Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Why I said bye-bye to my scales.


Guess what? It's my anniversary. Not your typical anniversary though. It's been ONE year since I got on my scales and felt my stomach hit the floor. A feeling I was ready to wave bye-bye to, for good. For me it does not create a positive body image.  It highlighted things I didn't accept about myself. We all have our body types, our DNA, our genetics -  the things that make us unique. We are what we are.   I am blessed with this body, the three children it's carried, the breath is gives me to go on about life and build cherished memories. And I'll never weigh 130 pounds, unless I ate air for my three meals a day! 
The final straw for me was when I had gone on a trip to Australia for 5 weeks last summer. I simply adore Australian food, and any overseas expat will tell you that they totally gorge on all the scrumptious things they miss being overseas -  the bakeries, the cheeses, the Cadbury's chocolate made in Australia. Not to mention the consumption of wine at the constant catch up's with loved ones.  I also didn't have access to my usual exercise routine, so working off that gorgeous food went to the wayside. I got home, and right back on my lifestyle program, as I have done for 7 years now and have embedded into my life. I even joined a boot camp on Groupon. Moving along, I worked my butt off for about 2 weeks and got on those scales. It took me days to sike myself up.  I had put on 4 pounds. My heart sunk, tears streamed out of my eyes and I sounded so utterly pathetic to myself. I called my husband in tears. He thought something severely catastrophic must of happened to call him in such a panic. "I put on 4 pounds". It sounded like such a first world problem. And that's when I realized it was out of control.
There are times in life where we have an unhealthy relationship with something or someone, and you need to detach yourself from that thing or person. That was the scales for me. It's not healthy for me, it brings me down, it detracts from the awesomeness in my life.
A year later, and it's been the best darn year in respect to my body image. It's a part of how YummoMummo got started. I really wanted to celebrate myself, have fun with myself, highlight what I loved about my body. Celebrate my delicious pear shape.  I started to accept the things I could not change. I'm not a lover of my legs but instead of shaming that, I celebrate ways I can elongate them,  wear what's right for my body type.

This summer I put a photo of myself on Instagram in my swimsuit. Gasp. I never would of done that in a million years before.

Here I am sunning myself in Hawaii, on my 39th birthday. I found myself a great bikini for the summer that let me have some fun with a  season  trend (high-waisted bikinis) and suited my body type. I'm loving life! 

So here we are, a year later. 

On my anniversary. 

And a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, pardon the pun! 

I appreciate everyone is unique and the scales won't bring about panic for others that it did me. And I also appreciate that others have a weight loss journey that totally requires scales. My opinion is unique to me and not a reflection on what I think others should do.

It is important for me to maintain my weight. Diabetes is a big factor in my family so I am still very conscious to take care of myself in the present, to avoid future problems. I live by some general routines that are enough for me. I drink mainly water (the rare diet soda), a large portion of my diet are fruit and vegetables, I make sure I get my 8 hours sleep in at night, I go the gym 4 times a week as well as daily habits of walking and biking with the kids. And I go by my clothes. If my skinny jeans are feeling a little tight, I ramp things up a bit and it all evens out again.  As well, for women, there are so many factors that can play with the scales such as your period, hormones, water retention etc. 




So there you have it folks. I hope you can appreciate I have dug a little deeper for you in this post and I hope it inspires you in your own life to change the things you can, and to accept the things you cannot. 

If you follow me on social media, you would have heard me announce that I am now a Global Ambassador for the Body Image Movement (BIM). I was doing cartwheels in my head when I found out. You will be hearing more about it in a future blog post so stay tuned for that. But the movement is teaching women a lesson we are slowly forgetting - to love ourselves from the inside out, and celebrate our awesomeness. That you are enough!
For the Kickstarter trailer for the documentary Embrace currently in production, click  HERE from your mobile device.

I'd love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment? 
* Disclosure - This blogpost is written on my perspective and should not be taken as word to do the same. 

13 comments:

  1. I love reading your posts and this one especially, maybe because it is so personal. You have said here what so many of us think. You know, I tossed my scale over 20 years ago, because for me it just didn't work. I manage my body like you, how my clothes look and mostly feel vs a daily number. It's just a number ,and to me it is most important to focus on eating healthy (not starving and having that cake when you crave it!) and exercising in a matter that you enjoy. The day I ditched the stair master at the gym (which i dreaded), and decided to focus on healthy eating and yoga was the best decision of my life. Thank you for putting yourself out there and sharing your story, you are truly an inspiration! XOXO

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    1. Thank you so much Suzanne. After writing this post, I am seeing how many women feel the same way that I do. Rock on! We define ourselves, not the scales!

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  2. What a great post! More people should be getting into this mind frame... body image these days is so dominant and that is so sad. We should be enjoying our lives... just recently My 6 year old sister showed me her tummy and asked me if she has lost weight ? I felt mortified that my little sister was even slightly concerned with her body image! Thank you for sharing this :)

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    1. Hi Remedy Genie, I am not liking the way things are going either, so I am doing my bit to create change. I have a daughter and am VERY conscious of her getting the right messages. To focus on herself from the inside out, not the other way around.

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  3. What a great post. I think sometimes we get really sucked into the whole belief that we have to be a certain number to feel good about ourselves, hell even doctors can be that way, but as long as you're doing your thing, staying healthy and active and are eating a healthy diet-I say awesome! By the way.. You looks stunning in that bikini! Love it!

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    1. Numbers schumbers. Thanks so much for reading Simply Stine. I think I have struck a chord with a lot of women.

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  4. I LOVE this post. I LOVE that bikini! (where did you get it)?! I recently ordered a high waisted bikini for my upcoming vacation in September. I, myself, have had two beautiful blessings through C-section and let me tell you, I KNOW that feeling. The feeling of not being good enough because my stomach isn't perfect, flat and chiseled.
    Well, you look FANTASTIC!!!! You're 39?! You're beautiful! That bikini flatters you well! Don't let anyone tell you any different!
    I don't get on my scales too often anymore. I do P90X2 right now and am going into day 4 today so, I occasionally get on to see if there's a difference. That doesn't define me though. As women, our weight fluctuated between 1-8 pounds a DAY! Crazy, right?
    Sorry for the long post! Keep doing what you do, girl! You look FABULOUS! XOXO

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    1. Thanks for reading Krystle. My first was a c-section so I know how much things can change after that. The bikini is from Swimsuits for All. And yes, I am 39! Looking forward to my 40's and all the self-acceptance that will come with it. I AM going to keep on keeping on, this is too important a message to get out.
      1-8 pounds, I'd believe it!

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  5. Such a fabulous post to read and one that resonates so well with me, I hate how we live in a world where we're judged by our weight rather than by our actions and whats on the inside. You look incredible in your swimsuit picture! xxx

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    1. Your correct Laura, we are more than what people just see. We are incredible and all have so much amazingness to share with this world. Love your blog!

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  6. One of the best posts I've ever read. You have to do what is right for YOU, not what the scales, magazines or (stupid) BMI says. Bring happy and healthy is all that matters. You are rocking that bikini ❤️

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    1. Beck, I recently heard someone call it the Bull**** Mass Index.

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  7. This is such a great post! I too threw out my scales months ago and have been so much happier and confident since. Best thing that I could have done.
    PS: LOVE LOVE LOVE that bikini!!

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