HEY FAT GIRL — from FlintLand’s blog
You have already begun your transformation. You no longer accept this physical state of numbness and passivity. You have taken a difficult decision, but one that holds so much promise. Every hard breath you take is actually a tad easier than the one before, and every step is ever so slightly lighter. Each push forward leaves the former person you were in your wake, creating room for an improved version, one that is stronger, healthier and forward-looking, one who knows that anything is possible.
http://flintland.blogspot.com/2012/05/hey-fat-girl.html
Okay that seriously made me get all weepy over my morning tea.
Why Women Need Iron
Women need iron. Not the vitamin. The barbell.
We are trained by the world around us to have fucked up ideas about our bodies; iron unfucks them.
We are supposed to be as thin as possible, as small as possible, perhaps until we disappear; iron teaches us to take up space.
We are taught that the only good direction for the scale to go is down, and to agonize ritualistically when it goes up. Iron teaches us the power of gaining weight for strength and gives us another weight to care about – the weight we are lifting.
We are taught to eat small amounts daintily and treat food as sin and pleasure. Iron teaches us to eat heartily, to see food as fuel for life, and to seek out nutritious food rather than avoiding sinful food.
We are taught to think of our bodies as decorative, an object to be looked at; iron teaches us to think of our bodies as functional, our own active selves, not passive objects for another’s regard.
Whole industries exist to profit by removing from us our confidence and selling it back as external objects. Iron gives us confidence from within through progressive training and measurable achievements.
We are taught to be gentle and hide our strength or even to cultivate charming physical weakness until we start to believe our bodies are weak. Iron teaches us how strong we can be.
Oh I just love this post. I love everything about it.
20 Things People With A Positive Body Image Know →
- That it’s important to take good care of your body.
- That our body does a lot for us, even though we’ve bashed it over and over and over.
- That exercise is meant to be enjoyed, so you only practice the physical activities that are fun and truly make you feel good.
- That you’ll still have days where you probably hate your body and your life. And that’s OK.
- That your negative thoughts are not actions. So just because you feel bad about your body and want to restrict your food or over-exercise or miss that get-together doesn’t mean you will. It’s just a thought. You can choose to act on it or not.
- That a positive body image means more than liking your thighs, butt and belly. That it encompasses not just taking good care of yourself but also honoring your body, respecting your boundaries and seeing doctors for regular appointments and when you’re sick.
- That sleep does a mind and body good!
- That you always have time to take care of yourself.
- That you’re more than a few body parts. You’re an entire, amazing package.
- That you’re worthy and deserving of respect at any size, shape or weight.
- That weight loss isn’t a magical elixir for everything that’s wrong with your life.
- That ads and magazines are preposterously Photoshopped so that the actual actresses and models don’t even look like that. That’s why they have to “train” so hard for their fashion shows. (And by train hard, I mean engage in super unhealthy habits.)
- That eating is flexible and enjoyable.
- That you can wear whatever the heck you like, not just supposedly slimming black clothes or bulky cardigans and sweatshirts.
- That you don’t have to wait to lose weight to pursue your dreams. You can. do. it. right. now. (And I hope you will.)
- That people who make mean remarks about your body are jerks, and their comments are more about them than you.
- That just because everyone around you is dieting doesn’t mean it’s the healthiest thing to do. (If everyone was jumping off a cliff…just kidding.)
- That your feelings are not scary or to be avoided at all costs. Instead, they provide you with valuable information about your needs and the actions you might want to take.
- That having a positive body image is a process. Day by day. It might seem oh-so impossible at first but if you start small, it’ll improve.
- That you deserve to love your body at any size, shape or weight!
Aw YEAH. THIS. Especially #15, you guys. And that last one for sure. I love this post.
Reflections on 30 days of Workouts
I’m on Day 30 out of 30 of daily workouts. I’m probably just going to continue to 60 days. Why the heck not right? It’s a lifestyle ya’ll!
Big Take Away #1: It’s a big deal but it’s also no big deal. The biggest difference this challenge has made in my fitness is getting in a workout doesn’t seem like a big deal anymore. It’s like brushing my teeth or hopping in the shower. It has to be done, might as well enjoy what I’m doing and it’s really noticeable when I don’t do it.
