In Search of my Body...Not The One I Ate.. #4 "Inspiring Others... 1 Tiara at a Time"

[goofyfan-12]

Melissa - just cause you have a coke doesn't mean the day is lost. We've all been there and I still have days like that. But I can tell you, YOU, that all is not lost. Count it. Track it. Don't eat the bread at dinner. And hells yeah, get on the treadmill and work it off sista.

I don't like people watching me either. I don't want to be noticed. I want to be invisible, unless I do something brilliant. I digress. Espically when you are overweight, you want to blend in cause you feel so conspicious. Not at ease in your body. I so want to be at ease and blend.



Exactamundo.

Melissa - quick with the butter pic. You are fitting right in.

Kelly - sticks of butter are so convienent. When you need 1/4 cup you just cut off what you need. No dipping out of the tub and getting your measuring cup all messy.

Lyz - look at you sounding so profound... Love you for that

And for those of you who don't like doing things in front of others, my trainer is on this kick where I have to do jumping jacks in front of him. Yup, jumping jacks with all my wobbly bits wobbling away until I fall down... It is not a pretty sight, trust me on this. But, he won't let me stop and tells me that by this time next year, there won't be any wobby bits. Here's hoping...

OK - I have had one truly hellish day at work (thanks to my craptastic company) and I am about to get into my car for a two hour drive to Binghamton (in the middle of upstate NY). I'll check in later tonight when I get settled.

Have fun without me.

Paula

 

[Dizneydawn]

Melissa - just cause you have a coke doesn't mean the day is lost. We've all been there and I still have days like that. But I can tell you, YOU, that all is not lost. Count it. Track it. Don't eat the bread at dinner. And hells yeah, get on the treadmill and work it off sista.
Agreed and hugged from afar...I had that mentality most of my life...now I post it and since it is out there...I own it...forgive myself and move on..
I don't like people watching me either. I don't want to be noticed. I want to be invisible, unless I do something brilliant. I digress. Espically when you are overweight, you want to blend in cause you feel so conspicious. Not at ease in your body. I so want to be at ease and blend.

Lyz - if I could pay you a million dollars for what you just wrote I would.

That is exactly how I feel. I never could put into words how it was inside...but that is exactly it...I truthfully think that was part of my meltdown at the Boardwalk that night. Here were huge success stories coming to meet me...I, who had no success and was still a big, ugly loser.

That was how I felt. Like I had no worth at all and that was in my head I know...but still how I felt. The truth is that I am the one that determines my inner feelings. That is something I need to work on. There are plenty of people heavier than me, smaller than me etc...who have tons of confidence...and I need to build myself up to feel good or it won't change at 200 or 145...

Anyway...thank you for putting it into words...maybe I can process it better now since seeing it...visualizing it...helps me own it...

Kelly - sticks of butter are so convienent. When you need 1/4 cup you just cut off what you need. No dipping out of the tub and getting your measuring cup all messy. [/B][/COLOR]

But convienient means easy to dive into and gorge on...if butter only came in packets...I bet I would have cut my calories in 1/2 most of my life...I would have gotten sick of tearing packets open with my teeth and said screw it...

 

[adsrtw]

OMG! I'm a bridesmaid ~ kind of. Details to come. My baby cousin and his fiance just walked in the door as I logged on. Just found out. It sounds cool!

 

[HockeyKat]

That sounds like fun Aimee!

Quick drive by...

Food for today:
B: fiber one + milk (80)
L: turkey/laughing cow pita (120), salad (120)
D: Thai kitchen rice noodle soup bowl turned into a dinner-plate sized stir fry with red pepper, cilantro, 4 shrimp, 1 can bean sprouts, broccoli, onion, zucchini, green bell pepper (320)
S: clementine (35), 1 bag ff popcorn (200), 1 serving light ice cream (130)

Total, ~1000. Water, 80 oz. Exercise, none.

 

[SeptemberGirl]

WTH? Last post was 11pm? Where are all of you???

Paula, you are excused. Erika, you, too. And you Aimee, and Amy. And Kat and Lyz and Dawn. But the rest of you have some explaining to do!


I am just back from seeing a movie with a friend. Twilight, of course. Anyhoo, I was on my way back thinking about a friend and a conversation I had with her about men. Now, don't skip this. This is my deep stuff coming out. It all ties in.

