It used to be that I had tons of time to think and write blog posts, but as I’m sure all of you know (whether from experience or because it’s obvious!), having a baby cramps my blogging style takes up a lot of time. So I find myself cramming almost everything I used to do with my free time into 60 minutes each work day…my commute. (I still haven’t figured out how to work out during my commute, but more on that later.)
I was driving the other day thinking about a few things, including the fact that I’m nowhere near my goal weight and that I’ve actually gained a few of the pounds I lost right after giving birth. And I realized that as badly as I want to start losing weight again and as much as I wish that I hadn’t gained those few pounds, I am not berating myself. I don’t feel like crap about it. It’s not the end of the world.
Let me say that again: it’s not the end of the world.
Being heavier than I want to be does not make me a bad person.
It doesn’t make me unworthy or unloveable.
And then I realized that one of the side effects, for me, of motherhood (and I think being in a healthy, loving marriage has also contributed to this!) is that I am learning to love myself and my body just as I am. Oh, sure, there will be days when this doesn’t feel true. But you know what? This body grew my little girl for 9 months, nourished her, kept her safe, and brought her into this world (with a little help)! Damn if that is not the coolest thing ever. So how could I possibly hate this body of mine?
The answer is that I can’t. Not right now. And that’s a new and amazing thing for me.
What events in your life have taught you to love yourself and your body regardless of its current condition?
Gratuitous baby pic:
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It didn’t make me love my body any more, but when I had the brain tumor scare a while back I sure worried a heck of a lot less about the number on the scale. Stuff like that makes you think about other, more important, things.
She is so darn cute!
It’s all about perspective, isn’t it?! Thanks!
Even though I want to change my body shape (width, circumference) entirely, I love that it allows me to move with relative ease. I enjoy my daily walks with the dog, biking, Zumba, yoga, and all of the other ways in which I can get exercise and have fun.
Bella recently posted..#WEverb11, Day 28: Pay It Forward
I think this kind of body love is fantastic, Bella!
Seriously, if you can come up with a commuting workout, write a book, publish it, and I will buy 10 copies. That’d be AWESOMESAUCE! Soem days I have a 90 minute commute each way and my bum gets tired from all of the sitting.
Baby A-She’s so freaking cute! You seem to have taken to motherhood so quickly and naturally
In regards to life events, I know I mention it, what, daily? But weight loss surgery has seriously changed my entire focus. I now focus on what is the healthiest and safest way for me to lose weight. While I do have goals in mind, I am perfectly ok not obtaining them in set periods of time. I am no longer treating weight loss like a sprint, I am thinking about it in terms of making a healthier me for life. It’s an impact of surgery that I entirely didnt expect, but that I love more than any of the other changes
Scale Warfare recently posted..December 28th #WEverb11 Pay It Forward #WLS
I have LOVED following not only the physical success resulting from your WLS, but also hearing about how it has changed your thought process and emotions about food, healthy choices, etc. It’s a FANTASTIC outgrowth of the surgery! I will let you know when I develop the commuteriffic workout – you can be in on the beta testing! lol
Val your focus is exactly where it should be right now. I can see it in the photos of you and that sweet gorgeous babe of yours. Loving yourself and your body will lead you right back to the path of fitness that fits into your new life.
PS – personally I think dance parties in the car to some rockin’ tunes absolutely burn some calories on the commute.
Love you!
Meegan (redstar5) recently posted..Clean Up on Aisle 5
LOVE the idea of dancing in the car…I SO do that!
Thanks for affirming that my focus is in the right place…it really feels that way, too. What a great feeling.
Can you send me over a bottle of your self-esteem pronto? I so so wish I could get to that place right now… thinking my body is awesome. Maybe its a little post traumatic stress or something, but I’m having a hard time living in this changed body right now. It stresses me out daily.
Love that you are at an amazing place… enjoy it and her!
Sarah @ Fatlittlelegs recently posted..Favorite Posts of 2011
Sarah, I wish I could bottle this, not just to share with you but to remind myself when I’m *not* feeling quite so super-fly! lol All I can say is, keep working towards appreciating your body for helping grow the gift that you now have in Lily!
I love this Val and I can entirely 100000% relate.
xo
MizFit recently posted..My 4 step approach to becoming a morning exerciser.
Thank you! I love how you mother your Tornado and hope to follow in your mama-footsteps…entirely in my own way, of course, but you know what I mean? The love-her-to-pieces part.