In honor of the Operation Beautiful Book Release, written by Caitlin from the Healthy Tipping Point Blog, she is asking us to post our own experiences and views on body image, health, and what we think is beautiful! The book comes out Tuesday, August 3, 2010 (tomorrow!).
This is My Story:
I have been overweight most of my life. Even when I was not "obese" I still saw myself as HUGE in the mirror! I was a twirler in highschool and therefore had to wear a skimpy little outfit and go in front of crowds of people to twirl. I was always self-conscious about how I looked in the uniforms, but I wanted to twirl so badly that I just pushed it in the back of my head to deal with later. When I graduated highschool and started my first year of college, I gained the dreaded "freshman 15", plus about 15 more. I then started thinking that if I was ever going to get a date, I needed to lose weight. So for all of the wrong reasons (including a certain boy) I stopped eating and started exercising. I did Tae Bo an hour a day, 3 times a week. I would then eat a sandwich for dinner. That's all. A sandwich all day. I lost 50 lbs. in 3 months. I still felt so incredibly huge (and was told weekly by the "boy's" mother that I was). I look back at pictures now and wish I could be that size again! Then it happened...I met a boy. It wasn't the boy I had had a crush on for 2 yrs. It was his friend. He declared his love for me and I accepted his request for a date. I would not eat anything in front of him at first, but quickly learned that it was ok. Fast forward 9 years....I have gained 111 pounds! The best part (which can also be a curse) is that my husband loves me EXACTLY the way I am! He tells me daily, multiple times a day, how beautiful I am! He will even go into detail about parts of me that are so beautiful to him! I'm actually in tears right now as I type this, thinking about how wonderful he is. He has been one of my inspiration's to become healthy. Knowing he thinks I am beautiful the way I am has actually given me more self-confidence. I actually feel "cute" when I am in workout clothes because he tells me I look cute when I workout. He has given me the confidence I need to start exercising and eating healthy. He has given me the confidence to start running!
I have always loved the idea of running. I have wanted to be able to just go out and run a few miles if I'm stressed or just need to be in my happy place. I started in September 2009 on the elliptical and some weight training. I have only lost 11lbs, which is irritating , but I am not giving up. I thought, since I want to run, I just need to do it and not worry about waiting to lose a few pounds first. So that's what I am doing! I started the Couch to 5K program last month! I have started reading health and fitness related blogs to help me along the way. I have made my first goal of running my 1st 5K in November! I am excited for the journey I am beginning! It's been a month and I haven't given it up yet! I am enjoying learning about the art of running and just being outdoors with it! Thank you so much Caitlin for inspiring me and giving me the opportunity to write this! Yours is the first blog I found when I started running last month. I have enjoyed every moment of reading about your races, trying your recipe's, and finding other blogs to read from your recommendations.
⇐ You can order the book by clicking here!
This is My Story:
I have been overweight most of my life. Even when I was not "obese" I still saw myself as HUGE in the mirror! I was a twirler in highschool and therefore had to wear a skimpy little outfit and go in front of crowds of people to twirl. I was always self-conscious about how I looked in the uniforms, but I wanted to twirl so badly that I just pushed it in the back of my head to deal with later. When I graduated highschool and started my first year of college, I gained the dreaded "freshman 15", plus about 15 more. I then started thinking that if I was ever going to get a date, I needed to lose weight. So for all of the wrong reasons (including a certain boy) I stopped eating and started exercising. I did Tae Bo an hour a day, 3 times a week. I would then eat a sandwich for dinner. That's all. A sandwich all day. I lost 50 lbs. in 3 months. I still felt so incredibly huge (and was told weekly by the "boy's" mother that I was). I look back at pictures now and wish I could be that size again! Then it happened...I met a boy. It wasn't the boy I had had a crush on for 2 yrs. It was his friend. He declared his love for me and I accepted his request for a date. I would not eat anything in front of him at first, but quickly learned that it was ok. Fast forward 9 years....I have gained 111 pounds! The best part (which can also be a curse) is that my husband loves me EXACTLY the way I am! He tells me daily, multiple times a day, how beautiful I am! He will even go into detail about parts of me that are so beautiful to him! I'm actually in tears right now as I type this, thinking about how wonderful he is. He has been one of my inspiration's to become healthy. Knowing he thinks I am beautiful the way I am has actually given me more self-confidence. I actually feel "cute" when I am in workout clothes because he tells me I look cute when I workout. He has given me the confidence I need to start exercising and eating healthy. He has given me the confidence to start running!
I have always loved the idea of running. I have wanted to be able to just go out and run a few miles if I'm stressed or just need to be in my happy place. I started in September 2009 on the elliptical and some weight training. I have only lost 11lbs, which is irritating , but I am not giving up. I thought, since I want to run, I just need to do it and not worry about waiting to lose a few pounds first. So that's what I am doing! I started the Couch to 5K program last month! I have started reading health and fitness related blogs to help me along the way. I have made my first goal of running my 1st 5K in November! I am excited for the journey I am beginning! It's been a month and I haven't given it up yet! I am enjoying learning about the art of running and just being outdoors with it! Thank you so much Caitlin for inspiring me and giving me the opportunity to write this! Yours is the first blog I found when I started running last month. I have enjoyed every moment of reading about your races, trying your recipe's, and finding other blogs to read from your recommendations.
⇐ You can order the book by clicking here!
congrats on finding such an amazing hubby, :) mine man is the best for my self image too :) I am happy for you training for a fivek, I hope you truly enjoy it, there's nothing quite like knowing that your body can run that far! :) I love it!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
p.s. I've been away from my blog for some time now due to school being soo busy!!