Even though I have lost 164lbs and  I am at my doctor’s goal weight

Even though I have been doing crossfit 4-5 days a week for almost 2 years and eat a very clean diet (90% of the time)…

Even though I am a certified personal trainer and a Spartan, a Rugged Maniac, a Warrior and a Triathlete

This is what my body looks like (almost) naked

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Because of this I try very hard to stay focused on fitness goals as my measure of success rather than my appearance, or the number on the scale, or the size of my jeans, but sometimes, just sometimes, I forget…

I am extremely passionate about sharing my story and the lessons I’ve learned in hopes of inspiring others to live their own I’mperfect Life!

MAY 16, 2014

A few weeks ago I did just that…I forgot. I was faced with a “Look Good Naked Challenge” at my gym that I knew I had no chance in hell of winning. I remembered that summer was just around the corner and realized that I would go a 25th year wearing shorts over my bathing suit to hide the legs I’ve hated since I was 11.  I tried on a jean skirt that I wanted so bad only to see my misshapen knees that have kept me from wearing anything above them throughout all of my adult years, and out of nowhere it hit me like a ton of bricks…I felt frustrated, discouraged and sad. Like really, really sad.  I even cried a little. I felt like all the hard work that I’d been doing wasn’t paying off and it made me want to give up.

I spent a good  week or so feeling sorry for myself, getting caught up in the vanity of it all.  I didn’t work as hard at the gym, I didn’t eat as well as I usually do and every time I looked in the mirror I felt worse than I had the time before.

I can’t recall if there was something specific that got me to pull my head out of my ass, but fortunately something did. (could have just been the end of my period…fricken hormones!) Regardless of what it was, I decided that it was time to REALLY celebrate what my ugly body CAN DO rather than focus on what it looks like…or doesn’t look like. So I asked my friend Emily, the amazing photographer, to take some pictures of me DOING the THINGS I have NEVER, EVER…EVER in my entire life…not even as a kid (with the exception of the cartwheel) have been able to do until now.

So here you go!  Today I am celebrating what my body is capable of doing because of the lifestyle changes that I’ve made and the hard work I’ve done in and out of the gym.

I am PROUD of my ugly body because...

THIS BACK AND THOSE ARMS

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ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THIS (no strings attached!)

Imperfect Life - Andrea Matthes Pull Up

THIS BACKSIDE

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CAN DO A CARTWHEEL A GRACEFUL AS ANY (NOVICE) GYMNAST

Imperfect Life Andrea Matthes Cartwheel

THESE SADDLEBAGS, STRETCH MARKS AND CELLULITE

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CAN’T STOP ME FROM BEING SUPER FLEXIBLE

Imperfect Life - Andrea Matthes Splits

THAT LOOSE UNDERARM SKIN

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DOESN’T MEAN I CAN’T CLIMB THIS THING

Imperfect Life - Andrea Matthes Rope

THE REMAINING FAT ALL OVER MY BODY

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DOESN’T MEAN I’M NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO FLIP A FLIPPIN TIRE

Imperfect Life - Andrea Matthes Tire Flip

MY FLABBY TUMMY

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HAS THE CORE STRENGTH THAT ALLOWS ME TO ACT LIKE KID

Imperfect Life - Andrea Matthes Rings

THESE PUDGY LEGS

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PROVIDE ME WITH ENOUGH STRENGTH AND STABILITY TO DO A ONE LEGGED SQUAT (with great amounts of concentration!)

Imperfect Life - Andrea Matthes Pistol Squat

AND THIS…ALL OF THIS

Andrea Matthes Imperfect Life FI

WOULDN’T KEEP ME FROM LOOKING STRONG AND SEXY…

IF I LIVED ON THE MOON

 Imperfect Life - Andrea Matthes

 Besides, I still look cute in a pair of jeans…

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AND I’M…

Better Stronger Faster Andrea Matthes

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY

NO MATTER HOW UNCOMFORTABLE I AM DISPLAYING MY BODY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS…

I NEVER, EVER WANT TO BE AS UNCOMFORTABLE AS I WAS IN THIS BODY 365 DAYS A YEAR

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PS: This post was originally written in May of 2014. Since then I have been pregnant three times and have given birth to two baby boys!           (4/2016 and 1/2018)

There's no such thing as before and after, only then and now, but I still love my ugly body, and I'm on a mission to help other women love their's too!

CLICK HERE to read the latest in my “Ugly Body Evolution”!

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