Bree Aronin - Minimalist Body 1.0

softball, and volleyball, and competed in
powerlifting at the United States Naval
Academy. My upbringing, and my time
serving in the military, has made
physical fitness a huge priority in my
life. I constantly strive to push myself
to see what amazing things my body
can do. It hasn't all been easy. The
hardest thing I had to overcome was
the self-doubt and negative voice inside
my head telling me to slow down or
stop. That voice still comes out every so
often, but I have gotten better at
tackling the mental aspect of fitness.
Due to my scoliosis condition, it is
imperative I take care of my body
motion is the lotion! But instead of

letting it hinder me, I embody the "jack
of all trades" mentality. I want to be
able to do ALL the things with a strong
and healthy body and mind. Fitness is a
huge part of my being and has truly
made me into the woman I am today. I
am excited to share what I love most
with you!

My baby girl Gemma!We mountain bike, paddleboard, trail run, and hike

What does giving yourself more credit look like? For me, it means taking a step back andbeing proud of everything I have accomplished over the last 10 years, and not giving myselfsuch a hard time for a few days of "slacking". What are 10 years of hard work compared to 3days or even 3 weeks of off-time anyway? Be proud of all the work you have done up to thispoint. Take time to reflect on how much you have transformed even in the last month.

Giving myself more credit means understanding the humanness of myself, and the collectivestruggle we all face when it comes to becoming the best version of ourselves. It seems like weare never at the place we want to be physically or professionally because our goals, standards,and desires are always changing. But looking at each phase of your life as transient - merelythe stepping stone to something greater - can cause unhappiness and discontent. Striving forsomething greater does not mean discounting or not being proud of where you are currently.You, your human body, and human brain are pretty incredible!

Giving myself more credit also means placing a ton of trust in myself. Nobody else wants yoursuccess more than you do, so it is essential to have that inherent trust with yourself, knowingthat you will do the hard work, or get back on track if you've diverted from course. Creatingtrust with yourself is forging an unbreakable bond - a vital relationship we tend to neglectbut need to constantly work on. How much do you trust yourself?5

Waking up an hour earlier than usual is a life hack that unlocks so many opportunities for selfcare and self-love, ultimately setting your day up for success. Use that extra hour to meditate,journal, go for a walk, run, stretch, meal prep, or listen to music and dance. And do not look atyour phone besides to turn off your alarm! A productive routine like this where you are notrushed in the morning does so much for mental clarity. Even if your schedule busies in theafternoon, it is a reprieve knowing that you already got your run or meditation in.

This routine will give you momentum through your entire day, and you will find yourself moreproductive, reflective, and energized. For those who have a hard time getting out of bed in themorning, practice repeating a mantra to motivate yourself to rise. I like to say "activationenergy, GO!" or you can count down from 10. The hardest part is usually just getting up. Thatkind of goes for many things in life - the most difficult part is just getting started. But there issomething so vitalizing about waking up early before everybody else... perhaps it is the quiet ofthe dawn sky that lets you listen to your body and your thoughts.

Be an early riser and take advantage of the entire day. This is productivity, the betterment ofyour mind and soul, and much needed time for yourself. Set that alarm for 5 and start up thatactivation energy!6

NOURISH YOURBODY

Food is a sensitive topic and something that I and many others struggle with. Nutrition is notan easy thing to conquer because our food habits, behaviors, and preferences are constantlychanging. Intermittent fasting, time-restricted feeding, water detox, gluten-free, vegan, paleo,keto, and counting macros, oh my! If you live in the US, you most likely have the privilege ofdeciding what kind of "diet" is right for you. That's overwhelming!

Personally, I eat a plant-based diet, but have experimented with all of the above over the lastnearly decade... and am still trying to perfect my nutrition. But sometimes that's what it takesto figure out what makes you FEEL the best! What I do NOT recommend, however, is anunhealthy obsession with eating healthy. This is called orthorexia, and I struggled with this foryears. This is because I was body-obsessed, rather than performance-obsessed, and fixated onthe scale, rather than considering how my body actually felt. Experiment with foods and seehow it affects your athletic performance, sleep, recovery, and energy.

Every single thing you put into your body is either nourishment and fuel, or it's slowing youdown. I not only consider my body a machine, but also honor it as a vessel in which every cellinside my body is working for me. Fuel your body constantly, but don't forget to treat yourmind. A motto I love is "with discipline comes freedom" - so when it comes time to lick thebrownie batter bowl, I never think twice.7