I’ve never really hated my body because I’m a live in my head kind of person. Also I have the body of one side of my family and my sister has the body of the other side, so I guess I always l knew more or less what my body shape would be as I aged. But after menopause I was not happy with the changes I was seeing in myself. Then one day I saw someone I would have called a “fat old lady” and I realized she was awesome and that my body was like hers. It was quite an epiphany. And now I am most concerned with my cholesterol and health stuff, not with my weight or the shape of my body.
Oooh, I love the idea of an affirmation. A favorite influencer I follow who has a large belly has one that's something like, "No, I'm not pregnant. This is just the way my belly is." Any interest in sharing yours?
Great! First, here's some advice from Olympic swimming champion Nancy Hogshead: "Love your body. Love it, love it, love it, love it, love it, love it."
After that interview with Nancy, my affirmation has become, "I love this whole body." Somehow that makes it global, with no loopholes, reminding me to love not just the parts that are easy to love, but all my sore joints, too, which is my challenge (arthritis, sports injuries).
Well done you! I love that you are back to you are finally back to weightlifting!
In response to a few of your questions, sadly, I feel my brain is flopping back and forth about my body. I had to have the "life changing surgery" a few years ago and I was told I could never lift more than 15kg. I'd always considered myself strong, like you linebacker-ish and only very thin at one fleeting part of my life - military enlistment. Now, I'm just training for my "stay out of a nursing home" events. I'm emotionally stronger than ever now. Great post, I enjoy reading your progress. :)
Ha! This made me laugh, but seriously, there's a lot of merit to avoiding a nursing home event! I love that you're finding strength where you can, even if you're not 100% okay with it. I find that just having that awareness that you're not okay with something is better than struggling and not knowing it. Also, I just strongly believe that people who are fighting for change tend to get there.
I love this. I was probably one of the girls you hated back then. I have a small build, tiny bones, tiny everything except an unusually large bust for my size. I joke that I'm a brunette Dolly Parton. Tiny and busty. For most of my twenties, my weight hovered around 110 lbs. If it touched 120, I starved myself, living on Slimfast shakes so I could still wear a size 2 jeans. When a serious illness and stroke left me at 83 lbs with a feeding tube when I was 36, I realized skinny wasn't a good thing.
Now, I'm heavier and the strongest I've been in my life. I lift weights. I have visible muscles. I no longer have to ask for help with things like lifting my carry-on into the overhead bin.
Oddly, I didn't hate other women for their bodies, it was more like sadness and frustration that I couldn't get there too. And one of my children also has your former body type, so I know that it's no bed of roses or indicator of health. It's always so interesting to hear stories like yours and know that even someone so tiny felt that same pressure to maintain it.
Ohhhhh.... I like "inner God of Thunder". And I always relate to and appreciate what you write. It's hard not to compare our today bodies to our back then bodies. A constant renavigation of expectation and appreciation.
Both professionally and personally I've found that getting strong is one of the biggest game changers there is. I look forward to reading more about your journey as you're getting back to the weights. Also I LOVE the pic of you in your pink shorts!
I'm 60 and have been lifting (heavy) weights for twenty years this year. I admit I don't love seeing my body change since menopause but I do love my highly functional body and am grateful for strength and capability. I also teach women to deadlift, bench, squat, etc and love seeing them discover the result. Thanks for this post. Oh and I loved Casey Johnston's book!
I could be good with that. I have been compared to Ursula before…now, to be clear, Ursula rocks the catbox. I felt a bit odd about the comparison, though. My hair was patterned like hers, and to be fair, it was standing up like that, too😂🤣😂🤣
I know you are trying to help, but I am not sure your comments are all that helpful. Why do you need to qualify that she wouldn't be a couture model? Why does that need to be said?
Why do we have to qualify her beauty at all? She is beautiful. Full Stop.
I’ve never really hated my body because I’m a live in my head kind of person. Also I have the body of one side of my family and my sister has the body of the other side, so I guess I always l knew more or less what my body shape would be as I aged. But after menopause I was not happy with the changes I was seeing in myself. Then one day I saw someone I would have called a “fat old lady” and I realized she was awesome and that my body was like hers. It was quite an epiphany. And now I am most concerned with my cholesterol and health stuff, not with my weight or the shape of my body.
