I can’t believe I get to say this, because it’s absolutely a pinch-me moment, but I am so excited to announce that Sienna Swim will be featured this year at Miami Swim Week! So much work, time, and love has gone into this brand to prepare for this very moment, and I couldn’t be more proud. That said, the work is far from over.
Like our other live showcases in San Diego and Hawai’i, I will be walking in the show. This means practicing my walk, lots of swimsuit fittings, and a pretty intense workout regimen.
I have always loved working out, but in the past, so much of my movement and my diet revolved around being as small as possible. Dealing with disordered eating and body dysmorphia has deeply affected my relationship with exercise and health, and, on top of that, even as I got smaller, I still didn’t feel good about the way I looked, let alone the level of energy or well-being I had.
Over the last year, I started researching and learning what worked for my body, and also recently started working with an incredible trainer, Natalie – introduced to me through a mutual friend – who is helping me learn about my body and its needs.
This journey to health is at the core of this week’s episode of my new Snapchat Series, which launched last week. Today’s episode is a look into my comprehensive health journey – including my workouts, nutrition, and what I’m doing to take care of myself mentally (make sure you subscribe to watch all of the adventures this season!)
In the episode are clips from my workouts with my trainer. I knew working with a trainer was the right move for me for a couple reasons. First, I grew up dancing, and group fitness or instructor-based fitness helps keep me accountable. If I don’t have someone telling me what to do as far as a workout, I will sleep through it or slack off. I know that’s a luxury not everyone has, but with group classes at the gym or community centers, workout meet-ups with friends, and even apps, so much more is possible than it used to be!
The first thing my trainer told me was that I wasn’t eating enough. This shocked me, because I felt like my main problem was that I was overeating. I felt heavy, weighed down and low energy. I assumed it was because I was so full of food. She helped me realize that my body really does not digest processed carbs or seed oils well at all, and that I feel my best when I’m eating a protein dense, raw fruit and vegetable diet, with some complex carbs mixed throughout. Just because that works for me, though, doesn’t mean it’s what will work for everyone.
I saw an interview with Miley Cyrus by British Vogue last week where she said she wanted to do a “wellness comedy” in place of giving fitness advice and say, ‘I’m Miley Cyrus and I’m a pop star and I can’t tell you what to eat or what supplements to take because I haven’t seen your lab work.’” I couldn’t agree with this more. I think when you’re doing your own research, you can absolutely look at what other people are doing as a starting point, which is why I continue to share the things that are working for me. But it’s also important not to take it at face value. Your routine has to be your routine. And routine means regularly consistent.
For a long time, I would see fad diets and lose-10-pounds-fast plans all over the internet and throw myself headfirst into whatever over-the-top challenge I was presented with. By the end of the week (if I had even lasted that long) I would be exhausted, depleted, cranky, and right back where I started: feeling like crap. It wasn’t until I started paying attention to which ingredients worked for me and committed myself to taking consistent, comprehensive care of myself that I saw results.
That said, even as my body continues to become healthier, my mind is a whole other mountain to climb. Just last week, I attended an industry brunch and then an event at Paramount. If you’re following me on Snapchat, you know that I was struggling so much with the way my body looked that day. After a good break down and some tears, I remembered that my mind was playing tricks on me. It was a good exercise for me to practice loving myself, calming myself down, and remembering that I am taking excellent care of my body, and that as long as I feel good, my body looks exactly the way it should. Being vulnerable on social media and sharing that breakdown felt scary, but the number of people who replied with their own similar stories made me feel less alone. So if you were one of them, thank you.
So back to Miami Swim Week: my biggest challenge in preparing is feeling strong, physically and mentally. As you’ll see on the Snap Show, I’ve kicked my plan into overdrive for the moment because to be honest, runway shows are hard work. Between quick changes, trying to walk down slick runways in high heels, and being energetic enough to keep the crowd entertained, by the end of them I’m always tired. More than that, my routine helps me build confidence in my mental fortitude. I am getting stronger mentally every day, and a huge part of that is feeling like I am dedicated and showing up for myself. Knowing that I am taking good care of myself gives me way more confidence, and my hope is that when I see photos and videos from the show I’ll be able to acknowledge and accept my beauty rather than focusing on my flaws.
My plan requires a lot of hard work, time, and conscious decision-making – especially about food – but the feeling of peace I have about the care my body is receiving is totally worth it for me. If you’re looking to make a lifestyle change just like I was, I recommend consulting professionals wherever possible, or at the very least being super intentional and honest with yourself about what is truly healthiest for your mind, body and soul.<3
