Weekly Weigh-In: I Wonder
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It’s Weekly Weigh-In time! How’d you do this week — lose, gain, maintain? Let us celebrate with or encourage you.
Okay, so I’m a little disappointed with my loss this week. I mean, it’s still a loss and that’s a good thing, but not what I was working for. I lost 1.4 lbs. this week. That’s quite a bit lower than I lost the last two weeks. I knew the weight loss would slow down after the first couple of weeks, but I’ve been working pretty hard toward 2 lbs./week. I was hoping for 2.2 lbs. this week, which would put me at an even 10 lb. loss.
Still, a loss is a loss, so that’s good. It just would have been more fun to say I’d lost 10 lbs. than to say I’ve lost 9.2.
As for my thoughts weight in, this week is more something that I’ve been wondering about than something that I’ve got an opinion on. I’ve always had heavy thighs. Even when I was at a good weight, my thighs were heavy. I’ve been wondering if, once I get down to my goal weight, I’ll still be feeling like my thighs are heavy. I mean, compared to now, they should be pretty small, but I always thought they were heavy before and I don’t expect that the basic make-up of my body build has changed under all this fat.
I’ve spent that last 14 years being ashamed of my body. I wonder if I’ll be able to let go of that and see my new, thinner body for what it is when I get there or if the feelings of shame will be too ingrained. Have any of you lost significant amounts of weight? If so, how did you view your body when you were down to a decent size?
Now, it’s your turn. You can leave your results in the comments or post about it on your blog and link up.
Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.
Hi, Kris…I have to tell you, I haven't lost what most would consider "significant" weight, but it was 20 pounds last fall (and it sure was significant to me!!), and it put me back to lower than pre-baby, pre-wedding weight–a very healthy weight for my build (5'2", 125). I was so sure I would be thrilled with my body when I reached my goal…and I was really happy with how I felt, and how my (new) clothes fit. But what I noticed…was that my general shape didn't really change, despite the loss. My thick waist was still thickish, my large chest, still large-ish. I was disappointed at first, but learned pretty quickly…that I love my body. Not because I look like a supermodel or like my tiny sisters-in-law (argh), but because my body looks the way God designed it to look, and it's at a weight at which I can be healthy and really happy. A year later, I have gained about 5 pounds back, but I added exercise in AFTER losing the weight, and gained muscle. I say this not to discourage you…but to encourage you to figure out what you love about your body…and realize that it's a gift, from a God who couldn't care less if you have heavy thighs. My large-ish thighs were given to me for years of gymnastics and now karate with my son! But they are also part of what I share with my mother…and her mother…and hers. Also…it got pretty easy after I hit my goal weight to look at myself in a mirror…and forget that I had lost all that weight. And I think this was because my shape didn't change very much. Don't fall into that trap! Make sure you hop on the scales occasionally and keep an article of too-big clothing around to remind yourself of what you have done. And hike up the steps without running out of breath…or compare the amount of food you eat when you hit your goal…to what you would have eaten before…and rejoice!! We'll be celebrating with you here! ~mindy
Ummm…yeah…thighs.
Well, when I lost 110 lbs and got down to a 'normal' weight, I had a really hard time seeing myself as I really was. I did double takes in mirrors at stores and in pictures because I didn't recognize myself.
Sadly, I sometimes felt worse about myself as I lost than I did at my highest weight. 😛 I was paying a lot more attention to what I looked like and I was wishing that it would pay off faster/better. When I reached my ideal weight, I eventually did 'own' my size and felt good about myself (I was still a size larger on bottom than on top, but that's just how my body is and I had to accept that).
Ummm…yeah…thighs.
Well, when I lost 110 lbs and got down to a 'normal' weight, I had a really hard time seeing myself as I really was. I did double takes in mirrors at stores and in pictures because I didn't recognize myself.
Sadly, I sometimes felt worse about myself as I lost than I did at my highest weight. 😛 I was paying a lot more attention to what I looked like and I was wishing that it would pay off faster/better. When I reached my ideal weight, I eventually did 'own' my size and felt good about myself (I was still a size larger on bottom than on top, but that's just how my body is and I had to accept that).
Ummm…yeah…thighs.
Well, when I lost 110 lbs and got down to a 'normal' weight, I had a really hard time seeing myself as I really was. I did double takes in mirrors at stores and in pictures because I didn't recognize myself.
Sadly, I sometimes felt worse about myself as I lost than I did at my highest weight. 😛 I was paying a lot more attention to what I looked like and I was wishing that it would pay off faster/better. When I reached my ideal weight, I eventually did 'own' my size and felt good about myself (I was still a size larger on bottom than on top, but that's just how my body is and I had to accept that).
Great job, Kris. A loss is a loss!
I was watching Say Yes to the Dress and they had a bride-to-be who had lost something like 150 pounds and was a skinny little thing. However, she couldn't see herself as this beautiful woman she had become because she was still seeing herself in the mirror as she used to be.
Having lost 50 pounds in high school and struggled up and down the scale since then, I can agree that it is hard to see yourself differently even when the mirror shows something different.
And, it is also hard to believe Charlie when he tells me he thinks I am beautiful and sexy. Which might be worse than not believing what I see in the mirror. It makes me disregard him when he compliments me. And that hurts him.
There are so many psychological things wrapped up in our body image. Actually losing the weight is only part of the journey.
I lost 1.5 pounds this week and, like you, I was rather disappointed. (I was going for 2.) But .5 isn't that far off and, as you say, a loss is a loss! =)
Again, I really am so grateful you decided to blog about this journey. It's really helping to keep ME motivated. Thank you!!
Great job on the weight loss. Sorry that you didn't reach that 10 pound milestone like you wanted. ;o) As you know, I've lost 50 pounds with 40 more still to go. While I enjoy the smaller size with clothes on, I still see a fat woman when neked. I agree with Karen about losing weight as being only part of the journey.
Kris, Congrats on losing more weight! I know it seems small this week, but every bit gets you closer to your goal.
To answer you question, it is a struggle in the beginning. I lost close to 50 lbs alittle over 4 years ago and even though I reached my goal I still stuggled with wanting to lose more. I think that it's something that we as woman always struggle with. That said I find that if I focus on the good stuff, the energy I have and the smaller size of my clothes it makes the progress more noticable. Of course now, I'm gaining weight because I'm pregnant :)! Trust me the benefits of losing the weight are worth the work it is taking! Keep it up!!
Kris, Congrats on losing more weight! I know it seems small this week, but every bit gets you closer to your goal.
To answer you question, it is a struggle in the beginning. I lost close to 50 lbs alittle over 4 years ago and even though I reached my goal I still stuggled with wanting to lose more. I think that it's something that we as woman always struggle with. That said I find that if I focus on the good stuff, the energy I have and the smaller size of my clothes it makes the progress more noticable. Of course now, I'm gaining weight because I'm pregnant :)! Trust me the benefits of losing the weight are worth the work it is taking! Keep it up!!