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  • 5 of My Favorite Ways to Love My Body More

    5 of My Favorite Ways to Love My Body More

    I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the complex relationships we have with our bodies – not everyday is going to be a slam dunk, “I feel amazing,” but a lot of our days SHOULD be. And overall it’s important to be comfortable and happy in our skin to put happiness and good vibes out there (speaking from experience!).

    I thought I’d put together my favorite ways to love my body. These are easy things to incorporate into our daily lives — and quite frankly, I need the reminder every once in a while!

    Here are my favorite ways to love my body (take them or leave them!):

    1. Not comparing myself to others. If I’m being honest, I used to be terrible at this. I have really skinny and beautiful friends and I used to find myself constantly wishing I looked like them. The day I accepted I was my own kind of beautiful was a good day, but it took a lot of self love on my part. Another woman’s beauty does not impact your own and stopping comparison is SO important in loving my body more. Yes, that includes Instagram scrolling and magazines with stick thin models. Don’t fall victim!

    2. Complimenting myself & speaking positively to/about my body. It sounds vain, but I try to give myself compliments all the time. “Damn you look good today!”… or whatever compliment that’s positive works! The positivity radiates and can really make a huge difference in how I see myself. If I’m constantly talking down to myself, that sets a horrible precedent, right? I see it as, I spent a lot of years being extremely mean to myself, so I’m making up for it 😉

    3. Creating a daily affirmation and/or gratitude list. I’ve talked a bit about this on my Instagram, but I’m obsessed with daily affirmations and gratitude. I have daily affirmations that I tell myself out loud or in my head, and I also try to write down what I’m grateful for constantly. It keeps me grounded and it definitely helps with my overall love for myself, including my body. I do want to work on doing my daily affirmation every morning though!

    4. Incorporating foods that I love but also make me feel good. Eating healthy foods that give me energy… man what a game changer in my overall feelings about my body. I’m not always the strictest (which I think is good), but overall finding foods that make me feel good helps me immensely with my body love. Veggies, eggs, avocado toast, the list goes on!

    5. Exercising regularly & doing workouts I love – but also incorporating stretching & yoga. I love exercising now, but not everyday is a situation where I’m sprinting the gym excited as all hell. Haha, some days I’m dragging myself there, honestly, but it’s all for how it makes my body feel. It’s pretty amazing to see what my body is capable of and how much confidence and strength it gives me. Yoga has changed the game for me too, because some days I just need some zen and stretching. Listening to my body is the ticket here, but I always remind myself how great it makes me feel at the end!

    That’s all folks. Do you like this list? Does it resonate? Tell me your favorite ways to love your body, I’d love to chat!

    Xoxo Kenzie

    @thecurveconfessions

  • Inspirational Interview with Guest, Chicago Fitness Instructor Lauren Zerante

    Inspirational Interview with Guest, Chicago Fitness Instructor Lauren Zerante

    “The Curve Confessions by Kenzie is a movement inspiring women to find happiness in ourselves, no matter our size or shape; rock the skin we’re in with confidence; openly discuss body image issues we see in the world; and create a safe space where we all feel accepted.”

    I can speak to the fact that fitness is a way to find happiness and confidence in ourselves, and that’s not just for our physical appearance, but for our overall emotional well being, inner strength, etc.

    Lauren Zerante is someone who helped me find my love for fitness again and is an inspiring instructor and fitness connoisseur in Chicago. She also happens to be my best friend of over a decade. Read our interview to get inspired and learn more about her side hustle and motivation (if you get to the end you can find a way to try her classes, too)!

    CC: Thanks for joining me Lauren! So let’s cut to the chase, when did you become a group fitness instructor and why? 
    Lauren: Thanks for having me! I received my yoga sculpt certification from CorePower Yoga in April of 2015. I had been going and taking class religiously after graduating and moving back home, and one day I thought about taking the plunge and doing teacher training. I had been looking to fill the void my college volleyball career provided and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. I love being around people, leading groups, and it’s no surprise that I love working out. Fast forward a few years later and I found myself wanting to focus on studying more forms of exercise, specifically HIIT- high intensity interval training, outside of the yoga studio. I decided to get my NASM personal training certification and later pursue group fitness at Equinox. I started teaching classes there in April of 2018.
    CC: Amazing, obviously I love your classes 🙂 Can you tell my readers where/when you teach?
    Lauren: Yes! Here they are.
    Corepower Yoga Sculpt schedule: Monday mornings at CPY Old Town 5:45 am, Thursday evenings 5:45 pm at CPY River North
    Equinox: Saturday METCON3 11:45 am at Equinox Lincoln Park
    CC: I hope some readers can make it to your classes! Can you tell us what motivates you, and what is your biggest piece of advice to others looking for motivation?
    Lauren: It sounds kind of cliche but, myself. I am a super competitive person but I’ve found that I get the most gratitude when I see myself improving in things over time vs doing ‘better’ than someone else. I like to run and usually run 1-2 half marathons a year. My biggest motivation for those is doing everything I can to beat my last race time or learn something new in the training process. My biggest piece of advice would be to find something that you truly enjoy. Motivation will always lack if you view something as a chore. In today’s fitness world there are sooo many studios and different ways to stay active. My advice would be to explore all those options until you find something that clicks.
    CC: I can definitely vouch for that and totally agree. Tell us, why is fitness so important to you, and when/why did it become that way?
    Lauren: It’s the best ‘me time’ that I’ve been able to find. When I’m working out, no matter what the workout is (alone or in a class) I’m able to completely disconnect from what’s going on in my life and my (usually) long to do list. Teaching group fitness is just as important for me because it’s a way to connect with others on a really unique and special level. Seeing people come back each week and put in the work, transform their mind and body, and do things they didn’t think they could do in the past has been extremely rewarding. I know that for a lot of people, that one hour in their day is as special for them as it is for me so it’s definitely a big deal to be leading that time.