So we were talking about this particular guy and how he was attracted to another woman, and why that woman was no good for him. Basically, he couldn't handle her. She was out of his league. And yes, she is gorgeous but that's not why. She's also talented, but that's not why. She's also intelligent, and funny and fun and warm and everything wonderful. She's out of his league, I explained, because she and I share something in common. We think we're the sh$t.

Do either of us think we are the world's best friend, the mother of the year, the perfect wife or daughter or employee? No. We don't. We know we have faults and failings. But no matter how fat or ugly or stupid or silly or embarrassed we feel for the MOMENT, we still think we are the sh$t.

We simply put, have self confidence. We honestly think that you could add up our faults and failings minus our good traits and it doesn't matter. We are still completely worth your time. Are you going to find anyone more fun to be with than she or I? Nope, and that's because we like ourselves. No matter what I think about my thighs, I truly like myself. I think you can't do better than me for a friend, wife, daughter or mother. Now, could I BE a better friend, wife, daughter, or mother? For sure. Plenty of people write better than me, look better than me, love better than me.

But I'm who you want to be with. I'm the woman you want to date, the girlfriend you want to see, the family member you want to come to Christmas. And that's because I like myself, so I can let that other stuff go.

Again, I have PLENTY of faults and failings. I have moments, days, weeks, of self-doubt. I have things I am ashamed of, bad habits, emotions I don't know how to deal with. I have all of that and more. I have every single negative thing every other woman on the planet has.

But still, I can confidently say, "He's lucky to have me." "You can't do better than me, baby," I joke to Nick. My friends and I like this song by Liz Phair and the lyric is "You're lucky to even know me" and we joke about that being my line. We sing it to each other and then we believe it about ourselves.

I truly believe I am lucky to have EVERY friend in my life, that I am the blessed one, that they are the best friends in the world. I believe my husband is a prince among men. I believe my daughter is beautiful and amazing. But, I also believe that about myself. While we as people can easily believe greatness in others, we rarely feel the same way about ourselves.

So why is she out of his league? Because she believes this about herself, and he doesn't. This won't stop her from loving him, but it will stop their relationship from working.


What Lyz said is spot-on. Melissa, Dawn I get it. I have been there. I am OFTEN there. All the freaking time! But I just believe that at the end of the day, it doesn't matter how thin or pretty or smart or rich or nice I am. I rock. I rock because of who I am, not what I am. I am the person you want to be with, to be in your life. And no amount of skinny can top that.

So please, know that you rock too. That all that other stuff doesn't matter, truly. If you are in love with you, you will feel like you are worth every good thing. You will be the star of the room, because that's your birthright. It's all of our birthrights. And it doesn't mean we don't have to work on our sh$t, because we do. I do, you do.

You can be the heaviest, the poorest, the least educated, and you can make everyone feel like they want to know you better. Like they got a treat being with you. It's not about anything else than what you think of yourself.

So if you made it through this, thanks. If not, no worries. And if you do anything this year, please do this. Read it, believe it, live it. We're lucky to even know YOU.

xoxo

 

[DisneyGalUK]

Good Morning!
Oh wait, good morning to me - its more like Good Middle of the Night to you guys!

WTH? Last post was 11pm? Where are all of you???

Paula, you are excused. Erika, you, too. And you Aimee, and Amy. And Kat and Lyz and Dawn. But the rest of you have some explaining to do!

May I be excused - I was in bed, darn time difference!


I am just back from seeing a movie with a friend. Twilight, of course. Anyhoo, I was on my way back thinking about a friend and a conversation I had with her about men. Now, don't skip this. This is my deep stuff coming out. It all ties in.

So we were talking about this particular guy and how he was attracted to another woman, and why that woman was no good for him. Basically, he couldn't handle her. She was out of his league. And yes, she is gorgeous but that's not why. She's also talented, but that's not why. She's also intelligent, and funny and fun and warm and everything wonderful. She's out of his league, I explained, because she and I share something in common. We think we're the sh$t.

Do either of us think we are the world's best friend, the mother of the year, the perfect wife or daughter or employee? No. We don't. We know we have faults and failings. But no matter how fat or ugly or stupid or silly or embarrassed we feel for the MOMENT, we still think we are the sh$t.

