Skip to main content

At least my kids have something soft to hug!

This is what I've said many times when this topic of weight comes up. 

"At least my kids have something soft to hug!"

 I am not obese, but definitely overweight... 25(ish) pounds to be honest.

Here's the thing, I have friends who are very into getting in shape, staying in shape and that's great.. I admire their hard work and success.  I've watched them as they have worked towards slimmer waistlines, thinner thighs and think it could be nice to afford daycare while I had a personal trainer, but that's not my financial reality, NOR is it something I even have available in this rural town.  (yes there are ways to get in shape without all those, but my most "in shape" friends have this available to them)
Im also starting to think it might not be a good thing for me personally, if I DID have it readily available anyway!

I love that my kids have a warm, soft mama, to hug when they are hurt or sad.  I love that my kids think Im the best cook.  I love that my daughter doesn't feel pressure to keep up with a mommy who is super thin.

I have a friend who says 'Nothing tastes as good as thin feels!"  And yes, she looks great and yay for her!  But I would rather my kids remember their mom for being loving and tender, for being a great cook and so on, than "wow, my mom looked great".  (This is not saying that being thin means you cant be a great mom... just that for me, focusing on the simple joys in life and my children instead of my waistline, feels like a better purpose for me.)

Some of my best memories growing up are coming home to hot bread fresh out of the oven with melting butter on a thick slice! or my moms best smothered burritos or... homemade jams and jellies... all these warm memories of "non-healthy" foods that make me feel like "home"

Heres the other thing.... when I have been at my thinnest, theres a few things that were facts:

       1.  I thought I was "fat".  This is hysterically funny to me! I see those sayings that say " I wish I was as fat as I was the first time I thought I was fat!"  and this makes me laugh... I can relate a bit.  But this is interesting... when we are the thinnest in our lives, we are just as, if not more, insecure as we are at our heaviest.... hmmm....

       2. When I was thin, I spent a lot of time looking at how clothes fit based on the best way to look sexy and attractive.  I still want to be attractive... but isnt it better to attract your husband only? Not everyone else?  My husband (thank goodness) loves curves... and he is attracted to me in more ways than physical appearance... I also, know myself, and to be honest, when I have felt pretty "skinny sexy"  I was looking to see who else (men) were noticing me rock that cute outfit... I'm just not sure that's the right thing to have going on in my head at this stage in life.

So I've decided maybe there are pros to staying "fluffy"!

Ok, now that I'm NOT thin heres some facts I've also learned and proven:

      1. Confidence is just as attractive as a slim waistline.

      2. Modesty is beauty no matter WHAT your size!

      3. A smile is far more welcoming, beautiful and attractive than a perfect figure... Don't believe me?  Just watch and observe some busy public place and see how people respond to different people.

      4. I EARNED this body!  :)  4 pregnancies takes a toll on your tummy.  Instead of feeling insecure about it, Im going to try and be more thankful for the 2 little ones I get to love every day that gave me these scars and body changes.

Wanna know something else?  Plump people are less "threatening" or intimidating!  So there ya have it folks!  Im more approachable because Im not super thin!  tee hee!

AND lets not forget, its not THAT long ago that heavy meant wealthy....

I don't want to be remembered as someone who had a perfect body.. or who was dedicated to fitness.  I want to be remembered as a loving, caring, selfless mother and wife who enjoyed living in the middle of the road.... Who didn't put stock into physical appearance as much as inner beauty. 

I don't want to "let myself go" to the point of being unhealthy, but I don't want a size and shape determine or affect my happiness. 
I've watched this happen, when people get so obsessed with a certain number on a scale or size of clothing that there is no happiness until that is reached. 
I think there is more to life than that!  Being comfortable with "who" you are is more important than "what size" you are.

Im pleasantly plump and perfectly pleased with that! :)

Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 14, 2013 at 7:28 PM

    you just said what i have thought about myself for quite a while! its really not good for me to be really thin...been there done that....its alot of work, obsession, and lets face it....i am so VAIN when thats what my life focuses on. i think maybe its easier for people who have always been thin? i havent, so when i am thin, its my focus. for me...not smart, not good for me to be that self centered. and like you, i am not thinking people who are sucessful at weight loss, working out, etc are wasting time....its the best thing for them, and i respect them for it. amen sistah.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ReenieOctober 14, 2013 at 8:20 PM

      Love it Marlene! I agree, I think people who have always been thin probably wont even understand this blog post! :) But the attitude and vanity that consumes me when I am thin seems unhealthy. Thanks so much for reading!

