Endless 6-Week Challenges. Transformation Stories. So-Called. Shredding Seasons. Our news feeds are filled with thousands of “get fit quick schemes.”

While there’s nothing wrong with motivating people to try and change their bodies and work towards a leaner look, not everyone is in a position to do so. The $66 BILLION diet industry profits off our insecurities, self-doubt, and lack of education.

What once was a “healthy lifestyle” mentality has become a world of shrinking women and keeping them in the dark. We have successfully created a society that doesn’t know how to eat well, nourish their bodies, or cook delicious meals in the kitchen.

Most women spend their entire existence on planet Earth dieting and restricting. Especially busy professionals. And in a world that repeatedly insinuates we’re not thin enough, curvy enough, smart enough… it’s time we say ENOUGH!

It’s time we take up some space and learn to live a happy, fulfilled, and healthy lifestyle once again.

Despite what social media or popular magazines might tell you, we can’t perpetually live in a caloric deficit or in the gym for that matter. We have lives to live… barriers to break… and any other alliterative goals we’ve set to reach. Our body has to feel safe to get lean and stay lean. And we’re the only ones who can provide that safety.

Not society. Not our social media accounts. Not even our parents.

The purpose of this article is to show and support strong, professional women on how to fuel their badass lives… and not just with food. Here are 5 Tips for Professional Women to Stay in Shape (without sacrificing our mental health).

Journal Weekly

Sure, we’ve all heard this one before… but we’re going in a different direction. While you can still journal your aspirations, log your food, or manifest your dreams; try this journal prompt on for size. Write down and repeat your strengths daily. Shift gears on the negativity and remind yourself of the glowing gem you are. Are you a tiger in the boardroom? Are you a good communicator? An amazing listener to your friends? An aggressive and tenacious entrepreneur? By getting clear on your strengths, you’ll birth a new sense of beaming empowerment even through your darkest, most frail times.

Find a Community

Surround yourself with women who uplift your soul. From best friends to fellow colleagues, there are plenty of women to fulfill your tribe. Nothing pumps us up more than other women doing great things in life. While not everyone will feel the same way, the more we spread the love, the more we’ll receive in return. Lifting each other up is critical. After all, it’s a tough world out there for female professionals. The only way for everyone to brave it with courage is to support each other’s pursuits and have each other’s backs.

Receive a Little TLC (Tender Loving Coaching)

If you feel you need individual coaching, you should have a coach in your corner. Whether or not we played sports growing up, we all know the importance of having an expert in our pockets. Someone we can turn to for advice, guidance, and motivation. In adulthood, we find this in friends and family. But when it comes to making real changes for our health, it’s time to call in the experts.

Start a Strength Program

The best way for female professionals to stay in shape and feel empowered is for them to strength train. Not only will you build muscle to get lean and look fierce, but you will learn how to overcome adversity and transcend discomfort. BUT if you’re thinking to yourself while reading this, “I don’t want to get bulky though.” Go back to tip #1 and write out how being bulky and taking up some space actually helps you. When we become stronger, we become more resilient… we decrease fat… we become more powerful than ever before… we can optimize OUR OWN body composition and fat-free mass. We can transform our lives.

Prioritise YOU

We mentioned this briefly in our motherhood article, but it bears repeating. There are 24 hours in a day — 168 hours in a week — and we make time for what’s important to us. So, it only makes sense to get our priorities straight. Make a list of the most important goals in life, and rank them in order. If something conflicts with our priorities, it gets pushed down the schedule. When we have a schedule and can stick with it, there’s no need to rely on fickle willpower.

We could all use help saying nice things when we look in the mirror. Seeing and loving ourselves (and others) no matter the number between our toes — that’s why we’re here. It’s just one of the many reasons we were put on this planet. So, let’s start today. Lean into being strong and more fierce, and we’ll lean right back to support you!