We simply put, have self confidence. We honestly think that you could add up our faults and failings minus our good traits and it doesn't matter. We are still completely worth your time. Are you going to find anyone more fun to be with than she or I? Nope, and that's because we like ourselves. No matter what I think about my thighs, I truly like myself. I think you can't do better than me for a friend, wife, daughter or mother. Now, could I BE a better friend, wife, daughter, or mother? For sure. Plenty of people write better than me, look better than me, love better than me.

But I'm who you want to be with. I'm the woman you want to date, the girlfriend you want to see, the family member you want to come to Christmas. And that's because I like myself, so I can let that other stuff go.

Again, I have PLENTY of faults and failings. I have moments, days, weeks, of self-doubt. I have things I am ashamed of, bad habits, emotions I don't know how to deal with. I have all of that and more. I have every single negative thing every other woman on the planet has.

But still, I can confidently say, "He's lucky to have me." "You can't do better than me, baby," I joke to Nick. My friends and I like this song by Liz Phair and the lyric is "You're lucky to even know me" and we joke about that being my line. We sing it to each other and then we believe it about ourselves.

I truly believe I am lucky to have EVERY friend in my life, that I am the blessed one, that they are the best friends in the world. I believe my husband is a prince among men. I believe my daughter is beautiful and amazing. But, I also believe that about myself. While we as people can easily believe greatness in others, we rarely feel the same way about ourselves.

So why is she out of his league? Because she believes this about herself, and he doesn't. This won't stop her from loving him, but it will stop their relationship from working.


What Lyz said is spot-on. Melissa, Dawn I get it. I have been there. I am OFTEN there. All the freaking time! But I just believe that at the end of the day, it doesn't matter how thin or pretty or smart or rich or nice I am. I rock. I rock because of who I am, not what I am. I am the person you want to be with, to be in your life. And no amount of skinny can top that.

So please, know that you rock too. That all that other stuff doesn't matter, truly. If you are in love with you, you will feel like you are worth every good thing. You will be the star of the room, because that's your birthright. It's all of our birthrights. And it doesn't mean we don't have to work on our sh$t, because we do. I do, you do.

You can be the heaviest, the poorest, the least educated, and you can make everyone feel like they want to know you better. Like they got a treat being with you. It's not about anything else than what you think of yourself.

So if you made it through this, thanks. If not, no worries. And if you do anything this year, please do this. Read it, believe it, live it. We're lucky to even know YOU.

xoxo

Wow. You are awesome.
My DH is like that - he oozes self confidence, it actually radiates from him. Im getting there, ive started telling him Im the best wife ever AND, my 'so fabulous they'll make people cry' jeans will make people want to know me even more!
Seriously, that was great and a real eye opener. Ive printed it out, and now its stuck on the front of my tracker notebook

 

[princessrunner]

Good morning everyone. I am late because I picked up this stinkin book and I cannot put the darned thing down. Yes, you have got me hooked...I am reading Twilight.

Agreed that we all rock. We are all worth every bit of everything and that we are all lucky to have each other. I have met some truly wonderful souls on this board and yes, it is your heart and soul that make you awesome, not the outside. Say one nice thing about yourself every day and say it until you believe it.

I do sleep, probably too much..... I live as my MIL says "pack everything into every minute that you possibly can" otherwise known as using your time to the fullest extent. Unfortunately, sometimes I over-extend...

Eating, good. Exercise, zero for yesterday. Today is a sliding party on a humongous hill that I will have to walk up a million times. So hill work for me today and I will log the time not the miles. Fun times, fun times. After that, probably some sleep.

Okay, off to put on a pot of baked beans and fold the laundry, or read....

Have a great day everyone!!!!

 

[3DisneyKids]

Week 1 Challenge Results!


Name.....Wt. Goal….PTD.......Exercise Goal….PTD.......Other….....PTD

Erika.......-5 lbs..…...-.5..........1500 min+abs…...365........track….......3/7
Liz...........159 lbs....167…..…...4x/week............2/2.........track….......2/2
Lyz..........-5 lbs......-.6..........4x/week.............0x..........think…......on track
LisaPR.....-5 lbs.......-2.5……....25 /wk+ 4x........25.35/4x….scale sanity…on track
Steph......-5 lbs.......??...........n/a..................n.a..........track….......??
LisaV.......-5 lbs......-1………....6 on/2 off..........on track....think..…....on track
Paula........n/a........-1?.........2x/wk + swim.....3x+s.........n/a……......n/a
Amy........-5 lbs.......-4...........5x/wk.................4x.........n/a……......n/a
Dawn......-12 lbs......-3……….....5 x 60...............2x..........no soda…..on track
Nancy.......n/a..........n/a.........1500 min..........375..........track 5/7….6/7
Aimee......-8 lbs.......-2.5.........3 x 30...............2.5 hrs....scale 1x/wk…on track
Kelly........-5 lbs........-1……......3 x 30.................0x.........track……...??
Stacey.....-7 lbs.......-2.5 ……...5x/wk................4x...........n/a………...n/a

