Why are we as women SO hard on ourselves?? We are. We know we are. But it seems that we just can't help it.
As women we GET to have babies, a wonderful bundle of joy AND an extra 20 lbs. Having that little extra can make us feel so insecure and unattractive. We just want to be back to the way we were before, but there is no way we would give back what that 20 lbs. got us. The sweetest, most wonderful blessing we could ever receive!
So what do we do?? We feel bad about ourselves. We now have less {NO} time to go to the gym. We are getting less sleep, meaning no energy or motivation to get out and run. We are more stressed handling new experiences, causing our chocolate intake to shoot through the roof! We just want to sit on the couch during nap time and watch the food channel. And, no way do you want to fold those clothes that are piling up next to you! {Can you tell I am speaking from experience?!!}
YES, my baby is 10 months old. But let's be real-- WHO CARES how old your baby is! 10 months or 10 years. It is SO much easier to gain weight {especially when it is involuntary} than it is to lose weight. It is definitely not a 9-month-on 9-month-off situation!
There are a few things that I have learned in the last few weeks. My husband found this website created by two girls that he went to high school with. I thought it was awesome and volunteered to share/teach about it to the Young Women in my ward. As the date came closer I realized that I was going to be teaching these YW about self-esteem and their Divine Worth when I wasn't even recognizing my own. How was I going to do this?? Well, I wasn't unless I changed my opinion of myself.
I listened to this talk and learned that I needed a drastic change in my attitude! This is my new favorite quote {from the talk}--- “You can’t live your life worrying that the world is staring at you.
They are not! When you let people’s opinions make you self-conscious you give away
your power. … The key to feeling [confident] is to always listen to your
inner self—[the real you.]”
I was finally able to step back and look at my awesome life and my AMAZING two boys and realize how much I have, and that nothing else matters. Who cares if I can't fit into all of my old clothes. I can always get new ones! The important thing is that I am happy with myself so I can teach my boys to be happy with who they are.
And, they are GREAT!!
When I am doing what I feel is right and what makes me happy without worrying what anyone else thinks, things are SO much easier. That must be the way God intended us to live!
