No Clones Allowed: How to Set Yourself Free by Not Comparing Yourself To Others

I'm often asked by people how to achieve a particular look. It's like most people can see a bit of Heidi Klum inside themselves, and she is just dying to get out. I can see the same person looking totally deflated when I tell them point-blank, "you can't!" It's not at all personal and I don't mean to hurt anyone's feelings. But I'd be a pretty rubbish personal trainer if I didn't encourage you to set realistic goals for yourself.

I think I started "Fit & Fierce" because I wanted a mantra that would gently remind people that the only person they should be comparing themselves to is...themselves! That is, the slightly less confident, less disciplined, less motivated you of before-land. It was only when I actually started to train regularly, that I took the first steps in making a commitment to a fitter, fiercer version of myself. I want to contribute to the fitter, fiercer you of the future.

Maybe if we are honest with ourselves we are all still carrying a torch for the supermodel in us. Perhaps it's time for all of us to take a torch to the washboard-stomached, cheese-grater-ab-ed athlete in us - just burn down the whole idea and start taking the tiny steps we need to improving our health.

After all, most of us either started out as skinny as a rake, as flat as a pancake or like the chubby one in The Goonies. That's because we were 18! Maybe the sooner we let go of the old us, along with all of those outdated expectations, the sooner we start to work on the us we want to be. The sooner we can liberate ourselves from our chronic self-comparing, the sooner we can start working with what we got, honey.

Now there is an idea I'm committed to.

So imagine the fitter, fiercer you from the future came back to give you some advice. What would they tell you? Don't hold out for the inner supermodel? There are no quick-fixes? Once you make a commitment to being a better, bolder, more fearless you, then you are ALREADY a better you.

Disappointed you will never be a supermodel? Me too! But I love myself too much to dwell on it. So forgive me if I shut you down at "thigh gap..." and remind you life is difficult enough without the self-imposed limit of comparing yourself to others. Embrace what makes you different today, and start working out the future you!