Overweight, Underweight, Just Right
Today I’ve talked to 4 friends about weight. One made me feel good, one made me feel bad, one was just right and one I upset. Why is weight such a touchy subject?
I’m not perfect. I’m not underweight, I’m finally not totally overweight, but I’m also not “just right” yet. When I talk to friends the first thing they ask is “How are the boys?” and the second thing they ask is “How’s Weight Watchers going?” I am not obssessed with my weight- I don’t have the energy or time to be obssessed BUT I am very aware of it as I always have been. Weight Watchers is my “thing” and it’s how I hold myself accountable for my health…it doesn’t work for everyone and not everyone needs it.
I know that I will never think I am “just right” when I am. I look back at pictures from highschool and I am SHOCKED at how underweight I was and how damn great I looked (by society’s standards). I only wish I thought I looked good then…I always thought I was overweight no matter what. I didn’t even think my skinny size 6 ass was good enough when I got married…and now I wonder how I ever looked that good.
I don’t ever expect to be less than a 10 again- and I don’t need to be! I’m looking forward to being a 12 and then a 10 but I’m in no rush. I know I will get there and I hope I will stay there. I want to be able to teach my children about being healthy and happy. I read a great article today- http://www.mothering.com/articles/body_soul/bodywise/body-beautiful.html via a blog http://theshapeofamother.com- that talks about magazines and hollywood standards. Society is really sick and Hollywood puts so much pressure on all of us. It hadn’t occured to me that I need to be aware of what my children see when we are out, what they see on the news and in print. Obviously I don’t need to worry quite yet and Thank God I don’t have girls (because society is so much harder on women).
Today’s 4 friends:
One of my friends is running a marathon tomorrow- 13 mths after having twins- now that is one damn powerful woman! I would LOVE to be able to do that BUT I’m not a runner and I never have been. I’m a walker…so maybe one day I’ll get myself together and do a walk for a cause. Who wants to join me? I need a “buddy.”
I was out with one of my friends today and she ordered the fried chicken sandwich when I ordered the grilled…and then she made a snide comment about me being on weight watchers. I like the grilled better!!! AND I ordered large fries! Weight Watchers doesn’t define me! I’m also addicted to oreos!
One of my friends has 3 month old twins and she had her perfect (skinny, little) body back 2 weeks after they were born. She doesn’t have a single stretch mark either! I can’t help but feel jealous when I’m with her…BUT I never looked like her and I never will, twins or not.
One of my best friends joined a gym- her little one is almost a year now- and I gave her a hard time. I was trying to be funny and instead I was mean. I didn’t realize it until she pointed it out…and of course it was via email which is always worse! She said she couldn’t blame her weight on her baby anymore…and I told her she could “blame the fritos.” What the hell was I thinking? Can I blame it on sleep deprivation? Nope, just stupidity and not thinking. Here’s the thing….she looks great! And that is what I should have reminded her of but nope I didn’t. I can imagine if we were reversed, I’d probably be upset about the comment all day and maybe even all week. I can be such a jerk! Do you think she will forgive me?
Ok….maybe 1 made me feel good, 2 made me feel bad and I made one feel bad.
fellowtwinmom said,
August 4, 2008 at 12:56 am
Okay… I think I am the friend with the 13 month old twins and I only did a 5k! Good lord, I could never do a marathon. Please join me for one of the upcoming races. There are some that are walk/runs! I have never been a runner though I did run for 2.5 of the 3.2 yesterday and did it faster than I ever have which was wild….
Weight is a touchy issue and when I was reading this entry, it made me think of why weight isn’t that big of a deal for me…I have never been a 4 and once or twice dappled in a size 6 but I was a 10 when I got married, shortly after I had my babies and so on. Maybe the key to weight not being a weighty is low expectations like me. I am pleasantly surprised when I fit into an 8 but don’t expect it. Truly, I think size 8 is my destiny if I keep exercising and can tuck the twin skin in my pants.
We all say stupid things sometimes but the fact that you realized it is key. You just need to tell her you realize you shouldn’t have said it and that you didn’t mean it. Often our own issues get projected onto someone else (which doesn’t mean I think you are sitting around eating Fritos).
Janete said,
August 13, 2008 at 5:33 am
i do agree that weight is a very touchy issue with me! (along with almost every woman LOL)…i think a lot of mine stems from a lifetime of a mother constantly telling me i was fat, and needed to lose weight…even as a small child in elementary school. in her mind, she wasn’t being mean, but trying to “help” me realize that i needed to do something about it. but it totally backfired and i have been gaining weight/losing weight/gaining weight ever since then! but when i went to college, i was on the crew team for 3 yrs and trained for olympic style power lifting competitions, and i looked freaking HOT!! for once LOL. i was healthy and fit and i felt great about myself, THEN of course i met my hubby and it went downhill after that LOL too much eating out, not excercising and then having kids……need i say more!? i’m trying to get back that mentality i had in college of going to the gym everyday and eating better. i’m on a mission…right now i’m almost at the same weight i was when i was 37 weeks pregnant with the twins, and i can’t take that anymore LOL!! so, we’ll see if i can stay on track!