BY: KATIE KULL
STAFF WRITER
“It’s not about weight, it’s about wellness.” It’s possible you recognize this saying, as it is Body Beautiful Week here on campus! In the spirit of wellness, I believe it’s important to talk about how we achieve this wellness in the Fitness Center. As a female athlete, it’s easy for me to go into the gym confidently and follow a lifting program, but other females may gravitate to the cardio machines and shy away from the free weights. This is not necessarily a bad thing (I understand that some people actually do enjoy running), but it is widely expressed by fitness experts and coaches alike that the best thing for our bodies is to work to strengthen all parts, most importantly our self-confidence.
You may know Celine Bouvier, a sophomore here at SLU dedicated to challenging and changing herself and others for the better by following lifting programs. She demonstrates this not only in the Fitness Center but also on her Instagram account where she says she is simply trying to “set an example.” She believes “You cannot change yourself without challenging yourself.” While some may be comfortable approaching the treadmills, they may be unhappy with the fact that they aren’t seeing the same toning results they would if they trained with weights. But as Bouvier explains, “your body isn’t going to be happy unless your mind is happy first,” again stressing the importance of self-confidence. Being confident is beautiful! Working hard is beautiful. Becoming the best version of yourself is beautiful. For Bouvier and other avid gym goers, it isn’t truly a workout “if you’re not sweaty, ugly, and exhausted by the end.” Even our sweatiest moments are beautiful, because they mean we’re getting stronger.
For many, the transition from the treadmill to the weights is daunting because there is an absurd male to female ratio once off the treadmill. Just the other day I observed a 10:2 male to female ratio using weights. Meanwhile, there was a 1:14 male to female ratio on the treadmills and bikes. This alone is enough to make one feel very aware of the male gaze while lifting, but this shouldn’t be the case! The Fitness Center should definitely be a judgement free zone because each person has a different body type and different capabilities. It shouldn’t be a place where you compare yourself to others. What’s important is you’re working hard for you. Confidence is key in any exercise program. You don’t have to be great to start, you just have to start to be great. If you’re a cardio junkie looking to mix it up, Bouvier selects picking up a dumbbell and believes “If you want to be a strong, confident, empowered female, then [limiting yourself to] treadmills and ellipticals are simply wasting your time.”
“If you’re blessed to have a healthy, capable body, then use the heck out of it!” she continues. If you find yourself looking for more of a challenge, or just need that boost of confidence, don’t be afraid to reach out to a trainer, a coach, or even Celine for advice! She’s more than willing to help, so feel free to email her at celinebouvierfitness@ourlook.com. Remember, it’s all about self-wellness. Keep working hard, Saints!