I have a confession to make. Promise you won't hate me?
I lose weight when I'm breastfeeding.
After Baby #3 was born, the weight started to fall off. I decided to work with it this time and lost several pounds more. And for the first time since the poor-student days of university, I was skinny.
When we moved into this house 7 years ago, I was 99 lbs. For real. Of course, I'm also 4'11", so take that for what it's worth.
Since then, I've gained a few pounds. Okay, maybe more than a few.
There were a lot of advantages to being thin, and I do hope to get back to within 15 lbs of that again one day, but for now I'm not missing it.
I don't miss spending 30 minutes twice each weekday on the exercise bike. Or the 20 minutes of pilates. All in addition to the 1-2 hour walks with the kids each day.
I don't miss seeing the calorie count of every food hovering above it in my mind's eye, before ever deciding to take a bite.
I don't miss people constantly telling me to eat. I always had to say "no thank you" because that serving of wonderful, fresh, fruity salad they were offering me was the equivalent of my full day's calorie budget.
I don't miss never eating bagels or muffins.
I don't miss being able to feel the inner workings of my gut from the outside.
I don't miss being obsessed with what I was eating and whether I would burn it off that day.
I do miss being able to fit into anything and not being self-conscious in a bathing suit. That really is a great feeling.
But there's more to life, and right now there just isn't time to work on losing the number of pounds I want to and maintaining it.
That doesn't mean I'm not exercising or *trying* to eat well. It just means I'm not focusing on being skinny right now.
Because there's more to life than what the scale says.
I lose weight when I'm breastfeeding.
After Baby #3 was born, the weight started to fall off. I decided to work with it this time and lost several pounds more. And for the first time since the poor-student days of university, I was skinny.
When we moved into this house 7 years ago, I was 99 lbs. For real. Of course, I'm also 4'11", so take that for what it's worth.
Since then, I've gained a few pounds. Okay, maybe more than a few.
There were a lot of advantages to being thin, and I do hope to get back to within 15 lbs of that again one day, but for now I'm not missing it.
I don't miss spending 30 minutes twice each weekday on the exercise bike. Or the 20 minutes of pilates. All in addition to the 1-2 hour walks with the kids each day.
I don't miss seeing the calorie count of every food hovering above it in my mind's eye, before ever deciding to take a bite.
I don't miss people constantly telling me to eat. I always had to say "no thank you" because that serving of wonderful, fresh, fruity salad they were offering me was the equivalent of my full day's calorie budget.
I don't miss never eating bagels or muffins.
I don't miss being able to feel the inner workings of my gut from the outside.
I don't miss being obsessed with what I was eating and whether I would burn it off that day.
I do miss being able to fit into anything and not being self-conscious in a bathing suit. That really is a great feeling.
But there's more to life, and right now there just isn't time to work on losing the number of pounds I want to and maintaining it.
That doesn't mean I'm not exercising or *trying* to eat well. It just means I'm not focusing on being skinny right now.
Because there's more to life than what the scale says.
Posts
I love this post! We always see posts about why we should lose weight or the advantages of being thin. We see posts about the risks of being overweight, but never do we get to see testimonies from people who are content with who they are without staring at calories all day! Oh, and I do love your reasons! I have quite a few lbs. To lose but it's really nice to see the side I'm on. :) thanks!
ReplyDeleteI think that is awesome. I never breastfed, so all my baby weight came right off after I had my kids.
ReplyDeleteThere's more to life then what the scale says is right, but I don't like being too fat to fit in my pants.
ReplyDeleteI'm also a short lady (5' even!), so I get a lot of tiny/short comments from other people! I don't count calories, though. I just try to eat a lot of fresh foods and exercise because I feel better when I do. This is a good reminder not to watch the scale, though. It's not about a certain number; it's about being able to live the life you want!
ReplyDeleteAwesome post. I have struggled with my weight for pretty much my entire life, I've been just a little bit chubby. Since this past summer I have been trying really hard to lose weight and just be more happy with the way I look. I'm in a size 8 at the moment (which I haven't been in since high school) and I haven't gotten on the scale once!! I like to eat and that is never going to change! Thanks for posting this!
ReplyDeleteOh this sounds just like me! I always see the calories, feel the need to work it off and I get food guilt. I want to be in the place where it doesn't matter xx
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Megan! It's always important to have a healthy attitude towards food :)
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right. But for some of us, it's unfortunately a way of life, bc in my family, we very quickly gain weight, in the bink of an eye...
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this post!
