Let’s Chat – Body Image

body image, quiltytherapy

After writing about my struggle with confidence I want to explore other areas that some of us may have challenges with. Raise your hand if you’ve found body image to be an area you’ve struggled with. I’m sure that was a number of you.

I want to clear that I’m not talking about Body Dysmorphic Disorder, rather how you actually see yourself. The person you see in the mirror. Until recently I still saw someone who was bigger. While I saw myself as stronger, happier, and overall healthier, the weight I had carried lingered in my personal perception.

It wasn’t until one of my friends said I had saggy butt in my workout gear. This was not the first time someone had commented, but other comments were too early in my journey.

Saggy butt debacle

That moment was eye opening. I had noticed that I was swimming in a couple of clothes that I still wear, but my resistance to buy clothes to fit my new body has lingered. What if I gain a good portion back? What if? What if?

Well, another saggy butt debacle happened that catapulted me to really think about how my body has changed. I went for a run with my dog last week. I had her leash in one hand and my cell phone in another. Unfortunately, my tights kept creeping down causing some havoc on my run.

While I didn’t lose my tights, it did prompt me to actually look in the mirror. The woman I am seeing has changed. She is not who I had been. As a health coach I used to tell my calls that YOU are the last person to notice the changes. You need an Oprah moment to see how far you’ve come. I guess almost losing my tights on a midday run was my Oprah moment.

So I took myself to Marshall’s to shop their workout gear. For Christmas, I had gotten a gift card, that only took me almost three months to use. It was not a disappointment. I picked up two new tights and three new tanks. In a local swap group I scored another pair of tights.

Guess what happened?

On Saturday I wore clothes that actually fit my body to boxing. I wasn’t fighting clothes that were too big. There were even a couple of compliments. Holy camoly!

Then I took it another step further and wore the adorable striped dress I picked up at Draper James while in Nashville last month. I was so hesitant because I haven’t fit into this size for a WHILE.

I felt amazing! Seriously, I felt confident in myself wearing clothes that actually fit me. I have watched a million shows that do style makeovers and encourage people to wear clothes that fit. It’s a game changer.

It’s hard to look in the mirror and appreciate the changes that have happened. This isn’t something that happened overnight and will continue to be an issue. Google Photos loves to remind me to look back at photos. When I do, that’s the woman I still feel like I look like. Heavier and not happy with herself. This is who I keep seeing.

However, that is not the case. I’ve worked really hard to change my body and my mindset. I think it’s only fair that I give my new self a chance to shine.

Do you struggle with you see in the mirror? Have you undergone a change and still yet to see it? Let’s see how we can support each other.