The deal with our body image

Excuse me as I give myself a pep talk about body image. Some of you may have the same problem as me and others may not, but I do have a problem. In the car on the way back from Memphis, I was reading the news and I found this clip of Jennifer Lawrence telling us to “screw those people” who want to make us into someone else. It was actually a refreshing moment to watch and made me love this woman so much more. How can you not love the psychotic girl from Silver Linings Playbook or Katniss Everdeen?


IF the video isn’t showing up for you, please watch the clip here!

What if that person is you? When I was larger, I didn’t care how I looked. I knew when people looked at me they saw a “fat” girl and I embraced it. When someone called me fat or pointed and giggled, I didn’t care. I just went on with my life and didn’t care. Things seem to change when I lost all the weight. I noticed I became self-conscious. As an overweight girl, people noticed me for all the wrong reasons and as a “normal” weight girl, I started to notice things about myself.

But why all of the sudden did I start paying attention to things that I didn’t care about before? Yesterday I asked if people had problems with body image on Facebook and I was glad to see people responded and there was even someone who felt exactly the same way I did.

From Facebook:

I struggle with body image and have for a long time. I try not to obsess with it. after I starting eating better and working out 6 years ago, I’ve noticed I am more self conscious about it. It’s weird. Before when I didn’t work out , I didn’t even really care and I was significantly heavier.

The world has created an image of what a person should be. “Perfection” by those standards will never be obtainable and why are we all searching for this idea? I don’t think I’m searching for that perfect body because I’m not. I guess I am searching to just be comfortable with myself. Before, I went on with my business not caring about the way I looked and all of the sudden I started to care about how I looked. I cared about being active and healthy and certain things just started to fall in line.

All of the sudden I was bothered by big thighs and loose skin and it really shouldn’t be that way.  My body is a lot stronger and healthier than it was just 3 years ago and I should be happy with that.  We should all learn to accept who we are and be proud of that.  But why the mind tricks? Why is good enough never enough?

Everyone is made to be different and we should all embrace and LOVE that about ourselves.  I hate to quote a Backstreet Boys song (but it’s one of my favs), but what makes you different, makes you beautiful.  This is a philosophy we all need to start practicing today.  We’re not all going to be a size 0, we’re not all going to be stick thin or wear that dress the same way as someone else, but we are all worthy of praise and happiness.  We are our own worse critics and should stop with all the bad self talk.

I know if someone said the things I about me that I sometimes say or think, I would be upset and push back.  It’s not ok to let those negative thoughts creep into my own head when there is so much negativity out there in the world.  The one positive place in anyone life should be within themselves.  Learning to love yourself for who you are is an important step in being happy in life!

Source: Fat 2 Flaca

As my dear friend Mel said: “I love myself, but I still notice all of my flaws.”  She is dead on here but I would like to take it one step further by saying I notice my flaws and I LOVE them.  Those flaws make us who we are and maybe those flaws aren’t flaws at all, just a foundation of who we are. Plus, can we really fight against our genetics?

All this is easier said than done, but it’s something I really need to work on!  I hope this is the first step in moving in the right direction.  I always said in the past I felt like my weight defined me and this is just another way of having weight rule my life.  We are all so much more than the size pants we wear.  It’s just a number.  Why let that rule our world?  Why should our body types be a negative force?  And why do people even care?  It’s really nothing in the grand scheme of life. Let’s all stop it now!

I should always remember that as long as I’m living my healthy life, I should be happy, proud and satisfied! Today I will start to love my imperfections because those are the things that make me who I am. Today, this is the promise I make myself. Will you do the same?

What is one thing you love about your body?

The importance of being you

The importance of being you

I guess today is a little inspirational post. Over the course of my marathon training, I’ve struggled with doing things for myself. I’m sure a lot of you struggle with this too, especially when others who are dependent on you. I don’t have any children but I’ve been left to task of caring for my mother as she battled cancer along with many other responsibilities. I declared this time in my life as a time to do something for myself…and I got flack for it. The most important thing to realize is that NO ONE is going to be 100%…

View Post

Marathon mind

Marathon mind

Excuse me as I take a break from talking about anything else that’s going on in life because I can’t think about anything EXCEPT the marathon.  Yesterday I was in tears because I feared the race would be canceled. NO ONE even mentioned the possible cancellation, it was just one of those things I didn’t even want to occur. Why would they cancel you might ask?  Winter weather! I intended on the weather being on the chilly side back in February, even though Willie said it wouldn’t happen like that. I didn’t expect a winter storm to literally snow on…