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I eat what I want, when I want and I just exercise to stay (sorta) in shape!
ReplyDeleteI'm a calorie counter, so everything gets the mental calculations before being eaten. It does get old!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I'm about 15 pounds heavier than I need to be, but I like ice cream and chocolate chip cookies too much right now to care. :) Partying with you on meet-up Monday. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever been considered thin, or too thin. I was into sports growing up so I was always very muscular. And then when I was 14 I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and everything became about what I ate, when and how much-- not me though, the nutritionist and my mom obsessed about that.
ReplyDeleteI've always been a fresh veg and grain eater though. Interesting to hear how others think about where they are with their own weight thought.
I think you should do what's right for you and be comfortable with it!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I was a little unsure about hitting "publish", but it looks like I'm not alone :-)
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you. Too-tight pants are not a good feeling :-(
ReplyDeleteI think you've got the right attitude -- it's all about making wise choices that work for us in our own lives. It should never become an obsession.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your success! I know from experience that it's hard work, whether you're watching the scale or not!
ReplyDeleteI deal with food guilt too ... even though I'm not counting every calorie, I still know when I've gone overboard. I guess it's really all about balance. It sure is a challenge to get to that place though!
ReplyDeleteYes, it gets exhausting sometimes, doesn't it? But as much as I do exercise, I've found that the only way that works for me to actually lose weight is to count calories. When I do get back into the frame of mind to lose, I'll go back to counting and tracking :-)
ReplyDeleteSo true! There are so many advantages to being thin. Eating healthy is a key for that!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your success! Thats so wonderful! I've always been thin, so i very much enjoy my pregnant body! I just wish I could stay at a healthy weight!
ReplyDeleteThis post is really interesting to me. I've always been thin, but I've also always been athletic and just blessed with genetics, so I've always had to deal with people telling me I'm too thin or blah blah blah, jumping right to judgment because of their own personal insecurity.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you - it NEEDS to be about more than a scale. Even though I'm thin, there have times in college where I've felt unhealthy because I'd skip a meal here or there accidentally with studying past dining hall times. I think in the end, it just has to be a balance between putting good things into your body, treating it right, and giving yourself some serious self love!
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What a wonderful post! You're so right, there's more to life than what the scale says. I try to remember that every day :-)
ReplyDeleteThat whole swimsuit thing... I miss that too. Mine's an age thing though, my body's starting to look like a 44yr old woman, instead of a young lady. ;)
ReplyDeleteSuch an inspiring post. I have always been positive about how I am & I have never thought about being slim at all, as life changes can bring changes in health too.
ReplyDeleteI think your attitude is a very healthy one and I just wish more young women would grow up in households where they are loved for who they are and not for the size of their dress... It is sadly, a global problem.
ReplyDeleteI used to be really skinny back in the day, and what I don't miss about it is looking like I was going to break. At the time, I had no idea that I looked like that, but looking back at pictures - I can't stand the sight of my arms. Fast forward to now, and I am and look healthy (in a good way), but am more sedentary due to my line of work so my weight fluctuates in the wintertime. Recently, I surpassed a weight goal and was ecstatic – it felt so good, and then Christmas hit. I fell off the wagon. My attitude changed. I watched a nice chunk of my hard work slip away. It's like I learned nothing from my journey…didn't appreciate it…and now I'm right back trying to get back to where I was. That's what happens when I DON'T pay attention to the scale. I'm not a slave to the scale, but it encourages me in a positive way to stay on track. I'm a foodie who is not afraid to splurge, and I'm getting close to finding a healthy balance – I just have to work out a few kinks.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great post. You almost never hear this perspective. It sounds like it was almost disordered eating, which is never the way to live and that's not the example you want to make for your children either.
ReplyDeleteI think you may be right. I certainly don't want to go back to being so obsessed with it! I do hope to find a safe balance though.
ReplyDeleteI agree -- used in the right way, the scale can really help to keep us on track and be a healthy motivation. It's when we let it define us that we run into problems.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and I totally agree. When I'm "skinny" I obsess about everything I eat (and don't eat). It's exhausting! Thanks for linking up at MeetUp Monday! Hope to see you tomorrow! http://www.thequinntessentialmommy.com/meetup-monday-link-party-10/
ReplyDeleteEvery few years, when I notice my husband and I checking the scales too often, I give our scale away. The next time my Mother comes to visit there‘s another one in it‘s place. Weight is only a number and I know if I‘ve lost or gained based on how my clothes feel. Wishing you continued health.
ReplyDeleteBesos, Sarah
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