Here's the thing ... I actually agree with at least 85% of everything the author says. I enjoyed it. Being a mom is a BUSY job and it really doesn't leave me with a lot of time for myself every day. In fact, if I didn't wake up early to get my workout in before my kids woke up, it would most likely never get done. So why did this article stir me up?? Here is what I came up with...
I completely and totally agree that the "world's" version of beauty and thinness and happiness all being mixed up together is completely MESSED UP. I have so many many BEAUTIFUL girl friends of all different shapes and sizes. They are all beautiful BECAUSE they look different. It's like the saying in the Disney Movie the Incredibles: If everyone [had small noses] no one would. Feel free to insert any phrase into those brackets: big eyes, small waists, thin hips, big boobs ... whatever it is about yourself that you wish you could change. We are ALL beautiful ladies! Period. Start focusing on the things you DO like about yourself and stop obsessing about the things you wish you could change ... be happy with who you are.
Where I run into trouble is trying to reconcile this strong strong strong belief I have that women need to start creating their own positive body image and STOP comparing themselves to other women ... with the fact that I'm now changing so much about my life and my body and ... I really am happier.
I get it now though ... ready for this ... I'm not happier because of the way I look ... if that were true, I wouldn't be happy at all because, honestly, how many of you ladies could say you would be ecstatic to weigh 214 pounds??? Right??? (Only those of us who have been bigger ... perspective :)) But I still have so far to go to reach my "healthy body weight" ... that it CAN'T be that.
I'm happier because I am already living a HEALTHY LIFE STYLE. I eat well, fuel my body, and give myself a boost of energy every single day with exercise. Exercise gives people endorphins ... endorphins make people happy ... and happy people don't hate themselves. They just don't.
But to get back to the article ... I love that this man loves his wife just for who she is. I am SO thankful I have a man like that in my life. The only thing I would say is this: don't let your kids be your EXCUSE for not living a healthy lifestyle. There are a lot of excuses out there. You really will have More energy and More happiness and More self-confidence to share with your kids if you take the hour or so a day to make yourself more healthy ... and THAT will make you a Better Mom.
The End.
:) perspective is right ... 214 sounds like HEAVEN to me! I'm not a mom so I can only guess at hard the job is ... I think I have a fair idea, but with no practical experience, it is still just a guess. On the other hand, I am a woman, who has been large almost all of my life, so I definitely have an opinion about that. I am grateful that I never got the beauty-thin connection built into my psyche ... but I did get the "desirable-thin" one.
ReplyDeleteBut from my way of thinking, it seems that if your kids can associate healthy with FUN and ENJOYABLE, then you've given them a lifetime gift that is almost irreplaceable. You will have served them well. Not to mention being able to teach them things like courage, to not let fear of something new and different get in the way of trying something new and different.
I didn't really think of that either ... helping your kids associate healthy with FUN and ENJOYABLE!!! I love that. That is my new goal, my new way of looking at it. I don't want them to think all things related to being healthy are miserable ... make it enjoyable. Thank you for sharing! YAY!!
DeleteSo my mantra is "be happy where you are, even if you want to change it." I also have to admit that 214 sounds awesome right now... And lastly- this all rang true with me. I do sacrifice everything for my kids, which is actually unhealthy. I am just coming to realize that.
ReplyDeleteThat is the perfect Mantra. Learn to be happy where you are. And like Rachelle says below, find the right balance of giving to your kids and taking care of yourself!!
DeleteI agree with you and with the author. I firmly believe there is a time and season for everything in your life and sometimes the time to lose weight is when you don't have kids yet. Sometimes it's when the kids are really young and you can fit that hour into their nap time. Sometimes it doesn't happen for you until your kids are older and at school. I agree, don't let the kids be an excuse that holds you back. But on the other hand don't swing to the extreme where you give up all (or a huge chunk) of quality time with your kids in exchange for the workout time. It's all about timing and balance!
ReplyDeleteOh I love this ... yes, that is exactly right. It's a balancing thing. I LOVE spending quality time with my kids, I wouldn't want to spend all of that time working out and tanning and making myself beautiful etc etc. But don't make them your excuse either, find the right balance. I like that. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteI love how you write....and you're so right. Perspective is everything. Keep preachin!
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