View Post

Keeping it real for the holidays

Keeping it real for the holidays

The holidays are a hard time for people who are food conscious.  Just because I lost all this weight doesn’t mean I don’t have issues with food and right now I just feel like my eating hasn’t been that good.  My eating habits probably aren’t as bad as I’m making it seem; it’s just that I’m eating foods that I usually don’t eat.  I am desperately trying to get rid of the leftovers in the house so I can put the holiday behind me.  I hate wasting money and throwing away food is just wasting money to me.  This morning…

View Post

Playing Catch Up: Pie Party, Thanksgiving and Black …

Playing Catch Up: Pie Party, Thanksgiving and Black Friday

Been wondering where I’ve been? Things have been really busy. I’ve been traveling too much and trying to cram too much into too little time. My blogging has suffered a TINY bit! I was in Alabama and then had to come home to work…and then host some holiday festivities. I thought I was going to have Wednesday off but it didn’t happen that way. I went to the gym and ended up teaching a spin class to help someone out. On Wednesday, we through a “pie party” for Jeremy’s birthday. We wanted to do something nice for him and Willie…

View Post

I Can Be Active Check-In #1

I Can Be Active Check-In #1

It’s time for the first checkin for the I Can Be Active Challenge. Please share with me how you’ve been active over the first time period. You can gain extra entries by doing the things below. I guess you want to know what the first prize is, right? It’s a few Good Greens Bars! At the expo at RnR San Antonio we stumbled across this booth and was pleasantly surprised with the product! These bars are made of veggies but the bars are really good. I grabbed a couple for the giveaway so you can give it a try too…

View Post

Happy Late Friday from the road

Happy Late Friday from the road

I’m a bad blogger, I didn’t post anything at all today. I have a good excuse, I was driving in the car all day. It’s Ruben Studdard Celebration weekend which means I’m gearing up for the 3rd Annual Magic City Half Marathon. I am looking forward to the race even though it’s supposed to be really COLD.  I’m trying to decide if I’m actually going to run this race or just have a good time.  To try to PR or not?  I AM supposed to be in taper! I wish I could say I am having a good day but…

View Post

Quick tips on how to eat healthy

Quick tips on how to eat healthy

I’ve been so busy lately and I will admit I’m tired.  It’s already Wednesday and I have to leave again on Friday.  All this fall travel might be starting to catch up with, but I don’t regret any moment of it.  I’ve taken two days off of running because my hamstring has been a little sore after 20-miler Sunday. I’m hoping that I can get back on it today and see where it goes. I started my taper this week so it’s time to rest up for the big marathon in 16 days! Eating healthy is always a struggle and…

View Post

Race Recap: One hot weekend at RnR San …

Race Recap: One hot weekend at RnR San Antonio

It was my 12th half this year, Willie’s 3rd and my best friend Tyson’s first half/race EVER, so I was excited for this race.  It was kind of bittersweet because it was also the last RnR of the year!  I really wanted to end the RnR season with a bang but let me tell you that didn’t happen because it was SUPER hot.  I know when we started the race it had to be VERY close to 80 degrees and the humidity was killing before we even thought about running. Race day was also the day of my 20 miler…

View Post

Find your motivation

Find your motivation

Happy Friday! I’m getting ready for my 12th half marathon this weekend. The training plan called for an easy 3 miles today so I did that after going to Group Power at 5AM! My biggest motivation for getting up at 5AM to work out is really not having to do it in the afternoon! I’ve been trying to talk to blog readers about their struggles with weight loss and lifestyle change and motivation keeps coming up. Most of the e-mails I get about the weight loss are about my motivation to lose weight and how I stuck with it. Willie…

View Post

Challenge: I CAN…Be Active

Challenge: I CAN…Be Active

It’s that time of year again when people say they are busy but aren’t too busy to eat. The holidays are about spending time with family and friends and buying gifts, so why not give yourself a gift? The holidays are filled with treats and great food so practice moderation with those foods. BUT I’m also asking you to get active! My best friend Mandie has already jumped on the challenge and she’s been working out to shed some pounds and just get an active lifestyle. Why can’t you do the same over the holiday season? There’s A LOT of…

View Post