u/chiarataka

Warm and sunny yesterday at Blarney castle gardens. 🇮🇪☀️

Years of home workouts only, consistency and patience.

Sharing a couple pics that I took, some with a camera, some with my phone :)

When I share my before/after pics, I often get comments like "you looked better before." If that’s what you think, please know that you are essentially saying you prefer a weaker, unhealthy version of me.

In the photo on the left, I was not "healthy." I was barely eating anything nutritious, my body was suffering, and I lost my period because my hormones had completely shut down. I had zero strength, I literally felt exhausted just carrying a two-liter bottle of water from the fridge to the table. I was fragile, and I felt it every single day.

Let’s be honest: building muscle takes time, dedication, and consistency. Especially for women, it is way harder. People who see me now and don't know my story often say it's "just luck." No, it is a conscious choice to prioritize health over an aesthetic that, in my case, was dangerous.

Today, I choose to celebrate strength, functional health, and the incredible capability of the female body. I don't care if some people prefer how I looked before. I am no longer interested in being 'pretty' at the expense of my own vitality, and I'm not interested in fitting into some stupid beauty standard that's gonna change in a couple of years anyway.

To anyone out there struggling to gain muscle or dealing with people who don't understand your fitness journey: stay the course. Your strength is worth more than someone else's opinion!

More pics from today's Cruz Fest

More pics from today's Cruz Fest

A few shots from today's Cruz Fest for all car lovers :)

Shots from today's Cruz fest :)

​I'm not a professional photographer and have barely any clue what I'm doing, but I really like these! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I'm not a professional photographer and have barely any clue what I'm doing, but I really like these! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!