I’ll bet you thought I was going to talk about the Vienna Finger Challenge today…well I’m not.  Today is a day for another subject, somewhat related but with a different slant.

As you well know I’ve been struggling with my weight (losing some) for a very long time.  Instead food seems to rule the day here at my house and it is a constant source of stress and anxiety for me.

I realized recently that there needs to be a new approach in my quest for weight loss and fitness.   I’ve come to believe that my energy is best spent focusing on self-acceptance right here, right now.

What that means to me is embracing who I am, what I look like, how old I am and how much I weigh, as well as embracing those traits found on the inside.  There is value in my inquisitive nature, humor and spiritual searching.  There is value in my creativity.  I have wisdom to share because I have been alive for more than 55 years.  There’s a lot going on in this chubby (go with me on that one) body that is worth while and it’s about time I appreciate me for being me.

I remember when this revelation hit me.  It was a brisk afternoon in Downtown Albany and as I headed to the bank one afternoon I caught sight of this attractive woman.  I could only see her from the rear but she was slender with long blond, curly hair, dressed in trendy clothing and walking with confidence.  As she turned to cross State Street I could quickly see that she had to be more than sixty years old (maybe older) and that’s when it hit me.  Was she accepting herself or striving to be a twenty-something in a sixty-plus package?

I decided right then that for me going forward there will be “truth in advertising.”  From the front or the back you’ll know what you’ve got.  I cannot go on wishing I am something that I am not.   My hair is brown and gray, mostly gray.  I need to lose some weight, more than some.  I’m not a slave to fashion, not even close.   I like flannel and denim.  I will always opt for comfort over fashion.  I like my gray hair, it makes me look like the grandmother that I am.

I’m not suggesting that I will give up my efforts to lose weight and make by body healthier and I have lots of character traits that need correcting.  What I am suggesting is right now is the time to appreciate me without judgment – inside and out!  I have come to realize that if I cannot accept myself just as I am and place value on those things I’ll not value myself enough to lose the weight and become more fit.

I know this self-acceptance thing will not happen overnight and so I’ve come up with a mantra to recite when I waiver… here goes…  God loves me fat or thin.  Right here and now self-love begins!  (It’s kinda catchy don’t ya think?!)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 8:05 pm and is filed under Day-to-Day, Weight Watchers Adventure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.