Big Take Away #2: Accepting where things are and slowly working towards where things should be. I’m not very fit so when I try to push myself too hard in consecutive workouts end up feeling like torture. I didn’t used to care about rest days thinking that my mental fortitude should get me through with faster than average results. It’s really easy to want to start where all the inspiring marathon runners, cross-fitters and triathletes but I’m just not there yet and pushing my body to get there before it’s ready is a disservice to my physical and mental fitness.
Big Take Away #3: It’s not going to be 100% every time, everyday. There will be an ebb and flow to the intensity of mental focus and physical ability. Some days, the body and mind are stronger than others, usually because of rest levels, exhaustion or diet.
Big Take Away #4: Weight loss is 80% Diet, 20% Exercise but Self Esteem is 90% Exercise. I lost about 5 lbs total in this past month. I wasn’t paying very close attention to what I was eating (plus there was a lot of “vacation” eating) so I didn’t lose very much. I also wasn’t focused on losing weight so much as building a habit. But what I found is that even though I didn’t lose much weight, I feel great. My muscles are stronger, my body is more contoured and my mood is generally happier.
Big Take Away #5: Pick a fun road and go at a good pace. Any 30 day challenge is about finding what works. It doesn’t have to be a set of firm rules (i.e. strict diet, workout regiment, etc.) It can be a simple habit that can be built upon later. Maybe in 3 months when I feel the need for a challenge, I’ll ramp up to a training schedule because I really enjoy a specific activity. Right now, I know I like the luxury of being able to pick what sounds like fun for the day.
So here’s to the next 30 days of workouts and maybe 30 days of food chronicling!
This post is so amazing!! Every word is so true. I can’t even really add anything. What are you waiting for?! Follow this woman already!!
Monday Morning Weigh In, Amazing NSV
The weigh-in, not so hot. Gained 2.5 lbs, up to 137.5. OH HELLO AGAIN OLD FRIEND. Very annoying. However, I realized I did feel a certain difference in the experience. I no longer think of myself as someone who weighs 137.5. No, I actually think of myself as somebody who weighs 135 who just ate way too many carbs last week. Which I believe is the truth here. I was playing around with eating more carbs and sure enough, they had their scientifically-proven side effect of water retention. So I’m going to try to be a bit more serious this week with carb intake. Apparently even the magic of IF is not proof against the evil magic of excessive carbs.
BUT ENOUGH ABOUT THAT.
My NSV is this: I went bra shopping with my daughter. We went to one of those bra salons where the lady comes in the stall with you and touches your boobs a whole lot and shoves them around in the cups. And we got new bras… for ME. In actual US sizes! Yes! I’ve been wearing ridiculous, immense, UK-sized bras for so, so, so long now, bras I had to order from the Internet. To actually go to a store right here in my own town and just buy a bra off the shelf? Priceless. And also about $30 cheaper than my Internet bras. I am back in normal-people sizes! And I could not be more thrilled about it, people. Seriously doing the happy dance right now.
The Beast at Jerry’s. No cheese, no bun!
Um, WHAT? Wasn’t it only a moment ago that Mrs. Obama was all, “oh, childhood obesity, change our food supply, make our poor fat children lose weight, lifetime of ill health, diabetes, heart disease,” and all that noise? Oh, but somehow, as we pass through puberty it magically now becomes about “how we feel about ourselves?” Pick a story, lady! Pick a story and stick with it.
Swimming, Rest Days, Motivation
Turns out that swimming is a no joke workout. Silly me thought that swimming would be a good change of pace and a great way to get some exercise in while my body was sore.
Umm… no. This morning I laid in bed thinking about how I didn’t want to go to the gym again. There was nothing I wanted to do at the gym. And I’m FREAKING TIRED.
But, I have my cousin’s graduation tonight so there’s no chance of sneaking in a workout so I suited up and hit the local river trail to get 3 miles in before work. And though I did run part of it, I ended up walking a lot of it because my mind just wasn’t in it.
Now, this is Day 25 of making sure I get a workout in everyday. Some days have been easier than others. Have I hit a wall because I’ve had no rest days at all?
Plus I find myself in this weird limbo place where I want my workouts to be really enjoyable so I really only push myself on days I feel like it. Now, as my body is getting stronger, I’m getting the urge to push harder everyday but today I had no drive at all.
What do you do on your rest days? How important are rest days? And how do you stay motivated to keep pushing harder and harder with each workout?
