What do you love about your body?
February 20, 2008
This week’s question was inspired by a meme swizzlepop posted a few weeks ago. It was called The “I LOVE ME” List and I’ve been meaning to post my responses but MAN I just don’t have any time (I’ve also been meaning to post about 3 food finds, respond to the bazillion messages in my inbox and visit my some of my favorite blogs, but I digress). So instead, I took the concept and simply ask, what it is you LOVE about your body?
I think we all (especially women) spend way too much time criticizing ourselves. Personally, I spent 15 years not happy in my own skin. Not swimming with friends because I didn’t want to wear a bathing suit, not dancing at weddings because I didn’t like the way I looked in my dress, not buying clothes that fit because I wanted to hide under oversized jeans and t-shirts. Some of you may think “yeah, well, it’s easier for you now to be confident, you lost the weight”. But I’m here to tell you it was the opposite. First, I learned how to love myself, then I started to lose weight.
Something happened to me after I had “the toddler”. I realized how beautiful, valuable and important my body really is. I remember hiking with a friend and wearing a tank top about month after giving birth. Now, I would NEVER be caught dead without sleeves, NEVER. Geesh, I even spent months looking for a long sleeve wedding dress! And here I was 200lbs, carrying my newborn in a sling and hiking with a friend. I didn’t care my arms weren’t “model” thin. I was out living life, enjoying myself and keeping cool (it was a HOT day and who wants to wear sleeves on a hot day anyway?)
The point I’m trying to make (not sure if I’m doing a good job of it) is that I had a defining moment where I realized it’s not worth it to be unhappy about my body. I had to accept myself for me at THAT moment if I was to grow and continue on my journey. It wasn’t easy (I think we established that ;~P). It took a lot of mental coaching and positive self talk. Yes, I actually have looked in the mirror and said, “This is you, DEAL WITH IT!” while wearing something I normally wouldn’t be caught dead in, like a tank top!
So my answer to this simple question is so much more then a particular body part (although I’ve always liked my neck – weird, I know) what I love about my body is that it is healthy, strong, and has the ability to change. I love that my body has grown and nurtured a life. And I love that my body allows me to enjoy life to the fullest, I know not everyone is that lucky.
Your turn… :~)
On February 20th, 2008 at 10:22 pm ashley said:
I get this feeling every time I run. Regardless of what the scale says, my body is strong and free. In my gym, the treadmill faces a huge mirror. It might sound funny, but I look my absolute best at this time– I feel my best.
It’s a great feeling. That’s why I believe exercise refocuses my mind.
On February 20th, 2008 at 10:30 pm CindyPTN said:
I just participated in Blog Her’s Letter to my Body on Valentine’s Day. It was perfect and really helped me put my thoughts together about what I love about my body. I hope you don’t mind, but here’s my link to respond:
Dear Body, A Letter Just for You
On February 20th, 2008 at 10:30 pm Lorraine said:
I love that my body is equal proportions. I have a small waist..size 4 143 1bs 5′5″. I have a size 36 b bra which is a nice size without any surgeries. I love that my body made 2 perfect kids and did it very easily. I love I can lose weight easier than most people. I love the most that I do a physical job and it doesent let me down and I’m very healthy.
I sound like a bragger but you asked. I realy always loved myself even when I was heavy.
I want to transfer that confidence onto my girls. They’ve got great bodies too.
On February 20th, 2008 at 10:37 pm Christie said:
Great question!
I love my NATURAL haircolor. It’s been so many years since I’ve let my hair just be itself and now I’m really enjoying it.
I also love that I have I have curves. I have the hour glass figure, somewhere under there.
On February 20th, 2008 at 10:39 pm Katy said:
I LOVe my shins. I think they are awesome looking!
On February 20th, 2008 at 10:54 pm BonnieR325 said:
I love my legs…they’re very athletic looking (at least when I’m not a lot overweight). My legs and butt have always been my smallest part…I tend to carry most of my weight in my stomach and waist. I have more of a “boy” shape when I’m at a healthy weight…which is straight up and down, but it works for me. I like it. I’ve lost 60.8 pounds (as of my WW weigh-in tonight), and have 31.2 pounds to go, but…a funny story….My 4 year old grandson was at my house on Sunday and I had on these new black work out pants that really show off my slim legs and butt, and I had on a blue workout top that actually showed my “muffin top” waist. Well, I asked Jax if he could tell that Grandma is getting skinny. And he said, “well…..the black part, but not right hereeeeee……”(as he motioned around and around up by my stomach….tehehehe. Children are SO HONEST! But I’m feeling very comfortable in my body these days, and it makes me happy to feel that comfortable!
