As I stated earlier, I have lost about 25 pounds in the past year. I'm very proud of myself for this. Things that I listed before that were impossible for me to do, are much more attainable and things I never thought about doing, I can actually do!
For example:
I can bend over and touch my toes. Sometimes, I can even get my palms on the floor
Where as I couldn't get 20 kicks in without being exhausted, I can now do 40 at a rip
I can swing a 20lb kettlebell which my boss thinks is astounding. She just bought a 20lb and says it's "so heavy!".
I can do ten pushups (ok.. on my knees but last year I couldn't do one.. not one)
I can wear my bent barbell navel ring without a problem. I had to take it out and switch to a closed ring because the barbell kept twisting because of the fat fold. It was painful.
I can run up a flight of stairs.
I can squat down AND get back up without pulling myself up with my arms.
I can shop for clothes without feeling like ZOMG NOTHING FITS AND I'M SO FAT!
I used to be very very skinny... too thin some might say. I used to eat whatever I wanted and burn those calories off like nothing. I slowly let the weight creep up on me. I remember when I first bought a pair of size 10 pants. I was horrified!
Stay with me here, okay? I know now that size 10 isn't fat! But remember, I was a size 4 for a very long time.
I remember being very depressed. I remember getting angry at myself. Angry for "letting myself go". I remember trying to convince myself that it was the cut of the pants or that they "ran small".
Then I had to buy a size 12... and a size 14.. and a size 16.. and OMG those jeans are an 18! I stopped wearing skirts. I hid behind baggy clothes. I was ashamed of how I looked. Everytime I "outgrew" my clothes and had to go up a size I went through it all over again. The anger, the frustration, the depression.
Over my body size.
Who I was didn't change. But how I felt about myself really did. I allowed the size of my body affect how I felt about myself. I lost confidence in every aspect of my life. I didn't feel worthy of nice things. I didn't feel sexy or attractive.
Today, I went shopping for clothes. Today, I bought size 12 skirts and was thrilled that they were a size 12! I'm feeling healthy and getting fit and my body is changing because of it.
Size 12... that same size 12 that had me in fits of depression and feeling miserable five years ago. And I don't feel like I'm getting "skinny". I feel like I'm getting healthy, because let me tell you, at size 4 I couldn't lift 20lbs so I certainly wasn't going to swing 20lbs.
I don't really care what the numbers are on the tags. The number 12 doesn't freak me out anymore. For a long time I deceived myself into thinking that the number on the tag defined who I was, what I looked like, what people thought of me.
But what I'm finding is that the new found confidence I have in what my body can do as opposed to what number some clothing designer assigns to it, has a lot more to do with how I carry myself.
A clingy sweater and a size 12 skirt looks a hell of a lot better now because I'm standing up tall. I'm confident. I feel great. I'm not slouched over feeling ashamed of how "fat" I am.
I'm still working to get in shape. If I'm a size 12 for the rest of my life I do not care. My body will find it's natural balance wherever that may land on the clothing spectrum.
It's freakishly liberating.
Edited- 1/17/11 1:00PM
Since this is actually getting some attention, I thought I'd add a pic I took this morning. (please ignore my socks that are busting out of the dresser drawer, mmmkay?)
My new size 12 skirt
I go back and forth in that the number itself does not define me, but how I feel IN that number does. If I feel sloppy and icky then that’s what defines me and then the number makes me upset. I don’t know if that makes sense to anyone else, but it does to me. On a happier note, I’m working on the eat less, move more and there’s a very real possibility that I’ll see my size 14 jeans that I shrunk again soon…and a very real possibility that when I go to FL in March, I can restock my clothes at the discount shopping down there because I won’t have any pants to wear…
Pssst. Also? Congrats to you! When I put it at the beginning, it sounded like I was being snarky in my head and that’s totally not the case
Thank you! it doesn’t sound snarky at all. And that makes perfect sense to me. I’m sure that I physically felt no where near as good on the way down to a size 12 as I did on the way UP to a size 12
This.
There’s a huge difference between being able to shop for “what will look good” and “what won’t look horrible”, isn’t there? Keep loving yourself–sounds like you’re on your way back to you.