I had to reblog this to give you a solid answer. First off LOLOLOL at you for thinking swimming was a mellow workout!! You know Michael Phelps supposedly consumes 13,000 calories a day when he’s training? Yeah. Swimming is a bad ass workout. And then you still have to do your hair again afterward. This is why I don’t swim… but my mom does, at 5:30 in the morning. And then she goes to Zumba. She is hard core at 72, y’all. (However, I can testify here that there is hardly anything more mortifying and hilarious than when your elderly mother wants you to help her master “booty popping.” GOD NO MOM.)
But okay, on a more serious note. I think it’s great that you want your workouts to be enjoyable, and I believe that is the right track. It should be enjoyable, or else why bother? And it IS super-fun to push harder and harder and really see what you can do. It’s painful and difficult but it’s fun, yeah. It’s good that you are listening when your body tells you, “hey, I want more of that fun, crazy stuff!” Today in yoga class it was insanely painful, but I couldn’t stop smiling because I really felt so happy to be there. It was exactly what I wanted.
But now your body’s saying, “break time.” I think that’s good too. It’s good to pay attention when your body speaks up, no matter what it says. (Unless it says, “we want more sugar.” Then you should ignore it and do something else.) Sometimes your body needs a rest, and sometimes your spirit needs a rest and it gets your body to tell you that message.
When I need a break for whatever reason, I do restorative yoga, which is like regular yoga only you support yourself in the pose with tons of pillows and other props, and you hold the pose for as long as you like. So I’ll hold each pose about 15 minutes. Child’s pose, Supine Bound Angle, Supine Twists, supported Bridge or Fish, look, a whole hour went by already. Or I just go for a nice long walk around the neighborhood, not trying to sweat or go fast but just taking in the fresh air and chilling out.
The way I stay motivated is actually by focusing closely on how I feel. When I eat right and work out a lot, I feel really really good. I feel happy, energetic, and relaxed. I sleep well and I don’t feel tired even when I wake up or late in the evening. And when I don’t eat right and don’t work out, I feel the opposite. And since I really love feeling good and I understand that every back-bend, every mile, every squat is basically a free natural happy pill, I pretty much pop out of bed in the morning and strap on my sports bra. I know that if I just do this simple thing, I will feel so very good. So I really want to do it every day.
And I push harder and harder because it is just plain fun.
Me and My Shoulder
if you can get a great burn using 2.5s, consider yourself lucky. Having a full set, or adjustables is ideal because one size doesnt fit all. Most people are afraid to drop weight and sacrifice form to impress with numbers. Blech.
Well, I was alone in my room… no one to impress but myself. And my left shoulder’s been dodgy for a couple years now so I know not to mess with it. When it says NO I say OKAY BABY.
Dumbbell Fail
Made it to CitySports and picked out a nice foam roller which even came with a helpful little booklet of ways to use the roller. Very good for roller n00bs such as my husband and me. And I was all set to pick out some dumbbells when I discovered the following facts: 1. 15 and 20 lb dumbbells are actually quite heavy, especially in matched pairs, and also 2. I would have to carry them back to my car personally, which was about a quarter mile away.
So I did not buy them. I shall go back soon with my husband and make him carry them. They are really for him anyway, as I am not yet ready to move beyond our current largest size, 12.5 lbs. And I even had to dip down to the 2.5s for one exercise this morning. A bit humiliating but I’m guessing a serious shoulder injury would be way more of a bummer. So I sucked it up and did what I had to do.
However I was successful in the frozen treats department. Fresh cartons of So Delicious are chilling in my freezer right now, to be nommed later this evening, I hope.
What the everlasting fu. . ?!
Because apparently, naked and splayed-open is the proper way to greet our alien overlords when they come through the Star Gate.
(Also, if I had to pose that way for any amount of time, I’d be making Shuni Mudra for patience, too. Gracious. Girl, you got that right.)
Well Okay Then
I had no idea that tumblr was so hungry for candid pics of my least-attractive parts! Seriously I have never gotten so many reblogs before. I don’t know how to follow up… nose hair pics? Oh I could do some good ones in that department. Middle age has a host of intense insults to the vanity. I suppose the truly obvious choice is butt pics. Which means I have to get myself some of that silly butt-revealing underwear, don’t I? I learned via the magic of the internet that such garments are referred to as “Brazilian-cut.” (Of course they are.) Also I noticed the other day that Lululemon is now offering thong underwear so as to minimize VPL whilst wearing their famous yoga pants. You know how I love anything with wicking fabric… hmmmm. That’s got possibilities. Plus of course my husband would probably be delighted by this trend. Well, I’m nothing if not an attention-seeking media whore, folks, so I promise to revisit this issue fairly soon.
