Sometimes being overweight means we might tend to “let ourselves go.” It is as if there is a switch inside us that gets turned off and we develop this “Why bother?” attitude.
Often when we look in the mirror and see how we look, it can seem hopeless. Why bother with a beautiful haircut when we are so overweight underneath the haircut? Why bother searching high and low for plus-sized clothes that look good when it is a near-impossible task?
One thing Ive learned is that no matter how much weight we have to lose, it is VERY important to take care of ourselves. We really need to get the best hairstyle, color and cut possible. Maybe take the time to put a little makeup on, even if it is only mascara. So what if everything we own is black because we know it is more slimming than anything else? Add some color through jewelry or scarves. Really feel better wearing all black? Get the classiest outfits possible.
Before giving up on colorful clothing, look to the “slinky material” that can be forgiving. Try Vikki V sold at www.plusbydesign.com (http://www.vikkivi.com/testimonials.html)). There is http://distinctionsplus.com/vikki-vi-distinctions-shells.html. Try CitiKnits sold on www.QVC.com. Or one cool place: http://www.fashiontofigure.com/ for something totally different and awesome.
In a sense, it does not matter how we got to where we are in life right now. It doesn’t matter how many pounds we have to lose. If we dont deal with the inside, the outside will always cause trouble! That outer shell – the overweight one – is subject to change. The problem with being overweight with obesity – is that we can lose all the pounds we need to and our inner self will still feel fat and unworthy. Left un-dealt with, the pounds will most likely come back.
By taking care of our inner beauty, we will be less likely to fall back into old habits and gain the weight back. Learning to love ourselves is not always easy but it is necessary. And truthfully, this is true across the board not just with overweight people. Everyone needs to like themselves, inside!
Look in the mirror and say to that person in the mirror, “You know what? You are a great person. Im sorry I havent taken good care of you before now but that is going to change. You are worth taking care of and from now on I am going to take very good care of YOU.” Then we need to actually forgive ourselves for mistreating our only body.
Every morning before you brush our teeth, look yourself in the eye in that mirror and say, “You are worthy of love and I love you. I will take care of you.”
Sure, you will feel silly at first but it doesn’t matter. Keep it up. It is important to change how you see yourself inside. Your inner voice is THE most important one over what everyone else may say.
So let us stop letting ourselves go. Today I want to say this to you: YOU are important. Once you figure that out, you’ll lean more toward taking better care of yourself! YOU are worth it. YOU are a gift to this world and there are gifts inside you needing to be shared with others. Someone somewhere needs what YOU have to give and share.
Remember, taking care of yourself and knowing that you are important and you are worth taking care of is a huge part of changing the mindset about obesity. We can all get to a weight and size that brings us peace it begins inside.
YOU are worth taking care of.
You are worth being treated right – by YOU.
Popped in from SITS! I really needed this today. It’s so hard not to obsess over gaining weight when everyone is obsessed with calories and dieting. This reminds me there’s so much more important things…
So true! I’ve found that raising my kids changes my focus from “me” to them Exercising sure makes a huge difference in how I feel – but it still doesn’t lose the weight! When I discovered what it meant to be a daughter of the king – and realized that He planned me to be the way I am – WOW! I suddenly realized I was a work of art! LOL – but oh so true:)
Wonderful post to remind us to focus on the real beauty within us!
And thanks for coming by! You so made my day!
What an excellent post! I recently lost 40 pounds but am having trouble seeing myself as thinner. I know it sounds crazy when I buy size 4 pants and still only see fatness. But I think it has a lot to do with what you identified as not feeling comfortable with my inner self.
Thank you for the inspiration. Stopping in from SITS.
Beautifully written!
Am loving your attitude and your blog… thanks so much for stopping by mine..and I look forward to reading more of yours. You go girl!
Great post and so true. I’ve been dealing with my weight issues and clothing since my oldest was born.
Stopping by from SITS
I was reading your “About LBD Diaries” , and I can so relate to a lot of what you went through…
Single Mother…Dated a few guys, but most where not the “Father figures” I wanted around my son.
I met my hubby at work…my son was 9. We all moved in together right away. That was 20 yrs. ago. (We married after 3 yrs. together)
I can relate to the weight issue.. Kinda! I am a Closet smoker.
Afraid to quit because I just know that I will gain weight.
(New post to be added to my blog)
With the new year to come I have plans to make changes in my life..Eating healthlier…etc..
Love your blog..I am now following!
Have a Great Day!
Really great advice especially during this holiday season when it is so very easy to be hard on ourselves!!
How are you??
Self esteem is a big player in life.
Instead of the “why bother” attitude, develop “the hell with this, I’m not gonna take it anymore” attitude! There has to be a time or when you come to a point in that time when you’re tired of it all. The mind games we all play. Take control! Yes, it is all about you now. Be selfish! It’s ok. No one is going to hate you for it. It’s not a crime to want to look good and feel good. Your kids and husband won’t suffer.
The title of this post is So appropo! Yes, we are SO worth it!
Your posts make a difference Nan. Keep up your positivity. I love reading the comments you get.
And, you can do it! Stick wtih it, value yourself!
Funny this post came out today, a day spent for me, in a bit of a depression and self-pity, and for no particular reason, but for many reasons all piled up. For 14 months I have struggled to find a job and still no bites. It hasn’t beaten me down, though, as I’m a fighter. Before losing my job, I was 55 pounds heavier than I am now. So, even though I am still unemployed, I have succeeded in a couple things. One was getting half way to my weight loss goal (yes, I needed to lose over 100 pounds initially!) and the other was to embark on new writing adventures…..hence, my personal blog and the columns I write for examiner.com and now suite101.com. Big accomplishments, maybe not, but they matter to me. So every day, I have to talk myself into being happy and moving forward….but you are right, it is worth it, and so am I.
Thanks, my bloggy friend. Enjoyed this post! You Rock.
Terri
Another great post, and you are going to loooooove this Friday’s guest post at my blog. You are right on the money sister!
This is so true. If we don’t love ourselves, how can we love others? Or lose weight? We wouldn’t care if we don’t love ourselves.