What have you gained? (Rewind)

I’m having way to much fun rummaging through old posts to rewind these questions of the week. This one is from the summer of 2008 and it feels like yesterday.

As a weight loss blogger who lost weight and kept it off, the difference between inspiring and being annoying is a fine balance. Who likes to get weight loss advice from a "skinny bitch"? Seriously, right? And after being at goal for 2 years I started to feel like a "skinny bitch". It’s an identify crisis I’ve mentioned before and those that have lost weight know what I’m talking about. People make judgments about you regardless of your size and I have felt the sting of both the skinny and the fat assumptions.

So when I originally wrote this question of the week I was worried people would think,

"Of course you can focus on what you’ve gained now, you’re skinny."

Why did I think that? Becuase I would have thought it. I would be rolling my eyes at the "skinny bitch" telling me how great her life is now that she’s thin.

Rereading my original post almost 9 months pregnant had me in tears. Sure, PART of it is pregnancy hormones but what made me really cry is, all the things I have gained are still true! I feel the same exact way even in my pregnant body.

Sure a pregnant gain is a bit different but regardless, I’m in a body that makes me uncomfortable. I have many of the same body image issues swimming around my brain. I’m fighting a lot of similar feelings but the truth is, even if I don’t lose the weight after this pregnancy I will STILL feel the same way…

I have gained so much more than I have lost.

Here is the original post from July 9, 2008….

That’s right, GAINED! With all the drama I almost forgot the question of the week! Since we’ve been talking a lot about finding happiness and being happy I thought it was a good time to take an assessment of what we have gained by changing our lifestyle.

I’m not going to pretend that my intention when I started Weight Watchers wasn’t to lose weight. Yes, I was unhappy in my skin for a very long time. Yes, I think that unhappiness led to more of weight problem and I wish I had a better body image as a young woman. However, on my journey to lose that weight I have gained so much more.

Along the journey to a healthier me…

I have gained a healthy relationship with food where I don’t eat for eating sake. Where I can enjoy food I love and not have it snow ball into a 3 week binge before I even notice.I have gained energy and a love of fitness. I value MY time so much and I now enjoy doing things that are good for my body. I like running and lifting weights. Instead of measuring my success on the scale I’m starting to measure it in miles and pounds lifted. I have gained an active fun relationship with my son. We dance, we play, we run, we frolic on the beach and as he gets older our activities will grow and mature. I love the fact that I am setting a good example for him to live a healthy lifestyle and that we are active together.I have gained more self confidence. Not because I am in a particular size but because I am setting goals and reaching them. I have gained a sense of purpose. I love doing what I’m doing. I love sharing information and ideas. I feel like I’m doing something I am meant to do and that I love to do. I have gained a knowledge and appreciation of food that is good for me. Food that fuels my body not just taste good. I’ve gained such a love and appreciation of life! Ok, that sounds a little cheesy but it’s true and maybe that has more to do with my age and being a mom but, whatever! It’s gained! ;~P

So how about YOU? What have you gained?

Click here to read the comments on the original post. They are truly inspiring. But don’t forget to come back and answer… What have you gained?

View the original article here