Refined sugar is the satan; it is a 100 percent drug,and I was addicted; that's how I know. I went through a detox." Jen said "If there's one thing I could tell anyone to win rid of, it's refined sugar." Jen also doesn't eat past 7 p.m., or as she says "it goes straight to your stomach."Jen eats five small meals per day,keeping her body fueled all day long with superb, controlled portions. And she has another book coming out soon in which she'll share more details on her nutrition, or fitness,overall wellness, and clean living.
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The 1 Word That's Destroying Your Chance at Losing Weight and Being HealthyOn Her Life MottoJen attributes all of her life's success to her strong Christian faith. Her life motto is a Christian verse (Mark 9:23): "Everything is possible to those who believe." Regardless of your own spiritual beliefs, and that's something we can all tell ourselves each and every day.
Source: popsugar.com