learning to love my body

Hi all, Today, I had an epiphany: I realized that I love my body! As i looked at myself naked in a full length mirror, I realized how far I have come. Not to long ago, the only mirror I EVER looked in--other than my cars side mirror--was my cars rear view mirror to see if my eye brows needed a trimming. But today, I willingly and lovingly looked at my body sans clothes. I marveled at its beauty and thanked it for all it has done for me, continues to do to me, and promised it that I would no longer abuse it. I could not help but smile as I gazed at the newly forming flaps of skin. How could I not smile. A scant few months ago those flaps were rounded and stretched to near bursting with many excess pounds of fat. That my body was able to withstand the abuse that I thrust up on it is amazing. To paraphrase Dolly Parton (and use exponentially lower numbers than what I was actually working with, "I was putting 20 pounds of sand in a 10 pound sack." Which leads me to my breasts: while they may no longer keep me from drowning, I appreciate and adore them more and more each day as I embrace my femininity as an a joyous part of who I am. Today, the sound of my panni flapping as I walk--unless I wear a girdle--is comically musical to my ears. Some days, I can hear a lyric to the melody: "You can do it, you can do it---you go girl!" And my "wings" -- they are just blessings from the heavens--another reminder of my progress towards my HPs will for me as I continue to fly through my days with a grace and fluidity that I was not capable of as I hid behind layers of lard in my efforts to keep myself grounded. Continuing to carry me in my journey are my "gams"....how blessed am I to have two such wonderful appendages. They have carried me when I felt unable to take the next step. Today, they continue to carry me forward onto the next joyous steps in my journey. While I am not yet at my goal, I am so thrilled to be where I am today. I am so blessed. With love to all, Carol D.

Hi Carol, Good for you Girl! You worked hard to get to where you are and should be proud of yourself! Enjoy the fruits of your hard work! Bless You! Julio

BRAVO! You hit it right on. Thanking your body for not letting you down and making a vow... is the most important one in your life I feel. Gratitude and promise ... brings hope and possibility. Sounds like you are on the right track of embracing your new and healthier body... which I think houses the soul. So... good thing we are all taking better care of ours. You and your body...a team at work. T.

Carol, I love this post! Thank you for sharing such intimate thoughts with us. Before I had my abdominoplasty and TT, after having lost 214 lbs., I remember the sounds of my skin flapping against my body as I jogged and thinking, "It sounds like applause." I turned my flap-flap-flap sounds into clap-clap-clap sounds. And my feelings of joy soared as my body became more and more fit, stronger and stronger every day. Your post reminds me to continue celebrating. Thank you! Maureen