Discovering My Body Dysmorphia
Today I decided to fix my storage problem on my laptop, by attaching my external hard drive from my old computer up to it to start saving files onto. I decided to open it up and browse through forgotten photos of my life between high school and Aubrey. In it, I came across a folder labeled ‘My Body’.
I opened it, not knowing what I would find. There, before my eyes were photos of a confident scantily clad, pre-children body I never knew I had. How did I live my whole 20’s never realizing how great my body was and fit I looked. I was always wanting to get the scale to read under 120 lbs and under 20% Body fat. I hated the way I looked and would beat myself up, dragging myself to the gym 5-6 days a week and feeling guilty if I didn’t go. I had such dedication to something that I now look back on and realized didn’t matter that much. I LOOKED LIKE A GOD DAMN VICTORIA’S SECRET MODEL AND DIDN’T KNOW IT!
Now I sit here realizing how severe my body dysmorphia was and probably still is today. I have made 2 beautiful children with this body and have been lucky enough to shed most of the excess weight with only a little work and a somewhat proper diet. But, when the clothes come off, or I catch a glimpse of myself sideways in the mirror, I want to break down into tears. This is not the body I want to have. My cellulite is huge, my tummy is saggy, and my love handles now pour over the sides of my lower rise jeans.
But, I get told by my husband every day how much he loves my curves. When I am out in public, women tell me how fantastic I look post baby number two. And on top of all of that, I fit into most of my pre-pregnancy clothes. With all of this positivity over my new ‘mom body’, I start to wonder, is my body dysmorphia just as bad now as it was then? Will I look back on these photos in 5-10 years wondering why I beat myself up so much over the excess weight?
We need to learn a way as women to love what we look like no matter what. It’s a learning curve, but I now know that it is all in my brain, and probably in yours as well.
But I have a plan……
Let’s find one thing to make our brains happy with our bodies. Maybe that is cutting back your sugar intake, or working out in some form at least once a week. Start walking your kids to school, or eating more greens. Whatever works, start doing it. Throw out those ‘goal’ photos and plans like my lost ‘My Body’ folder and start with one thing that is easy to do and makes you feel good. Let that one thing train your mind into seeing your body is beautiful.
For me, running is my happy place. I don’t need weights to make me feel good about myself. I need a great pair of sneakers and an open space. So, starting now, I pledge to run once a week for me. Not for my body, but for my mind.
What do you ladies Pledge? because you all need to know how beautiful you are and someone right now is wishing they had your body.
P.S, Below are my progress photos since Poppy.
I used to feel this way when I was a teen and super skinny. Oh man, the media does a number on our self worth as young girls. The way we look has nothing to do with our worth. Worrying about weight and looks is such a distraction and waste of time. It gets in the way of us having a fufilling and purposeful life. For me this week to make my brain happy with my body, I am going to use my body to help others. Maybe baking something for the homeless I often see.
I used to feel this way when I was a teen and super skinny. Oh man, the media does a number on our self worth as young girls. The way we look has nothing to do with our worth. Worrying about weight and looks is such a distraction and waste of time. It gets in the way of us having a fufilling and purposeful life. For me this week to make my brain happy with my body, I am going to use my body to help others. Maybe baking something for the homeless I often see.
I used to feel this way when I was a teen and super skinny. Oh man, the media does a number on our self worth as young girls. The way we look has nothing to do with our worth. Worrying about weight and looks is such a distraction and waste of time. It gets in the way of us having a fufilling and purposeful life. For me this week to make my brain happy with my body, I am going to use my body to help others. Maybe baking something for the homeless I often see.
I used to feel this way when I was a teen and super skinny. Oh man, the media does a number on our self worth as young girls. The way we look has nothing to do with our worth. Worrying about weight and looks is such a distraction and waste of time. It gets in the way of us having a fufilling and purposeful life. For me this week to make my brain happy with my body, I am going to use my body to help others. Maybe baking something for the homeless I often see.
I used to feel this way when I was a teen and super skinny. Oh man, the media does a number on our self worth as young girls. The way we look has nothing to do with our worth. Worrying about weight and looks is such a distraction and waste of time. It gets in the way of us having a fufilling and purposeful life. For me this week to make my brain happy with my body, I am going to use my body to help others. Maybe baking something for the homeless I often see.
Awareness is key and still takes daily concious work, as it isnt easy trying to retrain our brain to change thoughts which then will change perception and then hopefully change the way we feel in our own skin.Your courage to share is inspiring and you truly are and have always been a beautiful person inside and out! Regardless of how you feel or have felt your beauty will always remain the same!
Awareness is key and still takes daily concious work, as it isnt easy trying to retrain our brain to change thoughts which then will change perception and then hopefully change the way we feel in our own skin.Your courage to share is inspiring and you truly are and have always been a beautiful person inside and out! Regardless of how you feel or have felt your beauty will always remain the same!
Awareness is key and still takes daily concious work, as it isnt easy trying to retrain our brain to change thoughts which then will change perception and then hopefully change the way we feel in our own skin.Your courage to share is inspiring and you truly are and have always been a beautiful person inside and out! Regardless of how you feel or have felt your beauty will always remain the same!