So many new followers; I’m overwhelmed, you guys. Welcome aboard the Bliss Train! My ask is always open.
And in other news today, my plan is to purchase the following items this afternoon: a foam roller, some new dumbbells in 15 and 20 lbs weights, and more So Delicious coconut milk ice cream, no sugar added flavors. Also today’s P90X workout is the bro-tastic Arms disc, so it’ll be “curls for girls” all up in here. The down-side: Ab Ripper today too. Bleagh.
Lemme Lay a Little Reality on You All Today
Here’s a picture of my belly today:
This is a picture of a 42-year old person. Today, I weigh 135 lbs. The brand-new undies I am wearing are size Small. (They’re Ex Officio brand from REI. Silky wicking fabric. So nice!) I wear a size 6 in pants now. This person, with this belly, can do a headstand or a backbend. She does P90X, she can run a 5K. She is, by most conventional measures, both thin and fit.
However, as you can plainly see, although I’ve lost weight and changed my whole life around, I have not been visited by the Magical Skin Fairy. My belly shows the traces of everything I’ve been through. Here’s another, even more merciless shot:
My skin is really damaged in this area, and I do still have a little over-hang as well, although the fat from the lower belly area is almost all gone at this point. I estimate that I could lose at least another 8 to 10 lbs of straight fat from around the torso, if we are being cold-blooded about it. Perhaps if I do that, the belly may become a bit less asymmetrical. But no amount of weight loss is going to make this skin firm up or become smooth. For better or worse, my belly has the soft, wrinkly, scarred surface of skin that has been through a couple of pregnancies and a whole lot of weight gain. Learning to make peace with this imperfect part of myself has been a big part of my journey.
I’m sharing it with you all today to get this message across: no matter how hard you work, it’s possible that some elements of physical perfection may remain out of reach. And you must learn to love yourself anyway. Learn to love yourself, learn to receive love, learn to give love, even though you are not physically perfect and perhaps never will be. This message of love has been brought to you by my middle-aged belly and I hope it sticks with you and maybe even helps you out when you get to feeling down on yourself. LOVE YOURSELF THE WAY YOU ARE RIGHT NOW!
Do I have the nads to wear the too tiny shirt outside today???
HI MOXY!!! I’m so sorry about Fatten. But I’m reblogging this pic to talk about that damn rhino graphic I’ve been seeing around here.
1. Rhinos are perfect the way they are. Nature made them that way to survive intensely harsh conditions including deserts where few other species can thrive. They are badasses, feared by pretty much all other animals. Few predators can touch them. And yeah, they are chunky. You’ll never see a thin rhino, because their bodies are made to be that way: massive and intimidating.
2. Unicorns are NOT REAL.
So this is a picture of a creature which is already perfectly embodying its own body-type, dreaming of transforming itself into something which does not even exist. There’s literally no amount of work that would accomplish this dream. It’s literally impossible. That’s what literally means: actual, in real life. That’s what impossible means: not at all possible. This is literally impossible. (Other examples: it is literally impossible for me to grow a third arm; it is literally impossible for me to win the lottery if I do not buy a ticket; it is literally impossible for me to flap my buttocks and fly away.) It is literally impossible for the rhino to become a unicorn.
So what, exactly, is this graphic saying? At first, you might think it’s saying, “dream big dreams, work hard and achieve them.” But as we have already seen, this dream is (say it with me now) LITERALLY UN-ACHIEVABLE. So what’s the message, then? “You are a rhino, a large, lumpy, wrinkly, fat, big-nosed creature, and no amount of work will turn you into a slender, white, sleek creature.”
Oh, that’s really nice. Thanks for that encouragement.
This message should in no way be construed as having any negative slant towards Moxy, who is awesomeness personified. Literally. Say hi to the Cube Ninja for me.
What’s that saying about the road to Hell?
McDonald’s is unveiling a vegan burger. Yep, it’ll be all “cruelty-free.” A nice, delicious wad of heavily-processed soy snuggled between two corn-syrup-drenched slabs of heavily-processed grains, with a side of fries drenched in vegetable oil. Can I please get a diet Coke with that?
I can not WAIT to see how this turns out. Did you want a side of heart disease with that, sir? Please drive up to the next window.
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