Happy New Year. I know most everyone begins to think about a new healthy lifestyle when the new year begins. I’ve been on this journey for a couple of years now. So, I’m kinda an old hat at this.
What I have found is that focusing on a healthy lifestyle can be freeing and daunting all in one. However long you’ve been moving forward.
And, I am so proud of myself. Truly.
I have started and stopped and started and stopped so many diet plans, exercise plans, and all other sorts of plans where others were telling me what I needed to do to get healthy; instead of listening to me and my body about what it needed and wanted to do to be healthy.
I finally listened to my body and that was indeed the trick. It told me I had to change lifestyles… well duh! I guess I just didn’t want to listen. I mean, it was so hard!
Until it wasn’t.
You and your body and your mind go around in circles. And, when you do change your lifestyle and strive to become healthier it’s the number on the scale you focus on. It’s the number on the clothes you want to see get smaller. It’s that goal weight you keep reaching for.
And, I got there – and them some.
I reached my goal! Never in my wildest dreams would have I thought that would have happened.
But I did. Even past it by 5 pounds!
And what happens? You reach your goal and you look in the mirror and see this…
I have a lot of loose skin now. And, since I already moved past the vulnerable point in the last post I’ll just continue to go to the deep end and show you one more photo.
See that flap? That “squish”? You won’t find that just on my arms. I have that on my neck, breasts, belly, bum, and thighs. So, pretty much all over. And, it’s pretty gross.
That’s what age and a 136-pound weight loss will do. Your skin doesn’t have enough collagen to snap back and it just becomes saggy and squishy.
It’s a tad embarrassing, not gonna lie. How am I going to meet someone like this?
“I dream that someone will love me as a person so wholly that it won’t matter that I have gray pubic hair or sagging breasts.”
Teri Hatcher
So, while I have been moving toward this weight and size goal, I didn’t really think of what would come of it.
And, now comes the new goal… saving up the funds to afford the multiple surgeries I will need to bring everything back together.
Insurance will take care of a small portion, but everything else will be on my dime. And, that’s ok. I reached this health goal I can do this next one too.
I’m seriously considering having a cabaret and see if folks will offer a few bucks to hear me sing a tune or two. That and sell a kidney or lung.
But even so, I feel more confident now than when I was larger – saggy, squishy skin and all.
“Beauty is about being confident in your own skin. It’s about knowing and accepting who you are.”
Ellen DeGeneres
Even though my goals have shifted and changed through this healthy adventure, one thing is for sure – I got this! Because…
“Happiness and confidence are the prettiest things you can wear”
Taylor Swift
And that is one goal I am happy to continue to reach.
Carmen is a single mom who acts, sings, drinks way too much coffee, and writes stuff as she authentically navigates life. Sometimes it’s interesting, sometimes not so much. You can decide. But if something moves you, drop a line, share it far and wide, and let me know what you think! Be sure to check out her business website, Heart-Centered Marketing and Business Solutions.
