I have been in the fitness business for over 15 years. From being in front of the camera to being behind it, teaching weekly classes from New York to Los Angeles and places in between. I’ve seen the rise of Zumba, the Shake Weight (I even lead some of their ancillary DVD workouts – feel free, laugh. I do.) Jillian Michaels, Hip Hop Abs and Insanity, Crossfit, P90X, Soul Cycle, TaeBo, CoreFusion, CorePower, Bikram, and heaven help me, the plexiglass parade of yoga on a bed in NYC.

I’ve been around for, and participated in, the no-carb, lo-carb, sugar free, no fat, some fat, lots of fat, raw, Paleo, Hunter-Gatherer, Gluten free, and everyone’s favorite, the Grapefruit Diet.

I’ve watched how every single fad, trend and celebrity quick fix have single handedly whipped not only women, but more increasingly, men, into a food and fitness frenzy. The health and fitness space is so filled with opinions, guidelines and Instagram butt photos, I don’t know whether to down dog or tap back.

And I’m done.

While this industry has been very good to me, I struggle with what us ‘experts’ are doing to others. Can we please take a touch step and box jump back and objectively look at the culture we are creating? We have become an obsessed society. Obsessed with working out. Obsessed with gluten free. Obsessed with the front row. Obsessed with Instagram yoga.

Maybe I’m slightly hypersensitive as body dysmorphia and eating disorders have plagued me since high school. Or maybe, at the ripe old age of 41, I’m beginning to grow into my own and realize it’s time to be done with temporary weight loss, fads and fanatical approaches to health. Finally, my desire to be happy is greater than my desire to be thin.

So here is a short list (trust me, there is a long list) of my done’s. (Yes, it is a list but ya’ll read those!)

  1. I’m done with food rules. Do you mean to tell me if found yourself in an episode of LOST and happened to cross paths with a turkey and cheddar on whole wheat with mayo you would turn your nose up because you’re a gluten free, vegan Paleo? It’s whole wheat for crying out loud.
  2. I’m done with ‘hacking’ – bio, mind, internet or any other shortcut to ‘figure things out’. I understand we all want to feel our best and perform at optimal levels, but life is messy and in case you haven’t noticed, you have no control. So give it up, embrace the slop, and enjoy the ride a bit.
  3. I’m done with yoga. You heard me. I may get on my mat every day for some down dogs and forward folds, but I’m done with yoga as exercise. You want some cardio? Go for a damn run.
  4. Speaking of, I’m done with running. From my fears, my insecurities and my own dysfunction. No amount of hours I spend on the treadmill make these disappear. In fact, it probably heightens them.
  5. I’m done with looking in the mirror and criticizing every inch, millimeter and line. I’m actually shocked that, with as much disgust and judgment I’ve placed on this amazing machine known as my body, it continues to show up day after day without some sort of temper tantrum.
  6. I’m done comparing myself to my 29 year old cover girl self. Or any 29 year old for that matter. Or 40 year. Or 50 year old. This one is so much easier said than done.
  7. I’m done with hearing excuses. And I’ve heard a lot in my twenty odd years of teaching. My favorite? “I can’t meditate.” Yes. You can. Just like I did. By sitting my ass down with slumped shoulders day after day, year after year, enduring discomfort, distractions, numb legs, and a bat shit crazy mind until eventually I found stability and ease.
  8. I’m done with reading about solutions, no matter how valid, to my problems, whether perceived or real. This is not to say I will stop learning – or teaching – but when will enough be enough?

When will we stop looking to the latest YouTube or Instagram celebrity and start following the best expert of all? YOU.

You created your source of discontent, whether it be obesity, anxiety, unhappiness, or dis-ease on any level. Only you have the solution. Take responsibility and stop seeking answers outside yourself. Know that the answer isn’t in a photo of a pretty yogi in a beautifully contorted position or a top ten list, but your own inner wisdom and light. Figure out how to get there more (which may mean getting to the gym less) for all the answers you truly need are inside.

At the end of the day, the enemy is not sugar, juice cleanses, Turbo Jam, or Tara Stiles. It’s not Facebook or People magazine. The enemy is our minds. If we can figure out how to tame that unruly, defiant and petulant son of a gun, we’ll have made more peace with all of this faster than you can say front row.

I’d love to hear what you’re DONE with! Send out a Tweet with #DONE!