    CC: Absolutely agree girlfriend. Random question for my readers; what would your ideal way to spend a day look like?

    Lauren: I love working out with friends, so my ideal day would be either teaching a class with friends in it or taking one with them! Catching up after over coffee/dinner/drinks is always an added plus. Now that it’s warm out in Chicago my ideal day would be hanging out on some kind of roof top/patio or taking a walk along the lake. And my ideal day would probably end with ice cream… duh.

    CC: Sounds like a fun day hehe. How do you recommend others get into fitness or a side hustle, based on your own experience?

    Lauren: Community is the biggest thing that comes to mind when answering this question. The Chicago fitness community is pretty unbelievable, and I know a lot of other cities have similar dynamics. Take classes, don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to fellow classmates or instructors. Research fitness events- there are tons. ASweatLife is a great resource and way to meet people who have a passion for fitness as well as check out the many studios around the nation.

    CC: That’s great advice. Who inspires you?
    Lauren: Oohh this is tough. I have a lot of ‘favorite’ instructors in the Chicago area the list would be very long. One of my favorite ‘insta inspirations’ is @rksolidnyc. She’s a former Barry’s Bootcamp/current Peloton instructor and I find her approach to fitness to be authentic, dedicated, and relatable. I also enjoy following @ashwilking, a Nike Trainer and Rumble boxer trainer in NYC. She’s a total bada** and I absolutely loved taking her class in person at Rumble in NYC recently.
    CC: Inspo to the max, I’m following now! So on the topic of body image… Do you encourage all shapes and sizes to take your classes?
    Lauren: Absolutely. All shapes and sizes, all ages, and all fitness backgrounds. Modifications are always an option in my class and I will never force someone to do something they are a) not comfortable with or b) have physical limitations doing. One of the most common things I hear from people prior to doing my class or really any workout class is “I’m not good at x”, whether that be yoga, running, lifting. Group fitness classes aren’t about being “good” or “bad” at something. And in my classes, being “good” at yoga sculpt or “good” at HIIT will never be a thing. It’s about showing up, being around others, and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. I say this a lot in my classes but you have to “trust me and trust yourself”.

    Thanks for the inspiring interview, Lauren!

    Readers: if you want to try Lauren’s class, DM her on Instagram at @lzerante. You won’t regret it!

  • Why I Never Want To Hear The Words “Summer Body” Again

    Why I Never Want To Hear The Words “Summer Body” Again

    “I need to get my summer bod!”

    “Man I want to lose a few before summer starts.”

    How many things like the above have you heard, or even said yourself? The weather’s getting warmer which means summer is on everybody’s minds. And you know what summer means; swimsuits and baring it all.

    But summer also means the dreaded comments from friends and family about how they need to lose a few, get abs, get in the gym… the list goes on. Since I’ve started my blog I notice WAY more of these conversations happening and try my best to intervene telling people they look great now; no summer body needed.

    So that’s what brings me to this post. The fact that we all need to calm down over our bodies morphing into some “new season” body. Do you have a body? Do you have a swimsuit? You have a beach body then.

    I’m not going to sit here on my high horse and act like I don’t think about myself in a swimsuit either. I definitely do. But I think we owe it all to ourselves to let it be. Get in the gym and feel good, but don’t kill yourself for some unattainable summer body or to look like your favorite influencer in their string bikini. Instead, I challenge you to start looking in the mirror and saying “damn I look good!” Or buying a new swimsuit that you feel confident AF in, no matter what size or style it is.

    Let’s get rid of the term summer body and love ourselves how we are now. It will only save us from wishing for something unattainable and being disappointed later – and there ain’t nothing to be disappointed about.

    XOXO

  • My Favorite Spring Looks & Pieces Giving Me Confidence 

    My Favorite Spring Looks & Pieces Giving Me Confidence 

    I’m so excited for a few things – one of them being the weather getting warmer, and another being a change in fashion seasons. With that change in seasons always comes the apparent awkwardness in my fashion choices – what the heck do I wear?

