Skip to main content

A Corner I Didn't Know I Was Approaching

Weight is a weird thing. Sure, scientifically, it’s all about gravity and mass and blah blah balh. It’s just a number. It’s not a measurement of your worth.

Yadda.

Yadda.

Yadda.

I know.

But fat. Appearance. Confidence. So much is tied into that arbitrary number on the scale. The circumference of your waste.

Psychology.

I’m getting lost in the mire of all of it and it’s all tied to that number. As I struggle with the importance of the number and what it means to me I’m finding twists and turns I’m finding questions and concerns and confusion.

Lots of confusion.

Lots of… not sure what I’m finding.

Me? Maybe?

I’m okay with what I’m finding. And I wouldn’t say I’m UN-comfortable with it. But I’m not sure what’s going on.

I’ve never read the self-help books or joined the group therapy, or one-on-one therapy, or done much more than surface based “lose weight.”

I’m finding that it’s so much more than getting to the gym, eating carrots, skipping creamer in the coffee, and buying clothes a size smaller than last time.

I’ve been stuck between the same sizes (XXL and XL women’s cut) for years.

In those years I’ve:
-Quit a soul sucking job
-Realized my previous career was soul sucking
-Met an amazing man
-Married that amazing man
-Put myself outside my comfort zone
-Found myself doing really well outside my comfort zone
-Realized that I’m a different person than I thought I was

That last one, that’s the one that gets to me. As an aspiring writer, my main characters have to some extent been some idealized, idolized, aspired to the version of who I thought I wanted to be. I’m slowly becoming that person and…. And I’m not sure what that means or how I feel about it.
I’m more confident now that I’m at a job that I excel at and truly enjoy. I’m more confident now that I’m not spending 9am-5pm trying to fly under the radar and just get the work done. I’m more comfortable with me now that I’ve stopped worrying about the radar and not rocking the boat. Being somewhere where I’m surrounded by artists I feel… NORMAL… for the first time.

I’m average.

I’m like everyone else.

I’ve never felt like that before. I’ve always been different, strange, and an outsider.

I was never bullied (well, there was seventh grade but even that’s not a normal bullying story). I always had friends. I was never alone. I was never left out.

But I was never like everyone else.

I was the person that fit in with the most groups. I was in the band, orchestra, choir, theater; I grew up playing league sports with the jock; I was artistic; I was a nerd, and somehow the popular girls were nice to me too.

It’s like I’m dead center in the Vin Diagram of Life. I’m a little bit like everyone but not just like anyone.

Until, somehow, now.

Until now I’ve always had the “different” label. Somehow, deep down, that’s been a shield for me. Now that I don’t have that shield. Now that I’m “normal” I’m starting to wonder about the rest of me.

I’ve been trying to lose weight since college. If I’d really been trying I’d have done it by now.

If I’d been putting actual effort into it, I’d have done it by now.

If I’d been doing more than the bare minimum, I’d have done it by now.

There’s a reason I haven’t done it.

Me.

Me.

Me.

I’m the reason.

Why I’ve been playing games with myself, I don’t know.

Why I’ve been pretending and half-assing it… I don’t know.

But somehow, somewhere, sometime, I’ve started changing when it comes to health, too.

I’ve been talking myself out of stopping for junk food instead of into it. I’ve said no to birthday cake at a 3-yearl-old’s party. I’ve said no to the beer in my fridge. I’ve said no to the brownies at work. I’ve been drinking water. I’ve been drinking coffee with no creamer or sugar. I’ve talked myself out of Starbucks.
I’ve been trying to say yes to the gym instead of ignoring it or pretending I don’t have time.

I’ve turned a corner I didn’t even know was there.

I’ve had a revelation I didn’t know I’ve been approaching.

I’m suddenly confused, excited, scared, and nervous.

But I’m happy.

And I’d like to get down to a Large.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

So, a Fat Nerd steps onto a scale...

I done did it, y'all. I got my scale out this morning. I can't say that I'm surprised, but I can say that I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised. Two hundred and freaking forty six pounds. It was a bit of a gut punch. I'm not happy. I know that I have lost weight since our move. I can see it in the mirror. I can tell by the way my clothes fit. But, as it stands this morning I have an official number. 246 Gross. Have I been heavier? Yes. Earlier this year. Have I (as an adult) been lighter? Yes... also earlier this year. Was I heavier when I got my ass in gear a few months ago? Yes. Can I do better? Also, yes. Am I going to be better? HELL YES!!! It's easy to pick a start date that is "later." You screw up on your new diet on Wednesday and decide to start over on Monday, or the first of the month, or the first of the year. Well, guess what? The first of the year is tomorrow. I'm not giving myself "one last night...

Luna's Fund- Gratitude and Humility

I've already mentioned how the Hogwarts Running Club got me out and running again. The club's main focus is charitable fundraising through running. Every year there are six virtual races of varying distances and there are special medals for each race. When you register for a race, you're paying for your medal, but mostly contributing to the charity that the race is supporting. Right now we are doing the Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody Constant Vigilance 5k in support of Limbs for Life . I think the HRC website explains the connection between Mad-Eye and Limbs for life the best: "Moody never let his injuries stop him. Moody fought in both the First and Second Wizarding Wars and captured many dark witches and wizards, but at a cost. He lost a leg, an eye and part of his nose in carrying out his duties as an Auror for the Ministry of Magic. It is in this spirit, we are thrilled to announce that proceeds from this event will go to support the Limbs for Life Fou...

Trying something

I’ve been feeling very overwhelmed and overrun these days. There’s the typical holiday season nonsense happening, some exciting stuff, and some this-is-what-happens-as-you-get-older stuff.   A couple of things will pass with time (hosting two separate family get-togethers back to back), some of it will come with time (my father-in-law moving in), some of it is unavoidable (12-year-old cars just have issues), and one thing has the potential to start me down a path I’ve always wanted to be on (a publisher accepting a book proposal). Overwhelmed doesn’t have to be because of negative things. Overall what it’s boiling down to is I’m feeling out of control. So, naturally, I’m taking steps to get myself feeling more in control. I’m a To-Do List veteran, and over the years have perfected my system. Do I always get everything done? Nope. But it helps me keep track of things. Keeping on top of the must-be-done items is something I’ve gotten pretty good at. I very...