I'm so happy with myself that I didn't make any kind of new year resolution to lose weight.
I have however, for the past 2 years made goals to create and sustain healthy lifestyle changes. It was interesting for me when I was reading "Lessons from the Fat-O-Sphere" by Kate Harding and Marianne Kirby that there's this whole movement out there called Health at Every Size. I'd already been thinking about those concepts, so it was a delight to me to read more. I found some of the thoughts I'd been having validated as well as more ideas to ponder.
Last year I wanted to hike or walk 5 days a week and this is now a very firmly entrenched habit. Last year I also wanted to drink water more and now I easily drink 8 8-oz cups of water a day. This year I want to incorporate a yoga-type exercise CD 20 minute segment 3 times a week and to not eat after dinner. I also want to learn to eat when I'm hungry instead of eating out of boredom, to relieve stress, and only for pleasure when I'm consuming way more calories than my body needs.
I've decided to just make peace with my body.
If I'm really honest, I really look overweight to me and I still struggle with feeling embarrassed about it. I think that my embarrassment is wrong, but 49 years of living in this culture, combined with the heightened anti-fat sentiments I'm constantly hearing, make telling myself the truth, and believing it, difficult. But logically I know that if I'm putting the emphasis on being healthy and living a life of obedience to Christ, that I can't go wrong.
"I've just decided to make peace with my body." Wow! Glad to hear of your epiphany and that you've discovered Health at Every Size. Congrats. If you want more info or support, there are tons of links at the Health at Every Size Community Resources (www.HAESCommunity.org). It's also a great place to register your voice.
ReplyDelete