Thank you for being honest. It is refreshing. I am 64 and I know the flaws in my body, but I love that I can hike and go to exercise classes and just generally feel good inside my body. I have had two kidney transplants, which means I have four kidneys inside my torso. It makes a bit of a barrel stomach. My husband says, “Better fat than dead.”
Liba, I love that you have embraced the beauty of yourself. After two big surgeries, it's incredible what your body can do and that you continue to take care of it. I do love your husband's blunt statement. Sometimes they just take all the emotion out of it and look at it practically 😆.
natalie, i resonate so much with this. i don’t think i’ve ever been able to express the feeling of “being on the cusp of loving myself” as well as you have here. growing up i’ve always hated myself, and looking back i regret it so much. my parents are african, and i’ve always been curvier. i’ve never had a thigh gap, and i viewed myself as less than all the other girls because i was just built differently. i’ve always wanted to be the skinny girl who gets the guy, and convinced myself that i’d never find love if i didn’t lose weight. i hate myself because i want to be the best version of myself, but who says that version needs to be skinny?
thank you so much for sharing this piece, it’s something i’m going to be coming back to, i can feel it. ♥️
Thank you so much for sharing your personal story, Gloria. I completely relate and it's just something we have to continuously work on, isn't it? I keep having to remind myself that we do all deserve love.
I relate 100%, Natalie! I’m older than your mom and have spent my ENTIRE life struggling with weight issues, as well as other worries about appearance. I have joined and quit Weight Watchers more times than I can count. Lately I just try to eat healthy, but I actively avoid the scale and flee from the camera (unfortunately my husband is a photographer!). I’m afraid our society doesn’t give positive messages to girls and women, no matter the “curvy bodies are in” vibe. You just have to learn to like yourself—not so easy for many of us. Thanks for your honest and very relatable post.
I have struggled with my weight my whole life. I’m very short. Other short women look like ballerinas and I looked and still feel like a Mack truck. Over the years I’ve come to accept myself and dropped unrealistic goals. The goals I considered unrealistic because they required a lot of work to get there and maintain! My only goal is to stay right with Jesus and keep my weight under 115 lb. I don’t want to struggle so much and just want to fit into decent clothing when I go somewhere. I’m 4”10 and busty.
Society, fashion and opinion change at the whim of self-selected few, who, through no conscious thought of the consequence of their action make life intolerable for the majority of anyone who listens to them.
I was told to dress a certain way when I was a programmer - penny loafers were the shoe of the day. My computer didn't care if I wore old New Balance or new Asics.
Do stretch marks make you a lesser person, does a tummy roll?
I never fit into a Brooks Brother's suit and I'm allergic to wool - does that make me less moral?
Let others support Jimmy Choo or the local botox factory.
Thank you for reading John. You're completely right, I know in my head this to be true and the realistic side of me, the logical part scolds me for being foolish, for letting anybody dictate how I should feel. Yet...the other part, the one that wants that acceptance sometimes rears its head and takes control of my feelings, and my mind. I'll keep your mantra in mind!
Thank you for being honest. It is refreshing. I am 64 and I know the flaws in my body, but I love that I can hike and go to exercise classes and just generally feel good inside my body. I have had two kidney transplants, which means I have four kidneys inside my torso. It makes a bit of a barrel stomach. My husband says, “Better fat than dead.”
Liba, I love that you have embraced the beauty of yourself. After two big surgeries, it's incredible what your body can do and that you continue to take care of it. I do love your husband's blunt statement. Sometimes they just take all the emotion out of it and look at it practically 😆.
natalie, i resonate so much with this. i don’t think i’ve ever been able to express the feeling of “being on the cusp of loving myself” as well as you have here. growing up i’ve always hated myself, and looking back i regret it so much. my parents are african, and i’ve always been curvier. i’ve never had a thigh gap, and i viewed myself as less than all the other girls because i was just built differently. i’ve always wanted to be the skinny girl who gets the guy, and convinced myself that i’d never find love if i didn’t lose weight. i hate myself because i want to be the best version of myself, but who says that version needs to be skinny?
thank you so much for sharing this piece, it’s something i’m going to be coming back to, i can feel it. ♥️
Thank you so much for sharing your personal story, Gloria. I completely relate and it's just something we have to continuously work on, isn't it? I keep having to remind myself that we do all deserve love.
A beautifully-written, highly-relatable, challenging post, Natalie. Bravo, and hugs. 😘
I relate 100%, Natalie! I’m older than your mom and have spent my ENTIRE life struggling with weight issues, as well as other worries about appearance. I have joined and quit Weight Watchers more times than I can count. Lately I just try to eat healthy, but I actively avoid the scale and flee from the camera (unfortunately my husband is a photographer!). I’m afraid our society doesn’t give positive messages to girls and women, no matter the “curvy bodies are in” vibe. You just have to learn to like yourself—not so easy for many of us. Thanks for your honest and very relatable post.
I have struggled with my weight my whole life. I’m very short. Other short women look like ballerinas and I looked and still feel like a Mack truck. Over the years I’ve come to accept myself and dropped unrealistic goals. The goals I considered unrealistic because they required a lot of work to get there and maintain! My only goal is to stay right with Jesus and keep my weight under 115 lb. I don’t want to struggle so much and just want to fit into decent clothing when I go somewhere. I’m 4”10 and busty.
Completely understand you Wallis, thank you for reading my piece and commenting. It's always comforting to feel not alone in these feelings.
Why would you give your agency to anyone?
Society, fashion and opinion change at the whim of self-selected few, who, through no conscious thought of the consequence of their action make life intolerable for the majority of anyone who listens to them.
I was told to dress a certain way when I was a programmer - penny loafers were the shoe of the day. My computer didn't care if I wore old New Balance or new Asics.
Do stretch marks make you a lesser person, does a tummy roll?
I never fit into a Brooks Brother's suit and I'm allergic to wool - does that make me less moral?
Let others support Jimmy Choo or the local botox factory.
A very long time ago my mantra became:
I don't Lead
Follow
Or Join
Thank you for reading John. You're completely right, I know in my head this to be true and the realistic side of me, the logical part scolds me for being foolish, for letting anybody dictate how I should feel. Yet...the other part, the one that wants that acceptance sometimes rears its head and takes control of my feelings, and my mind. I'll keep your mantra in mind!
I feel every word of this sis!