That is so awesome congrats. It is amazing how our weight can affect our self esteem. When I was a kid, I could eat whatever I wanted too, and not gain a point. I worked at Baskin Ice Cream in High School and ate so much that I should have been a balloon. Once age catches up, we actually have to learn how to eat right.
In my teens I used to work at a drug store. I managed the front end where all the candy was. For my lunch break I used to eat two candy bars and a soda. My goal was to try every single variety of candy bar we had.
I’m late to this party; playing catch-up this week, so please excuse my tardiness.
First – congrats on the weight-loss. I’ve struggled with weight since birth, it seems. I know how hard it is to lose, and what an accomplishment that is. Kudos!!
I think the post hits on something very important – our own perception. When I graduated high school, I wore a size 14. Now, I’m slightly bigger (between a 16 and an 18 and I can’t even believe I’m typing that here). When I look at high school photos, I think – wow, what I wouldn’t give to be that thin! But at the time – I felt huge. There’s way too much focus on the number and what looks good instead of what’s healthy. Thanks for posting this.
I agree.. healthy is what I’m aiming for … if you want some inspiration from someone who worries more about food than fat, check out http://www.fatnutritionist.com/
[Blogging] Self Deception – http://www.kicknknit.com/2011/01/16/self…
I think that’s fantastic. The numbers shouldn’t matter (high or low) as long as you feel healthy. Hooray for you!!
Thank you!
I go back and forth in that the number itself does not define me, but how I feel IN that number does. If I feel sloppy and icky then that’s what defines me and then the number makes me upset. I don’t know if that makes sense to anyone else, but it does to me. On a happier note, I’m working on the eat less, move more and there’s a very real possibility that I’ll see my size 14 jeans that I shrunk again soon…and a very real possibility that when I go to FL in March, I can restock my clothes at the discount shopping down there because I won’t have any pants to wear…
Pssst. Also? Congrats to you! When I put it at the beginning, it sounded like I was being snarky in my head and that’s totally not the case
Thank you! it doesn’t sound snarky at all. And that makes perfect sense to me. I’m sure that I physically felt no where near as good on the way down to a size 12 as I did on the way UP to a size 12
In case you missed it, yesterday I blogged about what being a size 12 means to me. http://www.kicknknit.com/2011/01/16/self…
@kicknknit You don’t look like a sz 12 in your pics.
@bangtrebleknitr thanks! I wear it well, don’t you think?
@kicknknit You do, indeed!
RT @kicknknit: In case you missed it, yesterday I blogged about what being a size 12 means to me. http://www.kicknknit.com/2011/01/16/self…
RT @kicknknit: In case you missed it, yesterday I blogged about what being a size 12 means to me. http://www.kicknknit.com/2011/01/16/self…
@kicknknit What a great place to be. Fit *is* the best and something I need to do for myself.
@knitterotica thank you!
This.
There’s a huge difference between being able to shop for “what will look good” and “what won’t look horrible”, isn’t there? Keep loving yourself–sounds like you’re on your way back to you.
Thank you! that is a very accurate description of how just changing perception can make a huge difference.
That is so awesome congrats. It is amazing how our weight can affect our self esteem. When I was a kid, I could eat whatever I wanted too, and not gain a point. I worked at Baskin Ice Cream in High School and ate so much that I should have been a balloon. Once age catches up, we actually have to learn how to eat right.
Re: working at Baskin Robbins.
In my teens I used to work at a drug store. I managed the front end where all the candy was. For my lunch break I used to eat two candy bars and a soda. My goal was to try every single variety of candy bar we had.
I’d like to think I have better goals now.. LOL!
I’m late to this party; playing catch-up this week, so please excuse my tardiness.
First – congrats on the weight-loss. I’ve struggled with weight since birth, it seems. I know how hard it is to lose, and what an accomplishment that is. Kudos!!
I think the post hits on something very important – our own perception. When I graduated high school, I wore a size 14. Now, I’m slightly bigger (between a 16 and an 18 and I can’t even believe I’m typing that here). When I look at high school photos, I think – wow, what I wouldn’t give to be that thin! But at the time – I felt huge. There’s way too much focus on the number and what looks good instead of what’s healthy. Thanks for posting this.
I agree.. healthy is what I’m aiming for … if you want some inspiration from someone who worries more about food than fat, check out http://www.fatnutritionist.com/