On February 21st, 2008 at 12:04 am Paul & Julie said:
Now that I’ve maintained a 60 pound loss for a few years, I’m liking a lot more than I used to - my arms, my calves, my collar bones, the size of my jeans. But even though it’s been said, I’ll say it again because it’s what I truly love: I LOVE that MY body carried, birthed, and nursed 3 healthy, beautiful babies. Oh, I definitely have the physical marks to prove it, but I choose to consider them beautiful and wear them like a badge of honor. That feeling is something that can never be taken away, no matter what size my jeans are! -Julie
On February 21st, 2008 at 12:17 am coral said:
The only part of my body that I like is my calves. I love to bike and hike and it’s a part of me that shows a lot of definition, and quickly!
But I also have a lot of tattoos, both of my arms are completely sleeved, and just got a large vegetable medley tattoo on my calf for my 30th birthday. Contrary to some, tattoos make me feel beautiful and different. To me, people can see past the fat on my arms, and notice the beautiful artwork and I feel much more confident.
On February 21st, 2008 at 1:07 am pamelabee said:
I love my tattoo and various piercings - just looking at them makes me smile. I also love the way my bum looks in the right pair of jeans.
It’s taken me a while to be able to find things I like in the mirror, but man it feels good to be there!
On February 21st, 2008 at 1:20 am kyree90 said:
That’s a hard question. Guess I’d have to say I love my collarbones. I remember when I first noticed I had them: I weighed about 220 pounds (after doing Atkins for a few months) and looked in the mirror and saw them. It was amazing. I think I just stood there, raising my shoulders to make them stick out even more, for quite some time!
On February 21st, 2008 at 2:14 am Anonymous said:
Hmmm…this is actually a really hard question for me to answer. Which is incredibly revealing about my self-confidence level right now. So, although I don’t have an answer for you just yet, thanks for giving me something to think about.
On February 21st, 2008 at 8:00 am Scrumpy's Baker said:
I love that my body sometimes takes over for my over-active mind and shows me how to really enjoy life.
On February 21st, 2008 at 8:36 am Kathy said:
I love my body for being so resilient. It has treated me better than I deserve!
On February 21st, 2008 at 9:53 am Julia said:
I love that no matter how much weight I put on, I always have a defined waist. It makes me feel like a lady.
I also love my natural hair colour. I wouldn’t dye it for the world.
On February 21st, 2008 at 10:04 am JulieG said:
I love my abs. I have worked them hard over the past 6 months and I can actually tell. Yes they are covered with the stretch marks of two pregnancies, but they are defined and they are strong. Next body part: arms!
On February 21st, 2008 at 11:00 am Girl on a Mission... said:
Roni,
I love your comment “I had to learn to love myself before I lost the weight”….that is something that we should all have as statements written across our blogs!! It is such a true and inspiring comment!
What do I love about my body?
I love my hair and my eyes….go figure….because no matter how much weight I had gained or how many different angles I tried to wiggle the camera to make my face look ‘thin’ in my token “From the neck up headshots”…my hair always looked good (as my mother was a hairstylist) and my eyes always sparkled (because deep down inside there was a happy person waiting to burst out of this shell!).
I loved the fact that I was able to be comfortable with myself even in my most unhappiest of times.
On February 21st, 2008 at 11:14 am Alisha said:
I really love my pinkie fingers. They are nice and dainty looking. I like all the comments, because sometimes it is hard to look past the stretch marks after three children…seems they are everywhere, tummy, arms, legs, boobs….but I am happy that my body was able to house three growing babies. My hubby reminds me of that lots!
On February 21st, 2008 at 11:16 am HappyBlogChick said:
I love my collarbones, if we’re going for appearances.
When I’m consistently lifting weights, I love how strong I am. When I lift weights *and* I’m at goal, I am small looking but powerful, and I love how much that surprises people.
But in a more general sense, I love where my body can take me. I love that it has allowed me to walk around towns all over the world and to hike countrysides all over the country.
