If you read my blog for sometime you may know I used to be anti "normal" exercise. I hated the gym and I didn’t do any structured workouts. Don’t get me wrong, I stayed active, walked, danced even liked going to the park for a long hike but you wouldn’t catch me dead in the gym. I lost my weight through diet alone and I have to admit I did successfully "shrink" my body. [Read more →]

Well I’m back from Atlantic City and tomorrow I’m off to Canada. How crazy is that?!? Right now I should be packing and getting everything ready for my 7AM flight but I can’t seem to get motivated. I needed to take a break and part of that break was spending some uninterrupted time with the toddler. :~)

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This week’s question was inspired by a meme swizzlepop posted a few weeks ago. It was called The “I LOVE ME” List and I’ve been meaning to post my responses but MAN I just don’t have any time (I’ve also been meaning to post about 3 food finds, respond to the bazillion messages in my inbox and visit my some of my favorite blogs, but I digress). So instead, I took the concept and simply ask, what it is you LOVE about your body?

I think we all (especially women) spend way too much time criticizing ourselves. Personally, I spent 15 years not happy in my own skin. Not swimming with friends because I didn’t want to wear a bathing suit, not dancing at weddings because I didn’t like the way I looked in my dress, not buying clothes that fit because I wanted to hide under oversized jeans and t-shirts.  Some of you may think “yeah, well, it’s easier for you now to be confident, you lost the weight”. But I’m here to tell you it was the opposite. First, I learned how to love myself, then I started to lose weight.

Something happened to me after I had “the toddler”. I realized how beautiful, valuable and important my body really is. I remember hiking with a friend and wearing a tank top about month after giving birth. Now, I would NEVER be caught dead without sleeves, NEVER.  Geesh, I even spent months looking for a long sleeve wedding dress! And here I was 200lbs, carrying my newborn in a sling and hiking with a friend. I didn’t care my arms weren’t “model” thin. I was out living life, enjoying myself and keeping cool (it was a HOT day and who wants to wear sleeves on a hot day anyway?)

The point I’m trying to make (not sure if I’m doing a good job of it) is that I had a defining moment where I realized it’s not worth it to be unhappy about my body. I had to accept myself for me at THAT moment if I was to grow and continue on my journey. It wasn’t easy (I think we established that ;~P). It took a lot of mental coaching and positive self talk. Yes, I actually have looked in the mirror and said, “This is you, DEAL WITH IT!” while wearing something I normally wouldn’t be caught dead in, like a tank top!

So my answer to this simple question is so much more then a particular body part (although I’ve always liked my neck – weird, I know) what I love about my body is that it is healthy, strong, and has the ability to change. I love that my body has grown and nurtured a life. And I love that my body allows me to enjoy life to the fullest, I know not everyone is that lucky.

Your turn… :~)

I wrote about this awhile back and found bit and pieces of the old post. Last night getting ready to go out I had similar feelings so I’m reposting.

Why is it one day I can catch a glimpse of myself and see all that I accomplished? 70lbs gone, the slender body I always dreamed of having since about age 12 and self-confidence and sense of determination that I can do anything I set my mind to. But other days I catch that same glimpse, it can be the next day or maybe even an hour after the first glimpse and I see a completely different body. Every flaw magnified, I see thickness, I feel vulnerable, and the thought crosses my mind that it was all in vain. I swear the glimpse I see is the same body I had for most of my life.

Am I crazy? Well, some would say I am for other reasons. ;~)

In all seriousness, my logical mind knows that the latter scenario is preposterous but when this happens it does mess with your attitude, motivation and confidence that day.

I can’t be the only one that feels this way, am I?

Note: I would give credit for the picture but I honestly don’t remember were I found it. Sorry.