Every Friday I am going to feature a woman that I adore. They exude all the qualities of an Alpha Female and I want to dig into their lives to get some nuggets of knowledge to help us all live happier, healthier lives balancing life & work.
Definition of an Alpha Female
An Alpha Female is a powerful and assertive woman. Her confidence is due to being an intelligent and intellectual problem-solver. Being an Alpha Female is a State of Mind based on choosing ambition and being proud of it. She strives for a happy and healthy work/life harmony.
She is the brightest star in her constellation. When an Alpha Female stays true to their authentic selves and their missions they shine. An Alpha Female puts herself first because she deserves self-care and love. She knows that work/life harmony is found by staying true to your priorities and what makes you happy. She is never complacent about striving for better and nurtures relationships with all the people in her life.
Meet Theresa Jenn Lopetrone!
Theresa Jenn Lopetrone is Fitness Cover Model, Elementary School Teacher, Sponsored Athlete, Transformation Success Story, Cross-Fitter, Wife and Adventurer committed to making an impact on as many lives as possible one day at a time.
What do you think of the definition and how are you an Alpha Female?
This definition for an Alpha Female is beautifully stated and I resonate with it. I am beyond grateful to be a woman in this world and to be in a position to be an example for my young female students. I am an Alpha Female because I allowed my ambition and intelligence to design my life as I envisioned it. I use my emotional intelligence to care for those around me, but I also understand that I need to take care of myself first in order to give back to the world fully. I am frequently connected to how harmonious I feel and I strive to ensure that I am being true to myself and living an authentic life. Being an Alpha female means that I will live according to my rules, feel confident in my abilities, and have faith in myself that I can pursue all things in life. I strive to be a better version of myself and I continue to grow because this is the only way to truly find out what I am capable achieving and giving back to this world.
What are you most passionate about?
I am the most passionate about living, learning, giving, and being better every day.
What does work/life harmony look like for you?
My work/life harmony starts with being present and energetic at work while teaching children and collaborating with colleagues to ensure all my students are reaching their full potential. Knowing that I have accomplished all that’s in my control at school allows me to leave my work behind for the day and decompress, train, go out to dinner with my husband or catch up with a friend in the evenings. Giving myself permission to carve out time for me provides an opportunity to recharge and live mindfully which in turn creates harmony in my life.
Share with us a time when work/life balance was out of whack? What was your aha moment that taught you it was ok to take care of yourself first?
The time when my work/life balance was most out of wack was when I competed in my last physique show in 2013. Previous to this, I never properly took an off season and gave myself a chance to ‘live’ a life filled with health and fitness, instead, I chased it like a hamster on a hamster wheel. The year leading up to this show was pure chaos. I was starting work at a new school, I was moving, planning a wedding shower and wedding in another province, and trying to prepare for my first Pro show. On top of it all, my body wasn’t responding to much of the competition prep that I was following and this, in turn, created even more stress. I realized that I took on too much but I was too far to back out of any of my commitments. As a result, I was stressed out, disappointed in myself, and unhappy. My aha moment was after I competed at World’s in Vegas when I promised myself that this was no way to live. Following the show, I went to see a Naturopath to repair my body, I did much reading on self-love and learned to be kinder to myself, and re-taught myself how to live again. This is when I created the hashtag #LiveLifeProject as a reminder to myself to stay committed to my authentic self and living in the present, listening to my body, and finding passion in health and fitness again.
How do you nourish yourself?
I nourish myself in a variety of ways. The first way I nourish myself is by feeding my body with the nutrients it needs and wants to function daily. Some days that might mean a colourful salad or protein smoothie and other days it might mean pizza or ice cream. Food isn’t just for our body, it’s for our mind too and I need both to be satisfied in order to feel balanced. The second way is by surrounding myself with genuine people who fill up my spirit with support, laughter, and good vibes. The third way I nourish myself is by taking personal quiet time out for me, whether that’s reading a book, hitting the beach, or going for a hike, it’s the time I can take to reflect on where I am today.
What is your weekly fitness routine like?
My weekly fitness routine has dramatically changed since switching from competition prep-style training to Crossfit. Now, I Crossfit train 5-6 times a week with 1 session of Olympic lifting. During the warmer months, I try to get outside and hike, run, stand-up paddle board, or go kayaking once a week. In the colder months, I will spin or go snowshoeing on the mountain. I choose to train because I enjoy it and it’s my therapy, not because I feel pressure to fit the mold.
What are your daily habits for winding down at night and reducing stress?
My daily habits for winding down at night and reducing stress are first, training after work. After training, I refuel my body, take an Epsom salt bath, and have a sleepy-time tea, my husband, as we watch one of our on-going Netflix shows. Once I’m in bed, I will either read or meditate.
What are some pain points of being an Alpha Female that you have to problem solve for?
Some pain points of being an Alpha Female that I have to problem solve for is knowing when to pull back and let people learn independently. As much as I would like to create solutions for everything and everyone, I also know that people will change when they are ready to. One thing I still struggle with is letting go of the fact that I can’t create happiness for others. In my ideal world, everyone would experience bursts of happiness, gratitude, and confidence, and they would live their life as if risk or judgment didn’t exist. But as time passes and I accept that this is not something I have control over, I have felt less stress over not being able to obtain this for the people I love. People can perceive an Alpha female in any fashion in accordance with how they feel about themselves but it’s important to remember that as long as I am living authentically and contributing to the world, that the opinion of others doesn’t matter. The people who love me unconditionally will always be there and at the end of the day, I have to be true to myself.
What is your definition of happiness?
Happiness is living mindfully, authentically, and allowing yourself to feel and welcome what life has to offer. When we live according to our values and pursue our goals, we are able to experience the flow of happiness. As much as I wish happiness was a constant in our life, I know this isn’t possible without enduring sadness. We need times of sadness in order to recognize moments of happiness and because we can lean into sadness, we are better able to catch happiness when it’s in the air. Happiness makes you feel alive in the present.