On February 21st, 2008 at 11:19 am moi.bloggirl said:
I love my eyes. Sometimes I feel that they say too much but thats what I love about them. I look at myself in the mirror and love the way they shine and speak all the time.
Nice question
Smita
On February 21st, 2008 at 11:31 am IrishLuci said:
Hi Roni,
Ooh, tough question for someone at the start of this journey. I guess the thing I like the most about my body is my cheekbones. No matter what weight I am, my cheekbones stay the same. I got them from my Mother and I have always thought that she is beautiful and looks great for her age, and I hope I will look like that at her age. The ironic thing is that they say that cheekbones are actually not bones at all, but a type of perminant fat that stays on your face at that location. Every other fatty part of me I loathe, but I guess this part can stay plump!
Thanks for asking.
On February 21st, 2008 at 12:04 pm Amanda said:
I love that I have great skin, I love that even though I don’t have six pack abs they are very flat, I love that I have extremely long longs and that they are very muscular. I love that my body allows me to run 40 miles every week!
On February 21st, 2008 at 12:24 pm Anonymous said:
I feel the same way. Just this year(and I am 38)I decided it was time to cut myself some slack and really like myself. I had always been a negative self talker, so I decided that it was time to like myself. And it helped alot. I started being nice to me and saying nice things to myself. I am nice. I am cute. I am a worthwhile person and I am good enough. I am soooo much happier. And I am now at the weight I want to be and I give myself credit for all the hard work I have done to get here. I love me!!!!!!
On February 21st, 2008 at 12:47 pm Anonymous said:
Hey,
I have been following this blog for two months..even created a weightwatchenblog account (without blog) I thought this would allow me to post comments that were not annoymous…if somebody can help this computer illerate..that would be wonderful…thanks…i tried to go under my settings to set up a blog…to see if that would help but i couldn’t even figure that out…so after weeks of trying..i thought it was time to ask..i posted yesterday too
~crista
On February 21st, 2008 at 12:59 pm IrishLuci said:
Hey Crista,
Just up here on the top left as you write your message, it says ‘choose an identity’, this is where you put in your username and password for your blogger account. write your message, dont forget the word verification (image with letters askew), and click publish your comment!
I too have not yet blogged, but I joined solely to post here.
Hope that helps, Good luck!
On February 21st, 2008 at 1:27 pm DaMora said:
My answer is not as deep as yours. I don’t think I’m at that point yet. So my simple answer is I love my skin, hair (at times), and my eyes. But of course none of those things have to do with weight loss which can be good or bad.
On February 21st, 2008 at 1:39 pm Tamela said:
This is a tough one for me as I’ve been stuck in the middle of my weight loss struggle for a while now and have a hard time loving the way I look. But I think I need to think about this stuff more often.
Anyway, I love my hands. They are strong and can do anything. I also love that I have been able to birth and feed my children with my body. I nver believed in miracles before I became a mom and realized the power of my body.
On February 21st, 2008 at 2:54 pm Dev said:
I love my eyes. They are grey/green/blue and the color they are at any particular moment depends on my mood and what I’m wearing.
I love my hair. I have lots of natural red highlights thanks to my red-headed grandmother.
I love my boobs. I’m a 36D ~ even after losing 70 pounds.
On February 21st, 2008 at 3:26 pm BonnieR325 said:
Hey irishluci (or anyone else),
When you were trying to help crista, I was trying to follow what you were telling her, because I also have a blog, but my name isn’t in blue and underlined, but I don’t know why. You didn’t say where to go ‘under’ Choose An Identity. I always pick Name/URL. Is this not right? What do I have to choose to have my name blue and underlined? I’m kind of illiterate at this blogging thing too.
Thanks so much, in advance,
Bonnie
On February 21st, 2008 at 3:31 pm Anonymous said:
I am trying this out….everytime I enter my user name and password..after choosing Google/Blogger…I get incorrect password!?!?! now what am I doing wrong
I am struggling today…thanks to anybody who can help me :)
~crista
On February 21st, 2008 at 6:14 pm IrishLuci said:
Crista/bonnier325,
I really don’t want to go any further off topic as this is a really important question that Roni has posed, but I’d love to help, so if either of you email me I will see if I can help you guys figure it out!
