Monday, April 13, 2015

Regardless of size, remember you're beautiful

I will restart the A to Z challenge tomorrow and just run into May. Last week has been chaotic, ending with Facebook blocking me until I get my name verified. Yup, you read that right ... I do not exist on Facebook at all. They swooped in after 9:40pm on Friday and blocked the account. Since they only verify documents during business hours ... it is now 10am on Monday and I still have no account. Oh, but I can get email updates and notifications that my "fans" are missing updates on my fan pages. I'm sure they are ... not my fault! I have absolutely no idea how long it will take for them to look at the Driver's License picture that I sent in and reinstate my account. You can currently find me on Twitter and Instagram while I wait it out.

I digress though. This post is about something that has been really weighing on me over the last few weeks.

It seems that so many people are hyperfocused on size of clothes and numbers on a scale. I cannot emphasize strongly enough how destructive this is for your body. One person's healthy may not be the same as your healthy ... and that is OKAY. Did you know that if you are not comfortable and happy with how you look, it will be extremely difficult to not only lose the weight, but maintain it?

Regardless of your size right now, you are beautiful and sexy. Beauty is on the inside and lies in the eye of the beholder. Where the confusion begins to lie is when people  believe that they don't have to lose weight because they are beautiful. Just because you are beautiful, it doesn't make you healthy!

I have spent the last several years trying to lose weight. I was not happy with how I looked, but I was struggling with losing weight. Why? I discovered over the last few months it was because I just wasn't happy with who I am. I was trying to look at weight loss the wrong way.

Since completing the Whole30, I have realized that I don't crave food and when I'm full, I don't eat any more. More importantly though, I stepped away from the scale for a great deal of time and broke that relationship. Yes, I ended up losing 16 pounds during the month of March, but more importantly, I didn't put it right back on after the month was over.

Here are a few things I want to mention before I talk about a place in Kansas City that I am still diligently working on making arrangements to go weekly.
  1. Just because someone has lost a significant amount of weight and clothing sizes by going Vegan does not mean it will work for you OR be the healthy choice for you.

  2. Just because someone goes gluten-free and loses weight or feels great does not mean that is the right lifestyle choice for you

  3. Just because you are not in the size you want to be, doesn't mean you cannot exercise

  4. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should

  5. Designate only ONE day for the scale and stay off of it the rest of the week. Your weight NATURALLY fluctuates

  6. People who have lost weight by certain methods ... STOP BULLYING PEOPLE INTO USING YOUR METHOD
Now that I am off that soapbox. Let me tell you about a place where all sizes are welcome and EVERYONE will have their butt kicked. When you go to a gym, you will have group workouts, but most people stick to the weight machines, free weights, and cardio equipment. Back in November, I talked about a completely different "gym" in Kansas City. I am REALLY hoping they eventually open up a location here in north KC so that it will be easier for me to make classes. My original goal was to make it to classes once a week, but having four kids and living 30 minutes away from the gym has yet to make this possible. Thankfully, summer is nearing and I will be able to go at LEAST once a week since my kids will be able to babysit the toddlers!

On Friday, I was given the chance to meet the designer of the Megaformer, which is the tool for pilates on crack. You focus on muscles that you wouldn't normally use, and his goal is to help teach you which muscles TRULY keep you from having aches and pains. The best part of this class is you do not have to be flexible, and the trainers are all awesome.

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Friday, The Body Lab offered an Open House. Even Rob Collins from Fox4KC got in on the fun. Sebastian Lagree, founder of Lagree Fitness, came and taught the 8am class on Friday ... so you never know what's gonna happen in the class!

In the evening thought, we actually got to talk to Sebastian and a few trainers acted as models for people still investigating.

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The best part of the night was actually listening to Sebastian, as he has so much passion behind his drive to help people get healthy.

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Which, I think is the most important thing ... and the point of my post. You will not ever be happy with what look like, even if you are healthy, if you cannot find yourself beautiful now.
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5 comments:

  1. Willena FlewellingApril 13, 2015 at 12:50 PM

    What an encouraging post!! Heather, I'm so glad you've learned this at your age instead of waiting a couple more decades when increased health issues make it more difficult to dig in and turn things around. I wish I had known in my 30s what you know now. We'll never grow beyond what we believe in our hearts. It HAS to start within. I am not my size or shape any more than I am my favourite colour or the clothes I choose. What I really need is to begin to believe what my wonderful, patient husband tells me -- and regardless of the mirror, HE believes it.

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  2. NileApril 13, 2015 at 6:49 PM

    I'm not small by any means. I speak a lot at events and give little mind to what people think unless it's constructive. I've always been this way. Though people say I look good, I really have never paid attention. I get uncomfortable when people compliment my looks, even back when I was thinner and competing in 3 sports per year, plus training at least 3 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    I say to people, go on with your bad self. If someone wants to say something... just say "Well, sorry you feel that way... I happen to like myself."

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  3. Tracy ThomasApril 15, 2015 at 6:05 AM

    What a wonderful blog post. I have struggled with my weight my whole life. It took me a long time to love and accept myself as a beautiful person but once I did it became easier for me to find success in my weight loss and health endeavors. I have always believed there is far too much emphasis on the unattainable "anorexic-look" body type we are fed daily in advertisements and not enough emphasis on what is natural and healthy in terms of different body types. Thank you for this post :).

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  4. MarkApril 16, 2015 at 10:15 AM

    So very well said Heather!

    You really made some excellent points about the subtle differences between
    losing weight and being healthy!


    People often automatically equate accomplishing one, means they've accomplished the other as well!

    And it sounds like this gym and it's founder is going to do quite well indeed! Thanks so much for sharing this one!

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  5. Shelley AlexanderApril 20, 2015 at 8:13 PM

    Heather, I'm so glad you wrote this post! Focusing in on clothes sizes and numbers on a scale it not the way to be physically or mentally healthy. You have to be believe that you are beautiful inside and out no matter what size you are in order to make choices that will keep you healthy. Also when you discover how to fuel your body with the right foods that make you feel great and energize you along with finding a exercise program that works for your lifestyle it will help you make sustainable changes that will last a lifetime! Thanks for sharing your great advice!

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