A Letter to My Body

This is the first letter I’ve written to my body/self. Saying that makes me feel silly but I think it will be great to look back and compare letters over time. So, I plan to write letters, such as this, a couple of times a year during my journey to a healthier me.

Dear Body:

Oh where do I begin! You just turned 30. I didn’t freak out and actually embraced the milestone–yeah me! First of all, I’d like to say I’m sorry. I haven’t taken care of you like I should have. And that’s horrible because you’re all I have! At a young age I was active so you were trim like typical children, plus the knobby knees. Then puberty hit and I decided to ignore the changes you were going through and started to eat like a crazy woman. I’m pretty sure I went through a depression around age 13 or so, and because of that you suffered because I was lonely and just ate my feelings and sat on my butt as much as I could. Even during the middle school years when you were the strongest you’d ever been with muscle definition, I thought you were fat. I didn’t appreciate you. I didn’t appreciate the fact you were full of power and if only I had known I would have never let that get away from me.

Over the years I have never, truly, been at peace with you. I never appreciated the fact if I put more weight on you would, usually, evenly distribute the weight instead of putting it all in my ass. Or stomach. Or legs. Because of that nicely distributed way you handle what I do to you, I typically didn’t look what I weighed. So thank you. At some point that changed. However, because you evenly place the weight all over my body, instead of in just one spot, that also means if I lose the weight you also respond in a nice way. Again, much appreciated!

Since mid-November I’ve tried the hardest I ever have in my entire life to live a healthier lifestyle and to workout on basically a daily basis. It hasn’t been easy. Damn Chick-fil-A calls my name every time I drive by. The Snickers at the checkout line ask why I don’t stop by anymore. But I’ve tried to stay strong for you and to keep you healthy. I have my not-so-great days where I eat what I want or have a double helping of the husband’s homemade mac ‘n cheese, but I also eat more veggies and less fast food. I’m not on a diet. I promise you that. I will not finish the diet and then revert back to my old ways. This is how I plan to live the rest of my life by making good decisions and eating for fuel than just because of the time of day.

So far I’ve managed to shed 21 pounds off your frame. I’ve noticed since about six pounds. Around 10 pounds the husband noticed. Around 16 pounds others started to notice. At about 19 pounds you slimmed down enough to need smaller jeans and sports bras. Thanks for responding to my hard work!

Just touching base to say hello and keep up the good fight!

Much love,

Sara

Body Journal: 1

I read a plethora of blogs. Food blogs. Photography blogs. Weight loss blogs. Healthy living blogs. Fitness blogs. Lifestyle/general blogs. My Google Reader is always overflowing with posts to catch up on.

But I love them all!

When I started this weight loss/lifestyle change blog I started it for me. That hasn’t changed, no, but I find myself dreaming about the day I make huge strides and my “after” pictures will shock the pants off people. I want that! Is that vain?

One of the blogs I love to read, and it comes from a woman who lost 135 pounds, is that of Andie at Can You Stay for Dinner?. Her writing is a breath of fresh air. She’s currently in the works to write her first book and she has signed to write two! Amazing!

She posts delicious recipes, talks about the struggles of losing the weight that she did, about her wonderful mother, and answers (in great length) reader/fan emails and posts her replies on her blog. I love the gal! She even wrote about what she misses from 135 pounds ago. She’s honest. I know she’s not blowing smoke.

Last night I was thinking about the changes I’m already noticing in my body. I wanted to share those changes, but I wondered if anyone, well, gave a rats butt about the little things. But this is my blog. This is like a journal. I used to keep a journal throughout my growing pain years—I should find those and read the silly things I would write about boys—and so I’ve decided to start a “Body Journal”. Andie’s post about what she misses from 135 pounds ago got me thinkin’ I should be as open as I can about the changes I’m going through. You don’t see most bloggers write that they do miss the taste of a fifth slice of pizza. But it’s true. And I’m sure if more were honest with themselves they’d say the same. Pizza is freakin’ delicious.

Don’t lie.

I’ve always consider myself an open book to most people, and I’m loud, so why not do the same on my blog? For example:

• My jeans are no longer snug. My jeans used to cut into my stomach so much it hurt.

See, open, honest! I used to look in the mirror after wearing my jeans all day and I’d have redness all around my waist. It hurt. It was uncomfortable. It wasn’t pretty. If I was in an accident and a paramedic had to cut my pants off, which I would realize later because I lived through it, I would be mortified. Another reason why you should always wear clean and pretty underpants!

But about that tight jeans business, I’m sure anyone who is overweight, trying to lose weight, has lost weight or going through bloat that time of the month will relate. Plus, I like that I can one day reflect back on what I’ve accomplished. I can remind myself that if I’m stuck at a plateau or I gained a few back – the world is not ending. All I’ll have to do is click on the category on my blog entitled “Body Journal” and I can quickly read my wins, big or small!

How about some more?

• My shirt no longer hugs my stomach because it actually fits now.
• When I’m sitting down, and look at my keyboard…as I just did…my stomach no longer sticks out farther than my girls!
• I no longer believe I look pregnant.
• My face is slimmer. Definitely slimmer.
• I feel confident!
• I’ve lost 13 pounds!

Those changes are what I’ve noticed in the past few weeks and I’m just thrilled. Enough so I can tear up with joy!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and the weather is kind in your city. I plan to drag my husband to see “One for the Money” and I cannot wait! The book was fantastic and I want to read more of the series as soon as life slows a little more–I get sucked into a book and cannot put it down.

What have you noticed about your body lately that can bring on, what I like to call, happy tears? Remember, only positive stuff here people.