I've been thinking a lot lately about my weight. Mostly because I really like where I'm at. And when I like where I'm at, I worry about going back to where I was.
Let me explain. When I was about 19 years old, I weighed the same amount that I did when I was 42 weeks pregnant (my little one was 2 weeks past due). That's almost 50 lbs more than I weigh right now. When I began to eat healthy and get in shape as a teenager, I was constantly afraid of gaining weight and going back to my old ways. As most of us know, it is WAY easier to put weight on than it is to take it off. But after more than 10 years of healthy eating and living, I didn't gain weight back, I stayed in shape, and I maintained my health. Despite this fact, when I saw the scale read the exact same number it had at the hieght of my obesity, I was afraid it would never come off. And it didn't help any that when I left the hospital I only weighed 10 lbs less than I did when I arrived (and my baby was 8 lbs).
Although it took me 13 months to reach my weight goal, and 15 months to surpass it, I still worry that I'll regress. But that's kind of rediculous. Right? Because where I'm at right now is where I'm at right now. I might as well enjoy it.
When I was overweight or losing weight, I came to a place within myself where I could fully accept myself as I was, and I believe this is why I lost weight so easily. In psychological terms, we call this "The Paradox of Change." The more you resist something, the more energy you give it. If you resist your body's weight, you give power to being overweight. Therefore, in order to change something about yourself, you need to first fully accept it. Love it, even. And then, and only then, can you move forward into a greater sense of self and a fuller experience of change.
So, here I am, and here you are. Your body hears all of your thoughts, and responds accordingly. So be loving to your body, feed it words of acceptance and kindness.
While I hope this blog helps you, I really think I needed a little reminder. "Body, thank you for all you do for me. I love you!"