*PTD = Progress to Date

Not sure of the best way to post results, so I may be changing the format in coming weeks. But we ALL made progress this week! WOO HOO!

 

[adsrtw]

Good morning everybody!

WTH? Last post was 11pm? Where are all of you???

Paula, you are excused. Erika, you, too. And you Aimee, and Amy. And Kat and Lyz and Dawn. But the rest of you have some explaining to do!


I am just back from seeing a movie with a friend. Twilight, of course. Anyhoo, I was on my way back thinking about a friend and a conversation I had with her about men. Now, don't skip this. This is my deep stuff coming out. It all ties in.

So we were talking about this particular guy and how he was attracted to another woman, and why that woman was no good for him. Basically, he couldn't handle her. She was out of his league. And yes, she is gorgeous but that's not why. She's also talented, but that's not why. She's also intelligent, and funny and fun and warm and everything wonderful. She's out of his league, I explained, because she and I share something in common. We think we're the sh$t.

Do either of us think we are the world's best friend, the mother of the year, the perfect wife or daughter or employee? No. We don't. We know we have faults and failings. But no matter how fat or ugly or stupid or silly or embarrassed we feel for the MOMENT, we still think we are the sh$t.

We simply put, have self confidence. We honestly think that you could add up our faults and failings minus our good traits and it doesn't matter. We are still completely worth your time. Are you going to find anyone more fun to be with than she or I? Nope, and that's because we like ourselves. No matter what I think about my thighs, I truly like myself. I think you can't do better than me for a friend, wife, daughter or mother. Now, could I BE a better friend, wife, daughter, or mother? For sure. Plenty of people write better than me, look better than me, love better than me.

But I'm who you want to be with. I'm the woman you want to date, the girlfriend you want to see, the family member you want to come to Christmas. And that's because I like myself, so I can let that other stuff go.

Again, I have PLENTY of faults and failings. I have moments, days, weeks, of self-doubt. I have things I am ashamed of, bad habits, emotions I don't know how to deal with. I have all of that and more. I have every single negative thing every other woman on the planet has.

But still, I can confidently say, "He's lucky to have me." "You can't do better than me, baby," I joke to Nick. My friends and I like this song by Liz Phair and the lyric is "You're lucky to even know me" and we joke about that being my line. We sing it to each other and then we believe it about ourselves.

I truly believe I am lucky to have EVERY friend in my life, that I am the blessed one, that they are the best friends in the world. I believe my husband is a prince among men. I believe my daughter is beautiful and amazing. But, I also believe that about myself. While we as people can easily believe greatness in others, we rarely feel the same way about ourselves.

So why is she out of his league? Because she believes this about herself, and he doesn't. This won't stop her from loving him, but it will stop their relationship from working.


What Lyz said is spot-on. Melissa, Dawn I get it. I have been there. I am OFTEN there. All the freaking time! But I just believe that at the end of the day, it doesn't matter how thin or pretty or smart or rich or nice I am. I rock. I rock because of who I am, not what I am. I am the person you want to be with, to be in your life. And no amount of skinny can top that.

So please, know that you rock too. That all that other stuff doesn't matter, truly. If you are in love with you, you will feel like you are worth every good thing. You will be the star of the room, because that's your birthright. It's all of our birthrights. And it doesn't mean we don't have to work on our sh$t, because we do. I do, you do.

You can be the heaviest, the poorest, the least educated, and you can make everyone feel like they want to know you better. Like they got a treat being with you. It's not about anything else than what you think of yourself.

So if you made it through this, thanks. If not, no worries. And if you do anything this year, please do this. Read it, believe it, live it. We're lucky to even know YOU.

xoxo

Wow, Liz. I desperately needed this little kick in the a@@. It hit home, especially when I am feeling sorry for myself in the relationship department.