      Delete
    2. Sagebrush SalleyOctober 15, 2013 at 8:36 AM

      Reenie "I love you just the way you are." thanks for sharing.

      Delete
    3. ReenieOctober 24, 2013 at 5:00 PM

      Thanks fore reading Sagebrush Salley!

      Delete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 14, 2014 at 9:33 PM

    You've got it right! You are a smart young lady. LOVE reading your stories on your blog! ty

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Finding My Birth Mom Part 1: Searching

I've always known I was adopted. I am so thankful for this because it saved me from a lot of struggle throughout my childhood.  I will forever be grateful to my parents for being up front about that. Here's my little story.  My parents were told they couldn't have children so they started an adoption journey.... they planned to save for a while but then I was born and suddenly they had a daughter!  A few months later, they discovered my mom was pregnant!  My sister and I are 14 months apart. I never once felt resentment to being adopted or hurt and rejected by my birth Mom.  I always had a sense that it was exactly what was supposed to be.   Even still.... throughout the years, I felt a yearning to know her. As a child I would sometimes lay awake at night, wondering about my birth mom.  Did she think about me? When my birthday happened every year, I always wondered if she was thinking of me that day. Was she happy?  Did I have half sibli...
6 comments
Read more

When I met Grant

I remember the day I met Grant Campbell.  I was checking on my son who was playing in the yard at our new house.  As I rounded the corner, I saw him talking over the fence to a guy I didn't know.  The guy was very tall, had tattoos head to toe and I was instant nervous-mama. I should have known that my sweet child was a better judge of character than I was.  That man he was chatting with was Grant Campbell, our neighbor and later our friend. A few days after, Grant and his wife Michelle brought over a little "welcome to the neighborhood" gift and that's when the friendship was born. They became fast friends.  The guys would go shooting, us girls would have daily chats, coffee and shopping trips together.  They eventually moved from next to us to across the street.  How fun it was to help them plan out their dreams for this house! There were many hours of dinners, chats, phone calls over the next years that created a deep bond betw...
2 comments
Read more

Yes, Go to that Funeral. It's Important!

I know people who say "I don't go to funerals". I get it. Sometimes they are uncomfortable. Sometimes they are painful. No one WANTS to feel those things, but I want to tell you why it's important and valuable to be there during those times. First of all, funerals aren't for the deceased, they are for the ones left behind. The ones who loved the deceased. The ones who are faced with loss. Let me tell you what your presence at a funeral can mean. It can mean "I am here because I care about you and the loss you are feeling" It can mean " I am here because the person who has passed meant a lot to me" It can mean "I am here because I've felt a similar pain". You may think your presence at a day like this doesn't have an impact but I can tell you from experience that it does. Those who take time to come share in a last farewell mean more to the family than can be put in to words. Even if you don't k...
Post a Comment
Read more

Think twice before you talk to someone about their weight

I recently had someone comment about my weight.... I have gained about 30 pounds in the last months and I started this year doing something about it... but when this person made her comment.... I wanted to scream, cry and of course, eat. When you  comment on someone's weight even if it is in "concern" for them, you are putting them in one of these situations. 1) They feel great the way they are, confident actually, and attractive and now you've cast doubt on all that. 2) They are already self conscious about it and you just made them feel worse. 3) They are aware they are over weight, are already on a diet or exercise plan but now you've made them question whether or not to continue because they don't want you to think they are losing it for you! You know those snide comments or "joking" comments you slip into conversation?  Yea, you're not that sneaky and they can still hurt! Weight is a very personal thing and unfortunately a str...
5 comments
Read more

Meeting My Birth Mom Part 2: The Gifts

After the initial meeting and conversation with my Bio Mom and her Husband, we met again to spend a majority of the following day together. This day didn't start as smoothly as the first, but there were still so many parts of the day that were like little gifts for me to open. Throughout this period of time of getting to know one another, I was able to see glimpses into the life of my bio grandparents and mom.  This is a gift I treasure. I was able to learn of some of the hardships that were overcome by previous generations and present ones.  A gift. I heard tales of tragedy, redemption and growth.  A gift. It's like I was taken on a little journey of continued discovery about the threads that make up part of the fabric that I am, that my Bio Mom is, and where some of our strength to endure comes from. Even as she would tell stories about her parents and grandparents, hearing her tell them, gave me more clarity on who she is as well. How she remembers things, ...
1 comment
Read more