The truth is I've always known I was overweight. As a child I was aware of being "bigger" than the other kids, being taller than my brother who was 3 years older than me. I was aware of how I was in comparison to others, but even then I have always been comfortable in my own skin. Maybe so comfortable in fact that it could have possibly stopped me from doing something sooner. There are a few things I would have liked to know as a young girl things I wish I could go back in time and tell a young vulnerable Vanessa. Just words of wisdom that could have changed my life drastically.
"You will not grow out of this like some people tell you, work hard now so you don't have to later." Even doctors told my mother this, when she would ask about my weight.
"You will find someone who loves you for the person you are, stop using that as an excuse or self challenge to stay this way." I used to think "I need to find someone who loves me this way cause then I'll know they really love me." As if loving me was a challenge if I was overweight. How little trust I had in the opposite sex. Haha
"Just because you don't have a problem with how you look doesn't mean you shouldn't do anything about it and put your health at risk." This one was tough, it stopped me for a long time because I don't have a problem with my physical appearance even at my heaviest I felt beautiful.
"Weight loss is a side effect of being healthy, focus on health the rest will happen naturally." This one has taken me YEARS to come to terms with. Focusing on diets and food is the worst thing you can do! Food isn't the enemy like I've been brainwashed to think. Food is fuel, bottom line point blank. We give food power and control over our lives because we associate it with happy moments, if I say "cake" I am almost willing to bet that your first thought is about what you were doing the last time you had a slice of cake. We celebrate, mourn, gather, socialize, and try to alter our emotional state with food, but would you do the same at a gas station? Would you throw a party at the pump every time you had to fill up? Why do we hold so much emotional attachment to our body's fuel source? Why do foods trigger so many memories and emotions. Don't fall for the diet fads and frenzies! Change your lifestyle and listen to things your body wants and rejects, not the things that your mind thinks it needs. If you want a cookie have a cookie don't feel guilty have it and be done, use the sugar for a little extra boost and move on. Don't sit there and have six cookies just because the first one made you feel happy for a second. It really can be quite an addiction and we have a hard time controlling our intake due to our search for the next high. We don't tune into our bodies and listen when its screaming enough is enough! I had a coke and a twix bar today! I don't regret it, I don't feel guilty, I had it, used it to finish off my day and I have moved on. This was a rare event I was in tune with what I needed mostly mentally, because physically I'm sure a better choice could have been made. Once I ate it I was done, I did not want more, I didn't feel anxious about when I would have more, it wasn't on my mind. When we deprive our bodies completely from what we are told we have to stay away from it's all you think about. It's such a fine line to walk on, not feeling guilty about those few bad choices and just not caring and making every bad choice. I tread it very carefully on a daily basis, and with each passing day I am learning to become in tune with what my body actually needs, like proteins from animals not fake stuff. How vegetables are important even though I fight it everyday. I find that the coke and twix was a small fix but a few carrots would have lasted longer. I learn to find the right fuels for me, the ones that don't make you feel physically miserable but instead the ones that boost your energy naturally and nutritiously. Trial and error, unfortunately there isn't a secret recipe. You have to see what your own body needs, because what I lack nutritionally may not be what you lack. Ultimately you have to listen to your body, feeling that 2'o'clock drag IS NOT NORMAL! There is actually food out there that will keep that from happening, healthy snacking and foods rich in the fuels our bodies need to survive!
Good day and goodnight from my computer to you I wish you love, laughter and happiness.
"You will not grow out of this like some people tell you, work hard now so you don't have to later." Even doctors told my mother this, when she would ask about my weight.
"You will find someone who loves you for the person you are, stop using that as an excuse or self challenge to stay this way." I used to think "I need to find someone who loves me this way cause then I'll know they really love me." As if loving me was a challenge if I was overweight. How little trust I had in the opposite sex. Haha
"Just because you don't have a problem with how you look doesn't mean you shouldn't do anything about it and put your health at risk." This one was tough, it stopped me for a long time because I don't have a problem with my physical appearance even at my heaviest I felt beautiful.
"Weight loss is a side effect of being healthy, focus on health the rest will happen naturally." This one has taken me YEARS to come to terms with. Focusing on diets and food is the worst thing you can do! Food isn't the enemy like I've been brainwashed to think. Food is fuel, bottom line point blank. We give food power and control over our lives because we associate it with happy moments, if I say "cake" I am almost willing to bet that your first thought is about what you were doing the last time you had a slice of cake. We celebrate, mourn, gather, socialize, and try to alter our emotional state with food, but would you do the same at a gas station? Would you throw a party at the pump every time you had to fill up? Why do we hold so much emotional attachment to our body's fuel source? Why do foods trigger so many memories and emotions. Don't fall for the diet fads and frenzies! Change your lifestyle and listen to things your body wants and rejects, not the things that your mind thinks it needs. If you want a cookie have a cookie don't feel guilty have it and be done, use the sugar for a little extra boost and move on. Don't sit there and have six cookies just because the first one made you feel happy for a second. It really can be quite an addiction and we have a hard time controlling our intake due to our search for the next high. We don't tune into our bodies and listen when its screaming enough is enough! I had a coke and a twix bar today! I don't regret it, I don't feel guilty, I had it, used it to finish off my day and I have moved on. This was a rare event I was in tune with what I needed mostly mentally, because physically I'm sure a better choice could have been made. Once I ate it I was done, I did not want more, I didn't feel anxious about when I would have more, it wasn't on my mind. When we deprive our bodies completely from what we are told we have to stay away from it's all you think about. It's such a fine line to walk on, not feeling guilty about those few bad choices and just not caring and making every bad choice. I tread it very carefully on a daily basis, and with each passing day I am learning to become in tune with what my body actually needs, like proteins from animals not fake stuff. How vegetables are important even though I fight it everyday. I find that the coke and twix was a small fix but a few carrots would have lasted longer. I learn to find the right fuels for me, the ones that don't make you feel physically miserable but instead the ones that boost your energy naturally and nutritiously. Trial and error, unfortunately there isn't a secret recipe. You have to see what your own body needs, because what I lack nutritionally may not be what you lack. Ultimately you have to listen to your body, feeling that 2'o'clock drag IS NOT NORMAL! There is actually food out there that will keep that from happening, healthy snacking and foods rich in the fuels our bodies need to survive!
Good day and goodnight from my computer to you I wish you love, laughter and happiness.
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