I’ve been blessed with an overabundance of self-confidence. I’m not quite sure where it came from, I can only credit my parents and my life experiences. But I’m not usually one of those girls who looks within herself (or in the mirror) and only finds things to criticize. Don’t get me wrong, I am very hard on myself, but I think that I’m basically a good person, I know that I have worth and I think that I’m pretty.
My self-worth doesn’t fluctuate with my weight. Weight is just a number. Yes, it’s awesome when I’m a size 6 and I can rock that little red dress in the back of my closet. But I also think I can rock it pretty hard in a size 8 or 10 or 12 or even 14. My husband thinks so too. So, I don’t normally let weight get to me. And yet…
Yesterday, while reading a friend’s blog I saw something that really upset me. I’m not going to link the blog or give too many details because the post wasn’t about me. It was about a dear friend and some health issues she’s had lately. But in the comments, someone mentioned that people who are overweight have “poor willpower” and “aren’t trying.”
Ouch.
At first it just stung, but then it made me mad. Those of us who struggle with our weight know how inconsiderate, and frankly clueless, those words were. The comments did, however, remind me that I’m trying to lose weight and become healthier for me. Not for the people I pass on the street. Me. And no thoughtlessly cruel words are going to make me feel bad about myself.
Weight
This morning I weighed myself to get a baseline weight. I’m not a big fan of weighing myself every day, so I probably won’t do it again until next Wednesday and I promise I’ll share my weight loss (or gain) with all of you.
Wellness
Because I want Weight Loss and Wellness Wednesday to be about getting healthy, I’m also going to share One Thing that I’ve done (big or small) to help make myself healthier.
For this week, I’m going to shut off my computer by 11pm.
This is a huge thing for me. My job is “playing” on the internet! But because I work from home and do so much of my work online, it becomes hard for me to shut it off. The lines between work and home are completely blurred for me and it increases my stress level tremendously, which certainly doesn’t help with fertility. So I hope you will all forgive me if I don’t respond to your late night Facebook posts on the Attain Fertility Facebook Page until the next morning. I’ll be chillaxing with my husband and hopefully reducing unwanted stress.
In other news, my RE’s office called me this morning to let me know that my blood tests showed a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level that is too high. It’s technically in the normal range, but above where the doctor says is a good level for me to get pregnant and maintain a pregnancy. I started medication today and I can’t help but be optimistic at one more step taken towards a healthier me!
What will be the One Thing you do this week to get healthier? Will you be focusing on weight loss along with me as well?
5 Comments
Steph… congrats and bravo and best wishes. I have committed to therapy this year and I am not ashamed about it. I have faced a lot over the past 2 years and realized the worst part was I almost lost me… I can’t be a good mother, good teacher, good friend, or good anything if I lose me.
Take care of you, Katie! ((hugs))
Your blog post hit close to home, Steph. While I may not be TTC, I still face my own health struggles. I, too, was recently diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease which has triggered hypothyroidism. My TSH is 32 — 10 times a healthy level. It explains all the health complications I’ve been experiencing (some of which I’ve written about in previous blog posts). I eat right. I exercise. And yet I’m a physical (and some days emotional) wreck! I feel like I must be doing something wrong. So my One Good Thing for this week is to meditate on the fact that I am doing exactly what I should be doing and that I’m sick. Not flawed in my actions. Best of luck to you this week. Enjoy your nights with your hubby!
Weight loss is so hard without any complicating factors like thyroid issues. Add that stress to the stress of TTC and man what a double whammy. Counseling is a great idea and I wish I had more time to do exactly that. Just someone to talk with that could listen.
I am also trying to lose weight but only to be healthy for my family. I am exercising daily, walking 2-3 miles and eating healthfully and trying not to overeat, even on the good things.
So true, Teresa!