Weigh in #71 Self love

I need to get back to writing here on Mondays after weighing in, or Tuesdays at the latest. I've been both busy and complacent. Busy has kept me from writing, complacent has me slipping a bit in practices and I've been up the past two weeks at the scales. Point 4 last week and .5 yesterday. Not earth shattering, but not a good trend.

A fellow WW member almost quit yesterday but decided to come to the meeting after all. I understand that feeling, not so much this go round, but in previous attempts at WW years ago. What bothers me is her comments about her appearance "I thought I looked good until I saw myself in a photo. What was I thinking?" and "I'm just plain fat".

I bet she DID look good in that photo, the best she could on that day, especially if she was happy. We pick ourselves apart in ways we never do to someone else. I'm not going to lie and say I never said those things to myself, and was never unhappy in a dressing room while trying to find appealing and appropriate clothing, but we are all more than whatever number the scale and tape measure says!

We need to love ourselves. We need to eat well for the right reasons.

Eat well = Better health
Better health =  Easier movement
Easier movement = Happier life

That circle can go on with great results.

"I'm fat and ugly, therefore I will starve myself"  isn't sustainable.
"I'm fat and ugly and will try WW to lose weight before {name the event} or to reach a certain dress size"  also doesn't work. What happens the day after the event?

What we eat, the quality and quantity, is what packs on the pounds but the key issues are figuring out WHY we choose to do that and learning HOW to break that habit.

I was very happy at my son's wedding. I loved my dress and hair that day. I have wonderful memories of this event.

Do I like my appearance more now? Is it easier to shop for clothing that I like? Do I move easier and have more energy? Yes, yes and yes but I am not ashamed of that wedding photo. We all struggle with something and do the best we can with the knowledge and tools we have at even give time. Do I wish I had learned this ages ago such as when I became a lifetime member 30 years ago? Sure, but that is the past and I don't live there. I live in the present.

Loving yourself is not an unhealthy ego trip. Look in the mirror and BEYOND the mirror. What pleases you about yourself?

I am kind
I am funny and smile often
I am creative
I like to read
I like to knit
I look for the good in people and situations
I love my family
I am a good person

I am in that person in the turquoise sweater and size 14 jeans.
I am/was that same person in the silver dress, size 22  (jeans would have been 24).

Be as kind to yourself as you would be to someone else.