Awareness is key and still takes daily concious work, as it isnt easy trying to retrain our brain to change thoughts which then will change perception and then hopefully change the way we feel in our own skin.Your courage to share is inspiring and you truly are and have always been a beautiful person inside and out! Regardless of how you feel or have felt your beauty will always remain the same!
Awareness is key and still takes daily concious work, as it isnt easy trying to retrain our brain to change thoughts which then will change perception and then hopefully change the way we feel in our own skin.
Your courage to share is inspiring and you truly are and have always been a beautiful person inside and out! Regardless of how you feel or have felt your beauty will always remain the same!
You have always looked incredible. We are always unforgiving and more critical of ourselves. You should be proud of your body; it gave you two gorgeous babes and one angel baby. You look phenomenal!
You have always looked incredible. We are always unforgiving and more critical of ourselves. You should be proud of your body; it gave you two gorgeous babes and one angel baby. You look phenomenal!
You have always looked incredible. We are always unforgiving and more critical of ourselves. You should be proud of your body; it gave you two gorgeous babes and one angel baby. You look phenomenal!
You have always looked incredible. We are always unforgiving and more critical of ourselves. You should be proud of your body; it gave you two gorgeous babes and one angel baby. You look phenomenal!
You have always looked incredible. We are always unforgiving and more critical of ourselves. You should be proud of your body; it gave you two gorgeous babes and one angel baby. You look phenomenal!
You are beautiful and you look beautiful in both sets of pictures. I would love to see the second set with a big huge grin for looking so great 6 months after having a baby!!Sometimes I wish there were no mirrors that could make us doubt our self worthxoConny
You are beautiful and you look beautiful in both sets of pictures. I would love to see the second set with a big huge grin for looking so great 6 months after having a baby!!Sometimes I wish there were no mirrors that could make us doubt our self worthxoConny
You are beautiful and you look beautiful in both sets of pictures. I would love to see the second set with a big huge grin for looking so great 6 months after having a baby!!Sometimes I wish there were no mirrors that could make us doubt our self worthxoConny
You are beautiful and you look beautiful in both sets of pictures. I would love to see the second set with a big huge grin for looking so great 6 months after having a baby!!Sometimes I wish there were no mirrors that could make us doubt our self worthxoConny
You are beautiful and you look beautiful in both sets of pictures. I would love to see the second set with a big huge grin for looking so great 6 months after having a baby!!
Sometimes I wish there were no mirrors that could make us doubt our self worth
xo
Conny
Your words are encouraging. I understand exactly what you feel and experience the same thoughts about my body. Thank you so much for inspiring and sharing! You look amazing btw!!!
Your words are encouraging. I understand exactly what you feel and experience the same thoughts about my body. Thank you so much for inspiring and sharing! You look amazing btw!!!
Your words are encouraging. I understand exactly what you feel and experience the same thoughts about my body. Thank you so much for inspiring and sharing! You look amazing btw!!!
Your words are encouraging. I understand exactly what you feel and experience the same thoughts about my body. Thank you so much for inspiring and sharing! You look amazing btw!!!
Your words are encouraging. I understand exactly what you feel and experience the same thoughts about my body. Thank you so much for inspiring and sharing! You look amazing btw!!!
Are you kidding me! You look so good. So. Good. Seriously. Are you sucking in? You have abs! That’s amazing. I still have no abs and I’m 13 months after mine. But as much as I care, because my back hurts, I don’t care because the babies make me feel so proud of my weird new saggy body. Thanks for this post. It’s needed!
Are you kidding me! You look so good. So. Good. Seriously. Are you sucking in? You have abs! That’s amazing. I still have no abs and I’m 13 months after mine. But as much as I care, because my back hurts, I don’t care because the babies make me feel so proud of my weird new saggy body. Thanks for this post. It’s needed!
Are you kidding me! You look so good. So. Good. Seriously. Are you sucking in? You have abs! That’s amazing. I still have no abs and I’m 13 months after mine. But as much as I care, because my back hurts, I don’t care because the babies make me feel so proud of my weird new saggy body. Thanks for this post. It’s needed!
Are you kidding me! You look so good. So. Good. Seriously. Are you sucking in? You have abs! That’s amazing. I still have no abs and I’m 13 months after mine. But as much as I care, because my back hurts, I don’t care because the babies make me feel so proud of my weird new saggy body. Thanks for this post. It’s needed!
Are you kidding me! You look so good. So. Good. Seriously. Are you sucking in? You have abs! That’s amazing. I still have no abs and I’m 13 months after mine. But as much as I care, because my back hurts, I don’t care because the babies make me feel so proud of my weird new saggy body. Thanks for this post. It’s needed!
You look amazing. It’s hard to see yourself that way because I’m the same way. You pick at yourself and find things that no one else would ever notice about you. I loved reading this post!
You look amazing. It’s hard to see yourself that way because I’m the same way. You pick at yourself and find things that no one else would ever notice about you. I loved reading this post!
You look amazing. It’s hard to see yourself that way because I’m the same way. You pick at yourself and find things that no one else would ever notice about you. I loved reading this post!
You look amazing. It’s hard to see yourself that way because I’m the same way. You pick at yourself and find things that no one else would ever notice about you. I loved reading this post!
You look amazing. It’s hard to see yourself that way because I’m the same way. You pick at yourself and find things that no one else would ever notice about you. I loved reading this post!