Joined: 4/16/2009
Posts: 13

When I was at my heaviest weight, I fantasized about how good it would feel to be the correct weight and size for me! I imagined that I would be totally self-confident and feel completely comfortable in my skin. I'd be like a celebrity, just less rich... less famous... and less fabulously dressed. Imagine my chagrin to find that I still have body confidence issues now! I think the 235 pound me would be so disappointed to find that I still do not like certain parts of my body - and I am dreading bathing suit shopping this season! Granted, it is for different reasons, but I am still not 100% confident with how I look!

My point? I am not trying to gain sympathy, compliments (although I always like a sincere compliment), or even try to say that I need to lose more weight - no, my point is that we all have confidence issues! No matter our size, there are always going to be times that we do not feel comfortable in our skin - and losing weight will not solve those problems. In fact, losing weight just to be skinny is not going to solve any of our problems, whether they are body-confidence related or not. Studies have shown that people who being a weight loss regimen simply to lose weight are less likely to succeed because they are more like to become discouraged when they do not see immediate results! Losing weight is also not going to make us rich, get us a boyfriend/husband/significant other, find us the perfect job, or make us famous (although it can't hurt!). Losing weight will certainly make us more confident, but these extrinsic reasons cannot be the only reason that we want to lose weight - because they are not enough to keep us going on the days that we really really do not want to get up off the couch to hit the gym - or those mornings where our beds are literally the best place on earth. However, losing weight to be healthy, to live our best and fullest life, and to be the best version of ourself - that is the intrinsic motivation we need to create and sustain healthy habits! At the risk of sounds like a broken record, our goal should be to be the best and healthies versions of ourselves - and the weight loss will come, as will the confidence! Finally, losing weight just to lose weight does not imply a lifestyle change. That means that we assume that there is an "end" to our journey, which is where yo-yo dieting comes in. Yo-yo dieting is not good for our health, and it means that we will be constantly struggling to lose weight. In contrast, developing a healthy lifestyle will mean that we are at our "healthy" weight, and maintaining that weight in a healthy way.

Likewise, we should not put off purchasing clothes that make us feel good now, because we are planning to lose weight, nor should we buy target clothes for when we "lose those extra 20 pounds." This is like telling ourself that we do not have value unless we fit into the weight requirment that we think we should be! Further, it is telling us that we do not deserve to be happy and confident in how we look until we lose weight - which is SO not the case! Feeling confident will help us to make healthy choices, and to power through that tough workout! We need to feel good about ourselves now, to help us to make the healthy choices that create a healthy lifestyle!

Just like I am not 100% confident, 100% of the time, weight loss will not solve all of our problems! Everyone has times when they aren't confident, and that will not change once you are at a healthy weight! However, we can learn to be happy and confident in ourselves now - and when we achieve our healthy weight, we will be happy - but we will be happy and confident as we get there as well - which is just as important!

For more, and to win my favorite Pilates Mat (this week only!), visit my blog laurajayneparson.blogspot.com!