On February 21st, 2008 at 8:43 pm Roni said:
IrishLuci/Crista/bonnier325,
Sorry, this is my fault. After the crash I rebuilt my site with a different system then the community. So the passwords on the community are just for the boards and your individual blogs.
It’s one of the reasons I allow anonymous comments here. If you do not want to be anonymous when you leave a comment simply choose “name/url”
I’m so sorry for the confusion. I’ve been fearful of moving myself in the community because I have so many posts. So I just list myself on the most active blogs.
Hope that helps!
and for everyone else…. Awesome answers!
and
cindyptn - Of course I don’t mind! :~D
On February 21st, 2008 at 10:44 pm Anonymous said:
This is for Lorraine….Hoow can you bea size 4 and your eight is 143 ???
On February 21st, 2008 at 10:47 pm Anonymous said:
This is for Lorraine….How can you be a size 4 and your weight is 143 ???
On February 21st, 2008 at 11:02 pm Roni said:
Anonymous - what kind of question is that??
I’m 5′ 9”, 145 pounds and I have some size 4’s. Please don’t focus on size and weight, every women’s body is DRASTICALLY different. So is every clothing size based on cut.
On February 22nd, 2008 at 1:58 am Merqury said:
I agree ashley, i feel the same too. I have a 4months old baby and trying my best to get in shape. target weight will be 110lbs
On February 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 am Crista said:
Well everybody I have figured it out…sorry to go off topic from the question…but I wanted to get on track here…
What do I love about my body? that even though I have gained some weight…somehow my body is proportional…I do want to lose weight..thats why I am on this journey…
On February 22nd, 2008 at 10:33 am Anonymous said:
Great question–let’s see I love my lips, eyes, arms and no matter what the scale says I always seem to have a defined waist. Oh, and I have great finger nails!
On February 22nd, 2008 at 12:45 pm watchinmyweight said:
Hmmm…I would have to say I love my legs.
On February 22nd, 2008 at 3:09 pm Mandee said:
I love everything about my body. I don’t look at things as “flaws” because that is subjective to who is looking at them. Yes I have stretch marks. Yes I have some cellulite on my thighs. Yes I have some flab on me. All of these came from an 80+ lbs weight loss and I am damn proud of them. I realized you can spend hours wishing things were different or you can just accept yourself and love yourself today! It makes you a much happier person!! Focus on health and happiness. Enjoy today as who you are because truly it could be your last. I wont deny I’m not perfect, and I know I never will be, and that is just A-OK in my book! :]
On February 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 pm Bern said:
I’m really trying hard to keep on blogging! Keep up the good work!
On February 22nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm BonnieR325 said:
I think I finally figured the identity out too! At least we’ll see…as soon as I hit the button.
On February 23rd, 2008 at 10:11 am Bonniejean said:
I love reading all of these comments from women who love (at least parts of) their bodies! It’s very refreshing.
I love my eyebrows and lips. I’m also getting over a week long battle with influenza and I love that my body can fight through it.
On February 24th, 2008 at 12:46 pm Merry said:
This is a great post, and I enjoyed reading all the comments as well.
I love that my body has put up with years, okay decades, of my fueling it with corn chips and sodas and yet still is resilient enough to adapt to the demands of regular, aerobic exercise. When I push my body to try something new, my body gets better at it with each attempt. I love that.
On February 25th, 2008 at 4:21 pm sabrina said:
I’m in love with my hair and eyes. My hair has this really nice color, it’s not black, its rally dark brown and when the sun hits it it turns a really dark shade of red. My eyes are a really dark brown, I don’t see tomay people who have the same color eyes I do
On February 25th, 2008 at 8:04 pm casmommy said:
I love that I have an hourglass figure and am very proportionate. I love that I have muscular legs from years of riding horses. I love that my body carried my daughter and gave me an easy pregnancy. I love that even after baby I can fit back into my size 6 jeans. Even writing these things, its extremely hard for me to say or believe them. I feel like when I do something like this, I’m saying I’m good enough, which I never feel that I am. So thank you, for challenging me to continue to accept my body and be happy.
On March 3rd, 2008 at 2:15 pm Anonymous said:
I can’t agree with you more. I only began to lose my weight (my defense mechanism) when I began to love myself and my body, and treat it well. I wish you the best- you’re an inspiration!