All the Wrong Reasons
Ladies, this one is for you. I was inspired by my friend, Kiki, to write this post. She had to have the dreaded Bridesmaid-Dress-Fitting experience. Oh, the horror!!!
We all hate it. We want to be part of our friend's wedding, but the dress thing is awful, even when the bride tries really hard to make it as painless as possible. We have to be measured. Then they tell us what size they have to order. The size is always bigger than the size we actually buy at the store. The last time I was a bridesmaid, I had to order a size 20, when I was wearing a 14/16 in department stores.
I was embarrassed and shocked. My friends tried to make me feel better, but it didn't work. I felt like the number '20' was printed on my dress like Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter! I felt huge and ugly. I felt like everyone was staring at me, when they should be focused on the bride.
Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we let a number shake us to our very core? Is that number any indication of our self-worth? Does anyone else even know or care what the number is? No. Trust me. They don't. We all care way more about our own numbers than anyone else does.
The sales lady tells us our number. We're horrified. We decide to change it. We diet, starve ourselves or exercise like crazy. We tell ourselves cruel, shameful stories about why we got to that place. We lose some weight and we think we'll be happy. Why aren't we? It's because we did it for the wrong reasons. I've done the weight-loss yo-yo thing so many times. The reason I failed is because I did it for all the wrong reasons.
I did it because I wanted to be a certain size or wear a certain dress. I did it so that other people would think I was thin, beautiful or sexy. I did it so I could get the lead in a play. I didn't do it for myself, my health or to feel better.
That's all changed. I'm taking care of my health because I want to. I'm feeling better, stronger and more in control. One of the side effects of this behavior is that I'm losing weight. That's right. It's a side effect. A benefit. It's not THE REASON.
Once we can find the real motivation for moderately eating healthy food, exercising, sleeping enough and generally taking care of ourselves, it becomes easy. That's what's happening. Kiki knows that. That's why she was able to walk into that 'House of Evil', as she calls it, and try on a dress that was two sizes smaller than the last time she went in. She's taking care of herself. The side effect is that she's lost forty pounds and gained all kinds of strength! Thank you for the inspiration, Kiki! It means so much to so many of us!
We all hate it. We want to be part of our friend's wedding, but the dress thing is awful, even when the bride tries really hard to make it as painless as possible. We have to be measured. Then they tell us what size they have to order. The size is always bigger than the size we actually buy at the store. The last time I was a bridesmaid, I had to order a size 20, when I was wearing a 14/16 in department stores.
I was embarrassed and shocked. My friends tried to make me feel better, but it didn't work. I felt like the number '20' was printed on my dress like Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter! I felt huge and ugly. I felt like everyone was staring at me, when they should be focused on the bride.
Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we let a number shake us to our very core? Is that number any indication of our self-worth? Does anyone else even know or care what the number is? No. Trust me. They don't. We all care way more about our own numbers than anyone else does.
The sales lady tells us our number. We're horrified. We decide to change it. We diet, starve ourselves or exercise like crazy. We tell ourselves cruel, shameful stories about why we got to that place. We lose some weight and we think we'll be happy. Why aren't we? It's because we did it for the wrong reasons. I've done the weight-loss yo-yo thing so many times. The reason I failed is because I did it for all the wrong reasons.
I did it because I wanted to be a certain size or wear a certain dress. I did it so that other people would think I was thin, beautiful or sexy. I did it so I could get the lead in a play. I didn't do it for myself, my health or to feel better.
That's all changed. I'm taking care of my health because I want to. I'm feeling better, stronger and more in control. One of the side effects of this behavior is that I'm losing weight. That's right. It's a side effect. A benefit. It's not THE REASON.
Once we can find the real motivation for moderately eating healthy food, exercising, sleeping enough and generally taking care of ourselves, it becomes easy. That's what's happening. Kiki knows that. That's why she was able to walk into that 'House of Evil', as she calls it, and try on a dress that was two sizes smaller than the last time she went in. She's taking care of herself. The side effect is that she's lost forty pounds and gained all kinds of strength! Thank you for the inspiration, Kiki! It means so much to so many of us!
I think this is awesome and not just bc its about me lol. The truth is that its about all of us!!! Weight loss is about so much more than what you lose. Its what you gain that really changes your life in too many ways to count! Thank you❤
ReplyDeleteYes, ma'am! I'm glad you like it. It is definitely about all of us. The changes that are happening aren't just physical. They are mental, emotional and even spiritual. The community we have is vital to our success. I'm so grateful to you, Kiki. You have been such a supportive and inspirational friend.
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