Today’s guest post is from Rosie who writes the weight loss blog Rosie is a Loser!
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What I See in the Mirror
My name is Rosie, and I am a loser and proud of it! Don’t worry, I don’t mean that I’m like a failure to society or something like that. What I mean is that I have lost fifty pounds! My weight loss journey has not been an easy one, and it has definitely left some emotional scars. Prior to my fifty pound weight loss, I had a terrible body image. I always assumed that losing weight would cure any body image issues, but it turns out that these body image issues aren’t going to magically disappear. I felt fantastic when I first lost weight. I thought I looked great, and my clothes I hadn’t been able to wear in years fit again, and I could visibly see and feel the difference in my body. After a little while, I got used to it and began to remember myself as a fatty. When looking in the mirror I would see fat rolls and realize how far I have left to go instead of how far I’ve come.
So what do I do? I’ve had these issues my whole life for some reason. I didn’t have a legitimate weight problem until high school, but I decided I was fat when I was about ten years old. I guess it was a self-fulfilling prophecy. I don’t want to fall into that trap again, and I definitely don’t want to spend the rest of my life thinking of myself as a fatty. I have certainly made a dent in my weight loss goals, but I still have a bit to go before I reach my ultimate goal. I decided that I want to take care of these body image issues before I get there.
This is something that I think can apply to EVERYONE. I don’t know anyone that looks in the mirror and doesn’t see a flaw. However, a lot of people don’t dwell on it and let it bother them. But a lot of people could use a body image makeover. I need to rewire my brain until it no longer tells me that I am a fatty.
The first step to stop hating your body is to acknowledge that you deserve to stop hating your body! Anyone deserves to be comfortable in their own skin. Next you need some sort of outlet, whether it is talking to someone like a family, friend, or therapist, or journaling your thoughts. I have found that being a part of this awesome weight loss blog community is an awesome boost and a great outlet, as well as journaling my thoughts on my blog. I never knew before my blog what power writing brings.
There is actually a blog I follow dedicated to spreading information in the fields of eating disorders and body image. It is www.nourishing-the-soul.com and it is a great resource for those having body image issues. I have spoken with Ashley at Nourishing the Soul, and she is fantastic. She recommended that I read “The Body Image Workbook: An Eight Step Program for Learning to Like Your Looks.” I found it
on her Nourishing Reads page, and it has been a great resource to me! I am learning a lot about myself, and I feel like I really am on the road to rewiring my brain. At the end of my journey, I know I will look in the mirror and like what I see.
Any of my followers already know that I end each of my blog posts with what I am grateful for, whether it is superficial or profound. Today I am grateful to Mary for letting me be a guest host on her blog. She really does have an awesome blog that I love to follow, so I love that she let me be a part of it!
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Thanks for the post Rosie. ;) Personally I’ve written a lot about positive body image and such in the past but lately I’ve been struggling myself. It’s not always sunshine and roses – sometimes we all feel awkward about ourselves. But I do agree that everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their own skin!
What about you? What do you see in the mirror? Are you comfortable in your own skin?
Adjusting to your new size takes times. The first time i’d lost a significant amount of weight I had a hard time living as a 130lbs woman. I still reached for the big pants, big tops and large sized everything. I don’t think I ever really came to terms with my new size! Great post!
I think that that this is a great point… that once you lose weight, the body image issues don’t “just go away”. This is something that I struggle with all the time… and I am a guy!!
Thanks for the nice post!!
I’m so glad you’ve found my website helpful, Rosie! You’re an inspiration and I’m so happy you’re showing others how important it is to feel beautiful inside and out!
I’m happy to help in any way I can! :)
Great post Rosie! I have lost 60 pounds and have maintained my loss for almost 2 years now and still struggle more some days with the “fatty remarks” in my head.
They can be so mean! Glad to have found you and Mary!
Rosie this is true! I had problems with my self image when I was overweight. On the outside I would always put on this big front that I “liked” being overweight? Deep down inside I hated every minute of it! I guess I just had too much pride.
It’s been years since I have lost the weight, but now I don’t have to put on the big front any more. I love myself just the way I am!
Losing weight would really takes time! It is not instant that when you decide to lose weight today and exercise and diet tomorrow, you will lose pounds the next day. That is not the reality.
When you decide to lose weight, you should have the guts and discipline and the patience to be successful with it. You need to stick in a certain formula or a certain strategy that you have chosen to lose weight! Do it as necessary and bear in mind that it the steps should be your habit. It is then that you’ll achieve success in losing weight!
http://www.motivatemuscle.com
I can kinda relate. I lost 50 pounds and then gained all of it back plus more. It was significantly traumatic. Anyway, this was the line in your post that I liked – “I always assumed that losing weight would cure any body image issues, but it turns out that these body image issues aren’t going to magically disappear.” That is very true. Thanks for sharing and check our my story for more info about me! http://thebingediary.blogspot.com