Timothy over at Timothology has been pondering the concept of body image. He has been relating the dissatisfaction with our bodies to the images in our media...the perfect images that we see in magazines and ads. At the same time It is interesting because my friend Sherry and I have also been talking about body image. We have been talking mainly about how we see ourselves and in particular our bodies. I know that I have a very warped sense of my body image. I don't see myself the way that I am. When I weighed 315 pounds I looked in the mirror and I saw a 'normal' sized person. The crazy thing happened though when I lost the weight...I looked in the mirror and saw the fat MaryFran. Nuts I tell you! The scales can be telling me that I'm losing mad pounds and I don't see it at all. It makes it difficult sometimes. (I can see it in pictures...I remember once when I was 'thin' I saw a picture of this girl at his studio, draped over his board...I was MAD that he was posing with her...SERIOUSLY MAD.....until he gently reminded me that I had lost weight and that the girl in the pictures was ME!) Soo how does one right these warped body image issues???
SOooo the last month has been a struggle with the weight loss.....I really haven't lost much...I've been sitting pretty steady at my weight. That's ok...I'm doing what I need to be doing and I know the weight WILL come off. (That said, I want it off NOW...ha ha ha). But yesterday evening I was looking for a picture on my cell phone and low and behold I realized that I had two pictures of myself...same position....same outfit....roughly 1.5 to 2 months part. Hmmmmmm The scales may not be showing results but I do believe I can see a bit of a difference.
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| Mid February 2013 |
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| April 4, 2013 |
This morning I got out and ran. This is my first nice weather run outdoors! I felt naked without my umpteen layers of clothes! My plan for improving my running? I've decided upon this. Right now I am going to work on increasing my distance. Last week I was running 2 miles. This week (today) I'm upping it to 2.5 miles. I will run the 2.5 miles this week. Next week I will bump it up to 3 miles. I will run 3 miles every run next week. At that point I will be right at the mileage I need for a 5k (OK who's counting those extra tenths....chump change). I will then look at my time from my runs for the 3 mile week. If I'm running the 3 miles in 45 minutes...then the following week my goal will be to run the 3 miles in 42.5 minutes. And the following week running the 3 miles in 40 minutes. Each week pushing myself to go faster. This is my plan....lets see how it works!
Hi Mary Fran! Yes, you have a lot less waistline in the second pic. Super!
ReplyDelete:-) Marion
there is definitely a difference there, KUDOS! We are always our own worst enemy when it comes to body image. I often say that I'd like to see myself from the eyes of another but you know what?? Even their 'image' of me is skewed one way or another with how they view things... we are all different in the viewing of ourselves & others. All we can really do is keep working at it until we feel comfortable with ourselves:-)
ReplyDeleteI have always viewed myself as a reverse anorexic. I see myself much thinner than i am... I totally see a difference in the two pics. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteSince gaining weight, I think there is some denial when I look at myself sometimes, not wanting to see what I have done to myself. Maybe as you are losing weight, some of that defensiveness falls down, but you are so used to viewing yourself as overweight, it is still hard to see your progress. That is my theory, anyway!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, there is a difference in your photos. Keep it up!
definately a smaller midesction! lookin good and thanks for the shoutout! i'm still pondering part 3 ! lol
ReplyDeleteok darlin i finished my 3 part body image series with some new progress pics of me in a jock strap no less, now that's confronting all my fears and taking that leap of faith, scary but liberating too!
ReplyDeleteWow! Mary Fran! I see a big difference. I bet you could really see a tightness of the muscles if the picture showed your skin. You are making amazing progress. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteugh hello! You look sooooooo good! There is definitely a difference in the pic #2! And you look soooo much more happier!
ReplyDeleteGreat job MaryFran! I knew that you were a trooper & that you could conquer anything you put your heart & mind to. I can't wait to see future results because I know that you're so gonna rock this!
xx
You're looking good! You have come a long way :)!
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