Good morning everyone. I am late because I picked up this stinkin book and I cannot put the darned thing down. Yes, you have got me hooked...I am reading Twilight.

Agreed that we all rock. We are all worth every bit of everything and that we are all lucky to have each other. I have met some truly wonderful souls on this board and yes, it is your heart and soul that make you awesome, not the outside. Say one nice thing about yourself every day and say it until you believe it.

And no Maine bashing. I was born and bred here. I live and breathe it. I love the seasons and the lifestyle and well, everything. And I do sleep, probably too much..... I live as my MIL says "pack everything into every minute that you possibly can" otherwise known as using your time to the fullest extent. Unfortunately, sometimes I over-extend...

Eating, good. Exercise, zero for yesterday. Today is a sliding party on a humongous hill that I will have to walk up a million times. So hill work for me today and I will log the time not the miles. Fun times, fun times. After that, probably some sleep.

Okay, off to put on a pot of baked beans and fold the laundry, or read....

Have a great day everyone!!!!

Welcome to the vamp loving club!

Name.....Wt. Goal….PTD.......Exercise Goal….PTD.......Other….....PTD

Erika.......-5 lbs..…...-.5..........1500 min+abs…...365........track….......3/7
Liz...........159 lbs....167…..…...4x/week............2/2.........track….......2/2
Lyz..........-5 lbs......-.6..........4x/week.............0x..........think…......on track
LisaPR.....-5 lbs.......-2.5……....25 /wk+ 4x........25.35/4x….scale sanity…on track
Steph......-5 lbs.......??...........n/a..................n.a..........track….......??
LisaV.......-5 lbs......-1………....6 on/2 off..........on track....think..…....on track
Paula........n/a........-1?.........2x/wk + swim.....3x+s.........n/a……......n/a
Amy........-5 lbs.......-4...........5x/wk.................4x.........n/a……......n/a
Dawn......-12 lbs......-3……….....5 x 60...............2x..........no soda…..on track
Nancy.......n/a..........n/a.........1500 min..........375..........track 5/7….6/7
Aimee......-8 lbs.......-2.5.........3 x 30...............2.5 hrs....scale 1x/wk…on track
Kelly........-5 lbs........-1……......3 x 30.................0x.........track……...??
Stacey.....-7 lbs.......-2.5 ……...5x/wk................??...........n/a………...n/a

Keep it up everybody! Erika ~ thanks for doing this for everybody!

I have so much to explain about the bridesmaid part of my cousin's wedding, but it has to wait. Gotta get the kids to basketball. I promise you will get a long drawn out post from me very soon. Gotta give you some background, lol. And heck, I am not the least bit reserved about sharing some more of my past here.

Have a great day!

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

We simply put, have self confidence. We honestly think that you could add up our faults and failings minus our good traits and it doesn't matter. We are still completely worth your time. Are you going to find anyone more fun to be with than she or I? Nope, and that's because we like ourselves. No matter what I think about my thighs, I truly like myself. I think you can't do better than me for a friend, wife, daughter or mother. Now, could I BE a better friend, wife, daughter, or mother? For sure. Plenty of people write better than me, look better than me, love better than me.

But I'm who you want to be with. I'm the woman you want to date, the girlfriend you want to see, the family member you want to come to Christmas. And that's because I like myself, so I can let that other stuff go.[/B]

Liz. You SO rock. And you definately have the auora. Why I love watching you and wondering what the heck you'll do next.

How did you get this way? Did you decide to like yourself? Or have you always liked yourself? Remember, even in Sept of 2007, at 75lbs heavier, you still thought you rocked. And you did. For me, I don't think that way about myself. How did you do that? (and no need for you tell me how much "I rock" cause if I don't believe it myself, you telling me isn't going to change my mind, kwim?)

My DH is like that - he oozes self confidence, it actually radiates from him.

Yes, I live with that too. And I believe it, like everyone else believes it, cause that's what's sold. Make sense.

And Liz, what about the people who think they are the shiznit, but SO aren't? Are they anyway cause they believe it or are they just delusional?

Good morning everyone. I am late because I picked up this stinkin book and I cannot put the darned thing down. Yes, you have got me hooked...I am reading Twilight.

Well, we've officially lost you. You'll come back to us in 4 books. Tell us what you think, without spilling the beans of course.

And no Maine bashing...

