Tatum Takes Over

Goooood Morning Everyone!

Monday has reared its ugly head again.

Sigh

I've been a little busy with work lately, 2 weeks working 50+ hours, working out, housework, hubby time and well I have to bathe. Let's just say it was starting to take a toll on me. So I took a itsy bitsy vacation, one day basically, to just get caught up on everything else in life and get back to my normal balance. But I didn't want to let a day slip on the blog. 

Then it hit me.

Tatum.

Back in December, Tatum contacted me because she was coming back to Kansas for Christmas and wanted to meet up with me - uh heck yes!

I love meeting people.

I'm like the dog on UP, I just like people.

So Tatum, her boyfriend, me and the hubs all met up. We hit it off right away, they are so awesome. I've never spent over three hours just sitting and talking in Starbucks before, especially on Christmas Eve. But ever since we've stayed in touch, like every day. Tatum has come so far already in her journey of weight loss, while being a full time student and working! She's pretty awesome and inspiring, and it would just be selficious if I didn't share her pure awesomeness with everyone. 

So enjoy as Tatum takes over... 

Doesn't she look fantastic!?!

Hey y’all! I’m Tatum and I blog over at www.FitTatum.blogspot.com

When Jess asked me to do a guest post I felt both honored and terrified at the same time. I mean, I don’t even come close to filling this lady’s shoes; however, getting to write for all of you is just an awesome and special experience in itself. 

What I want to talk about today is something that has been on my mind the past few weeks: helping women feel empowered. 

Growing up I remember being constantly told things like “Women just aren’t as strong as men, it’s a fact” or “Men have more muscle then women.” While I am not going to argue against the exact validity of these statements I would like to make a few points: 

1) Not all men are stronger than every single woman.  There are women who can beat men at strength and endurance competitions. 

2) The average man has only 15% more muscle mass than the average woman.  (15% isn’t very much…)

3) I’m sick and tired of being told that half of this world’s population is weaker than the other half.  (That just isn't true.)

Women as a whole are not weaker than all men. There are many strong women out there.  Women who kick ass, lift heavy weights, and finish running marathons before the majority of men in the race cross the finish line. 

Ladies, we are only as weak as we choose to be.

I realize that I might be over here in my little corner of the gym using 15 pound dumbbells while the five guys closest to me are arm curling with 50 pounders.  Yes, this technically makes me less strong than them.  However, there I am in the gym, with the same dedication to working out and the same determination to improve myself. 

To me that means there isn't much of a difference between them and me. 

The more we tell ourselves that we just can’t be as strong as men the more we actually make that statement true.  As we repeat that line to our daughters, nieces, girlfriends, etc, we are perpetuating and supporting the idea that women have no right nor place to stand tall, strong and proud next to men as equals. 

My favorite example is the Spartan women.  They would train along said the male warriors and even compete in athletic competitions.  It was believed that strong women produce strong heirs.  So they were encouraged to be resilient and capable.  A woman could even be a Spartan Queen without having to be married.  It was a Spartan who was the first woman to win at the Olympic games (Cynisca, a Spartan Princess, won in 396 and 392 BC).  

So let’s stop being scared of lifting heavy weights, or looking and feeling strong.  We are, after all, just as capable and full of potential as anyone else. 

So don't be afraid to get out there ladies.  Let’s find and test our own limits, without believing in ones that others have predetermined for us. 

Thanks for having me!

-FitTatum 

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See, I told you she's awesome!

Have a great Monday everyone!!

-J