Kudos to you, Donna. I think this is an awesome place to be. We can care about our health without killing ourselves to reach an unreachable size.
I love the article & I love my body, including its imperfections & limitations. Affirmations help. 😀
Oooh, I love the idea of an affirmation. A favorite influencer I follow who has a large belly has one that's something like, "No, I'm not pregnant. This is just the way my belly is." Any interest in sharing yours?
Great! First, here's some advice from Olympic swimming champion Nancy Hogshead: "Love your body. Love it, love it, love it, love it, love it, love it."
That's from this story I posted last week: https://strongerwomen.substack.com/p/i-asked-an-olympian-for-athletic
After that interview with Nancy, my affirmation has become, "I love this whole body." Somehow that makes it global, with no loopholes, reminding me to love not just the parts that are easy to love, but all my sore joints, too, which is my challenge (arthritis, sports injuries).
Another amazing post, Kristi!!! Thank you!
Thank you, Melissa!
Well done you! I love that you are back to you are finally back to weightlifting!
In response to a few of your questions, sadly, I feel my brain is flopping back and forth about my body. I had to have the "life changing surgery" a few years ago and I was told I could never lift more than 15kg. I'd always considered myself strong, like you linebacker-ish and only very thin at one fleeting part of my life - military enlistment. Now, I'm just training for my "stay out of a nursing home" events. I'm emotionally stronger than ever now. Great post, I enjoy reading your progress. :)
Ha! This made me laugh, but seriously, there's a lot of merit to avoiding a nursing home event! I love that you're finding strength where you can, even if you're not 100% okay with it. I find that just having that awareness that you're not okay with something is better than struggling and not knowing it. Also, I just strongly believe that people who are fighting for change tend to get there.
I love this. I was probably one of the girls you hated back then. I have a small build, tiny bones, tiny everything except an unusually large bust for my size. I joke that I'm a brunette Dolly Parton. Tiny and busty. For most of my twenties, my weight hovered around 110 lbs. If it touched 120, I starved myself, living on Slimfast shakes so I could still wear a size 2 jeans. When a serious illness and stroke left me at 83 lbs with a feeding tube when I was 36, I realized skinny wasn't a good thing.
Now, I'm heavier and the strongest I've been in my life. I lift weights. I have visible muscles. I no longer have to ask for help with things like lifting my carry-on into the overhead bin.
It feels good to be strong.
Oddly, I didn't hate other women for their bodies, it was more like sadness and frustration that I couldn't get there too. And one of my children also has your former body type, so I know that it's no bed of roses or indicator of health. It's always so interesting to hear stories like yours and know that even someone so tiny felt that same pressure to maintain it.
Ohhh I have not read this but just by the title I can say it’s awesome!
Thank you.
Ohhhhh.... I like "inner God of Thunder". And I always relate to and appreciate what you write. It's hard not to compare our today bodies to our back then bodies. A constant renavigation of expectation and appreciation.
Both professionally and personally I've found that getting strong is one of the biggest game changers there is. I look forward to reading more about your journey as you're getting back to the weights. Also I LOVE the pic of you in your pink shorts!
YES X 100! I needed to read this today!
I'm 60 and have been lifting (heavy) weights for twenty years this year. I admit I don't love seeing my body change since menopause but I do love my highly functional body and am grateful for strength and capability. I also teach women to deadlift, bench, squat, etc and love seeing them discover the result. Thanks for this post. Oh and I loved Casey Johnston's book!
Wow! Your inner goddess of thunder is phenomenal! Such an inspiring piece Kristi!
"Inner God of Thunder" -- love it!!
I could be good with that. I have been compared to Ursula before…now, to be clear, Ursula rocks the catbox. I felt a bit odd about the comparison, though. My hair was patterned like hers, and to be fair, it was standing up like that, too😂🤣😂🤣
I know you are trying to help, but I am not sure your comments are all that helpful. Why do you need to qualify that she wouldn't be a couture model? Why does that need to be said?
Why do we have to qualify her beauty at all? She is beautiful. Full Stop.