I stepped on a scale and let the number hurt me.
I let it cause me to doubt myself and my accomplishments.
I let it make me feel less worthy somehow.
I let it take over.
And then I stopped.
Because I am not defined by the number on a scale, a dress, or candles on a birthday cake.
Because I am proud of who I am and of who I strive to be.
Because I run farther and work harder then every before.
Because I have come too far to let that stupid number take it all away.
In support of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week I needed to acknowledge that moment and then release it. I don't want to be held down. I embrace me at any size, any weight, any age.
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I have thunder thighs
And that's a compliment because they are strong and toned and muscular
And while they are unwelcome in the petite section
They are cheered on in marathons
Fifty years from now I'll bounce a grandchild on my thunder thighs
And then I'll go for a run
Source
And how could I not love them...after all, they got me through my speed training today:
Warmup
5 min walking @ 3.8
5 min running @ 5.8
2min @ 6.0
4min @ 7.0
2 min @ 3.8
Repeat 3 times
(during the 3rd repeat the 4min was reduced to 3)
Cool down
5min running @ 6.0
2 min walking at 3.5
Total time: 40 minutes
I love running, I really do. But you want to know what I love more??
Me!!
So tell me, what makes you love you?? (even if you don't usually comment I'd love it of you'd participate in this one!)
I LOVE this post! I can identify with so many parts of this. I always think my thighs are too big proportionately, but they are strong and toned, and I'll take that over just plain skinny any day!
ReplyDeleteYoga is really one of the things that makes me feel so much gratitude for my body and just grateful in general. So that's my answer :) Yoga.
What makes me love me... I, too, have issues with my thights/arse and then I remember my PR medals, and my shoulders, and that I can do pushups :) How's that for random?
ReplyDeleteI love the "I have thunder thighs" add-I think about it whenever I want to start complaining about my body.
ReplyDeleteWhen I look at numbers on the scale, I remember that "skinny isn't healthy. healthy is healthy." If I'm making healthy decisions, then I'm doing what's right...
1. My legs allowed me to dance for up to 40 hours a week until I left for college, and now allow me to go hiking and walking.
2. I love my hair-blonde and curly. I sometimes envy the silky or straight hair in others, but I wouldn't switch my hair for someone elses:)
Beautiful post, Samantha. We need to invent a healthy scale, not a weight scale :)
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me love me? Oh gosh, physically: I love my strength. I might not be very tall, but I make up for it in how much I can lift! Personality: I love how compassionate I am for others. Even when people drive me crazy, I truly feel for them and care about them immensely. Including blogger friends!
In the past 5 years I have really learned to embrace my body. I think having kids is what really drove it home for me. I have been the happiest in my life at a very high weight (during pregnancy). I love my body pregnant - love the curves, how I glow, how I am not focused on what I eat, but making sure I am eating enough/balancing my foods. Of course, having babies also stretched out my skin, gave me floppy boobs, and widened certain areas -- but I think of those as war wounds. I am extremely proud of my post-babies body, so amazed at what it was able to accomplish and how I have bounced back and become even stronger. I have been really skinny - and believe me, it is NOT PRETTY. Fit, healthy, toned, and curvy is SO much more attractive! Glad you are loving on yourself :)
ReplyDeleteI love this post, Samantha! You are amazing, and I really understand how hard it is not to slip into old habits when it comes to your relationship with the scale. I'm learning how to love myself more and more each day, now that I'm finally losing weight and getting healthy for the right reasons. I love myself for not giving up this time!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I think we all need to focus on being strong and healthy...not on the number. I love the fact that even though I'm still 40 lbs over my goal I could still run circles around some less active "skinny" people. Oh, and I ♥ my calves! Even when I'm bigger I have nice tone in them and slender ankles...random fact :)
ReplyDeleteGreat, honest post! I'm so glad that you were able to turn self-deprecation into self-love. I have moments like this, too (and I just printed that Nike ad out as a reminder to love myself)! I love my body for all that it does, but I am most thankful that I have a personality that allows me to enjoy my body, participate in great events with other people, and have fun!
ReplyDeleteI love my arms, because they allow me to hug my 2 little boys (who gave me my jiggly belly, thanks kids!)every day.
ReplyDeleteLove this post- sometimes you need a smack in the head to remember what REALLY matters.
I love this post. It just made my morning so much better. Thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome post!
ReplyDeleteI have learned to love my juicy booty...I use to be so self-conscious of it but since J-Lo and Beyonce rock theirs I figured I might as well too :)
Wow, do I know the feeling! Isn't amazing what a hold a little number has over you? My husband almost never lets me weigh myself for this reason. I let the number define me, even though I preach to ppl NOT to let it do that. I LOVE how you overcame your grief though, focusing on the positive! YOu HAVE come so far and you are beautiful no matter what the scale says!! WHat matters is that you lvoe you!
ReplyDeleteI love me too! I can't just pick one thing I love...I love ALL of me!!
Everyone has a scale moment where they go UGH! I think it's normal :) As long as it doesn't ruin your day, I think it's fine.
ReplyDeleteI'm learning to love my body for all the amazing things it can do, instead of simply what it looks like.
that NIKE campaign was my favorite! I had the shoulders one as my computer background all through high school.
ReplyDeleteMy shoulders aren't dainty or proportional to my hips. Some say they are like a man's. I say, leave men out of it. They are mine. I made them in a swimming pool then I went to yoga and made my arms.
i loved reading this.
ReplyDeleteit can be a constant struggle, one a lot of people go through... so thank you
I love this post! I love my legs. After dancing for so many years, they have kept that "dancer shape", and every time I work out I just keep thinking that I am working to keep it like that. Because of this, I don't focus on my arms as nearly as often as I should, but I suppose I should learn to love them too :)
ReplyDeleteI can definitely identify with this. I used to put so much worth in the number on the scale- I need to work on it, but I'm getting better about it!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I can admit that I've been bummed out about my weight for a while then. One of the things I love about myself if my will to succeed. Even though things get rough I don't give up, and that's far more important than what the scale says.
ReplyDeleteWhat a moving post! I have been in that exact same spot. Sometimes I feel like I avoid even looking at the scale in my bathroom for fear of how the number would make me feel.
ReplyDeleteI love my thighs because they allow me to run which keeps me sane, and teach aerobics which makes me happy!
You are just amazing! This post is perfect!
ReplyDeleteI hate when I have days like that- stepping on the scale can be such a dangerous thing sometimes :( I hate that I let it define my day & my mood. I love that you reminded your self NOT to let it get the best of you. & it could just be water weight. I know it's hard to remember that a number doesn't define you, I try my utmost hardest to remind myself of this on a regular basis!
Thanks for posting this, you rock! :)
My sister is a elite marathon runner and she would consider herself to have "thunder thighs". SHe is not fat by any means but that is just how her body is built. But because of those legs, she is able to run and run very fast (she doesn't have the typical runner phyisic...she is under 5 foot and she is stocky) And I absolutely love this post!! I have done it just recently -- gotten on the scale and I have gained a few pounds and then I analyze "am I getting fat" but I think to myself and know, that its just muscle I am building!
ReplyDeleteWow, nice post,there are many person searching about that now they will find enough resources by your post
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