This past week went well, a lot of rain so three 30 minute walks was a challenge but we had a beautiful weekend and so I made the most of it. The scale is the same and so are my goals. I truly hope to push past this last plateau and lost the last 2 of the 20 pound goal I had set for myself, but if I don't I do see the accomplishment of the 18 lost and appreciate that to a great extent my body does what I ask of it.
This weekend as my daughter walked around in a onesie still sporting that wonderful healthy toddler 'beer-belly' I began to think about how I wanted to raise her with a healthy body image. Like most women I've not always thought kindly about mine. I am on the shortish side and as a former gymnastic have an athletic, stocky build; so size 2 and willowy I will never be and have finally after many years made my peace with that.
Is there a way to save E. some of that anxiety if given her genetics she too is not tall and willowy ( or whatever the sought after body type is when she is a teen and young woman)? I want her to value health and strength, to understand about taking care of her body so that it can take care of her. Most importantly I want her to know that she is fearfully and wonderfully made. Like her mother before her, that may be something she needs to figure out for herself but perhaps I can ease and shorten the journey.
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I think the best thing you can do is teach her to be happy with the body she has. It is part of what makes her unique. If we all had the same body type the world would be a boring place. Meeting 90% of your weight loss goal is a pretty big accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteI'm working on changing the way I talk about my body now before Lucy can understand. I don't want her growing up hearing her mama say things like "I'm fat."
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a loss of 18 pounds! That's a lot!
i know that my body image totally changed after i had children - i couldn't believe what my body was capable of - & i couldn't believe how foolish i was before to care so much about looks, when it's purpose was so obviously bigger than that.
ReplyDeleteIt's so important to view ourselves in a great light and to help pass that along to our little ones. I would like most to pass along a healthy attitude toward food and eating and not have an unhealthy obsession with food, like I have. Good for you on the 18lb weight loss I wish I was right there with you.
ReplyDeleteEarly in our marriage, and especially after our first child was born, my husband pushed me to stop saying bad things about my body. Over time I think that also helped me to accept myself. I strongly believe that MOM'S ATTITUDE about her own body is much more important than anything she SAYS to her daughter(s).
ReplyDeleteBTW, I'm reading these posts after coming to see your small successes. Great work!