Loving My Body. Or Trying To.

If you don’t love your body, no one else will.  Only you can determine your body image.  It doesn’t matter if your in perfect shape or not.

As usual, easier said than done, right?

I want my body back.  I feel like an alien in my own skin.  I’m uncomfortable with my awkward body and as much as I swore I’d give myself a break after this pregnancy, I’m having a hard time.

I’m not looking for sympathy and I don’t hate my body.  In fact, I love all that it’s accomplished in the past year.  I love that it supported and continues to support a life.  I also recognize that it took me 9 months to put on this weight and it could take up to a year to lose it.  It’s just hard to try on my “big” clothes and have them not fit around my waist yet.  Especially when I don’t feel that much bigger when I look in the mirror.  I’m so thankful for my postpartum bra size at least. 😉

I’m really not obsessing and, as you can see, I’m not starving myself or anything.  I’m just finding that my rational side and my emotional side are battling it out and the prize is my body image.

Yoga taught me to love my body.  To honor what it can and cannot do.  Life has taught me, when I feel good about myself, I like my pictures more and have more confidence, regardless of my size or the shape I’m actually in.

So, I’m taking it day by day.  I’m trying to make healthy choices with the help of Weight Watchers online.  Hubby and I joined a gym with childcare, amazing facilities, great hours, and a variety of group fitness classes.  But more than anything, I’m trying to remember that I have a strong, healthy body that I need to honor and respect.  My body is my temple and when I remember that, I’m happier and, in turn, I make better choices.

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