Hey friends,

New Year, New Me… and immediately—the dreaded exercise plan.

Seriously. How many ways can one human being do lunges, bicep curls, glute bridges, and meal prep before questioning every life choice they’ve ever made? 

And meal prep?? If you Google it, congratulations—you’ve entered the Hunger Games of diets.
Do I do carnivore? Mediterranean? Vegetarian? Vegan and deny myself joy, seasoning, and happiness altogether?

At this point, I’ve decided to snuggle up with the extra ten pounds that refuse to leave and call it sexy.

I overheard a conversation at work the other day where a woman said she wasn’t fat—she was big boned—and her doctor said all her tests were fine. Now listen, I’m not judging… but I did do a quick ChatGPT search (as one does). Turns out, humans don’t really have “big bones.” We have frames—broader shoulders, wider hips, thicker wrists—but not magically heavier skeletons.

So sadly, my hope of blaming genetics has officially died.
It’s not my bones.
It’s my afternoon snacks making me thick in the thighs.

Here’s what I’m realizing: we all have things we love and things we side-eye in the mirror. But I’m at the age now where I don’t want to be skinny—I want to be healthy. I want to feel strong. I want my stomach to not casually rest on my lap.

To get there, I know I need something I’ll actually show up for. For me, that was a class I loved back when I lived in Minnesota—basically Orange Theory without the rower (praise hands). The workouts changed, the instructors made it fun, and my favorite instructor, Ben, made everyone feel seen, encouraged, and capable. You show up easier when you’re sweating next to people who are struggling right alongside you.

So, here’s the lesson I’m relearning:
If you hate workouts, find a class you enjoy.
If you hate classes, find a friend to walk with.
If you hate people, set a goal so big it scares you a little—and start showing up anyway.

My ten pounds haven’t come off… and now I know exactly why.
So, this year, I’m getting back into a class that pushes me, finding a friend who will suffer with me, and keeping my eyes on the goal. And yes—my goal is huge, and I’m going to do it.

Let’s stop overwhelming ourselves.
Let’s stop comparing ourselves to filtered TikTok fitness models who don’t sweat or blink.
What’s the point?

Be kind to yourself—mentally and physically.
Celebrate the wins. Learn from the losses.
You’ve got a whole year to see how far you can go.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit… Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”—1 Corinthians 6:19–20

Not out of shame.
Out of love.

Now who’s walking with me?

From Your Friend, It’s Me Lorie