    Some days, I’ve been able to throw on sandals, while the next day it’s snowing. It’s up in the air, but that’s not stopping me from transitioning my favorite pieces over to spring. Even though it’s awkward with the weather, my number one fashion rule remains – be comfortable and confident.

    Personally, my favorite things to wear are those that express my personality; red, leopard, etc. are obvious choices. But some days, I just want to be comfortable. Some days, I want to be fierce and out there. No matter what, I think our style is part of our identities and confidence – so it’s so important to be true to ourselves.

    I love bargains and love finding pieces that work for various seasons. Here are some of my top spring looks I’m bringing into this new season:

    I’m not sure what makes this outfit more – the pants or the red jacket – but I’m obsessed with both pieces. This is definitely an outfit on the bolder side, but is great for spring days because it’s dressed up, and the red jacket acts as a light coat. It can always be taken off (see look below) and thrown off the shoulder or carried.

    Red jacket: Zara 

    Leopard pants: Nordstrom Rack

    Combat boots: Nordstrom

    Sunglasses: Mulberry and Me

    Outfit #2:


    This outfit is comfortable yet a little edgy! I’ve been looking for a black jean jacket for FOREVER and finally found this crop one from Topshop and am obsessed. I also love rocking combats with the unusual outfits, and this was definitely an opportunity for that. If it’s really hot, I can take off the jean jacket and/or sub out sandals for the combats to make this outfit more weather friendly.

    Romper: Urban Outfitters

    Crop jean jacket: Topshop

    Earrings & sunglasses: Mulberry and Me

    Outfit #3:


    This outfit is similar to above, except it has the red pop with this red jean jacket. I’m obsessed with this jacket – it literally goes with anything. The red jacket can definitely be thrown over different types of outfits, too, but this one is comfy yet adorable!

    Red jean jacket: Nordstrom

    Outfit #4:


    This outfit makes me feel like a sassy chick. It’s comfortable yet professional, and could be swapped to a tank and sandals for warmer weather. These pants were so cheap but are a nice material so I don’t feel like a slob wearing them. And duh, they’re so fun!

    Black top: Nordstrom

    Leopard pants: Nordstrom Rack

    Combat boots: Nordstrom

    Outfit #5:


    Athletic wear is usually what you can find me in – whether I’m running to a workout class or running errands around town, this jacket was a must have from Zara. I actually saw a girl wearing it at the airport once and then coincidentally found it – it was fate! It’s super clean looking and could even be dressed up with jeans!

    Jacket: Zara

  • Traveling Solo: What I Learned and Why Everyone Should Do It

    Traveling Solo: What I Learned and Why Everyone Should Do It

    Studying abroad is something I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to do in college. I studied a semester in Verona, Italy and it was an absolutely life changing experience.

     I definitely got the experience of going out of my comfort zone by being in a different country, speaking a different language, and meeting new people. However, looking back I realize I definitely stayed well within my comfort zone while abroad, because I was always in a group with others I somewhat knew.

    But while I was over there, I met someone who was traveling alone and was in absolute awe of her. I thought to myself, “I could never do that,” but deep down felt an urge to get to the point where I could. So I kept it in the back of my mind, and set the goal last year that I would conquer my fears of traveling alone. So I set out what I had to do to get there – which included saving money and planning for time off from work (and trip logistics, of course). And last fall, I conquered my fear and traveled solo to Europe (Italy, Switzerland, France, and the U.K.).

    So, I thought I’d write a post about my own personal experience, what I got out of it, and why I think everyone should experience something similar if they can. 

    Why I did it: I did it to challenge myself and prove to myself that I could. I also did it to get some time to myself and really dig deep into my life, my goals, and exploring other places completely on my own. Conquering that fear felt like a hurdle and learning experience I was yearning for.

    What I got out of it: A lot. I learned a lot about myself (because you have NO idea what it’s like being alone until you’re literally alone in your thoughts in another country), met a ton of people, got way out of my comfort zone, and ultimately conquered my fears – which alone made it all worth it. Side note: For part of my trip I did a “group tour,” which was basically a bunch of single people from different countries coming together to explore different cities. That was also an incredible part of my experience because I got to meet new people and put myself out there, which was another highlight of my journey. 

    Why everyone should do it: All of the reasons above. I honestly would do it again but go to other countries if I can, because everyone should travel and explore new places and cultures. If you’re itching to travel, do it. Make a plan for how you’re going to get there and go after it. You won’t regret it!

    All in all, traveling alone was a huge confidence booster and personal growth experience. I came home and was like, “wow, I’m not afraid of anything anymore!” Of course, I’m human and have fears still just like everyone, but this experience truly helped me in so many ways personally that I am so grateful for. And I hope others feel inspired to take the plunge.

    Now who’s booking their solo trip? 😉