Well, you and Erika are little energizer bunnies and you both live in Maine, sooooo

Eating, good. Exercise, zero for yesterday. Today is a sliding party on a humongous hill that I will have to walk up a million times.

That sounds fun. I havn't been sledding in years.

And heck, I am not the least bit reserved about sharing some more of my past here.

We've pulled you in.

Cleaning my house this morning. Nothing exciting. Hi everyone.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Lisa! Twilight! Love it! She's drinking the Kool-Aid!

Lyz--no sledding?!?!? (Though we call it "sliding" here in Maine.) First no berry-picking and now no sledding. You need to take your girls---OMG, you will all have so much fun. We laugh or a$$es off when we go. The kids can go any time they want in the back yard (it is flat, but we have stairs from the deck that go down to the lawn and J converts the stairs into a sliding hill...makes it perfect). But once in a while, we want "real" hills, so we all pack up and head out. And like I said, we LAUGH. And get hill work in. Always good.

Liz. Word on your post.

 

[BrcsDisneyPrncs]

Dawn - Ugh, people suck, i'm so sorry to hear about Baylor's present

Amy - have fun, i hope your race is going/went great! Hooray on the loss!!!

Lisa - I know I KNOW! I'm happy with the loss this week, i just REEEEEEAALLY wanted to hit 5 lbs, but hey, thats what next week is for. I think i'm just still mad at myself for catapulting off of the wagon after the wedding. I'm still up 10 lbs from where i was when i got home from my honeymoon. But you are right, I should appreciate where i'm at and keep working at it, Thanks

Nancy - haha, i guess when you put it in terms of butter it does feel pretty fabulous, i need to stop beating myself up. Thanks

Liz - there IS an E StacEy it's all good though, i'll forgive ya. I'm sorry about the BIL I love your self-confidence post.....

E - sorry about that, i worked out 4x this week sorry i made your chart incomplete


So the WW thing is going well, i have actually tracked every single morsel that has entered my body since 1/1, food, drinks, everything. And it seems to be working, i'm crossing my fingers that i can keep it up!

Any suggestions on good meal ideas, i'm always here alone at dinner time, bruce doesn't get home until after midnight and he'll just heat up and eat whatever. It's hard to get motivated to cook when it's just me thats home.....

Well, off to do some laundry, and dishes, and vacuuming, and.......

 

[Dizneydawn]

WTH? Last post was 11pm? Where are all of you???

Paula, you are excused. Erika, you, too. And you Aimee, and Amy. And Kat and Lyz and Dawn. But the rest of you have some explaining to do!


I am just back from seeing a movie with a friend. Twilight, of course. Anyhoo, I was on my way back thinking about a friend and a conversation I had with her about men. Now, don't skip this. This is my deep stuff coming out. It all ties in.

So we were talking about this particular guy and how he was attracted to another woman, and why that woman was no good for him. Basically, he couldn't handle her. She was out of his league. And yes, she is gorgeous but that's not why. She's also talented, but that's not why. She's also intelligent, and funny and fun and warm and everything wonderful. She's out of his league, I explained, because she and I share something in common. We think we're the sh$t.

Do either of us think we are the world's best friend, the mother of the year, the perfect wife or daughter or employee? No. We don't. We know we have faults and failings. But no matter how fat or ugly or stupid or silly or embarrassed we feel for the MOMENT, we still think we are the sh$t.

We simply put, have self confidence. We honestly think that you could add up our faults and failings minus our good traits and it doesn't matter. We are still completely worth your time. Are you going to find anyone more fun to be with than she or I? Nope, and that's because we like ourselves. No matter what I think about my thighs, I truly like myself. I think you can't do better than me for a friend, wife, daughter or mother. Now, could I BE a better friend, wife, daughter, or mother? For sure. Plenty of people write better than me, look better than me, love better than me.

But I'm who you want to be with. I'm the woman you want to date, the girlfriend you want to see, the family member you want to come to Christmas. And that's because I like myself, so I can let that other stuff go.

Again, I have PLENTY of faults and failings. I have moments, days, weeks, of self-doubt. I have things I am ashamed of, bad habits, emotions I don't know how to deal with. I have all of that and more. I have every single negative thing every other woman on the planet has.

But still, I can confidently say, "He's lucky to have me." "You can't do better than me, baby," I joke to Nick. My friends and I like this song by Liz Phair and the lyric is "You're lucky to even know me" and we joke about that being my line. We sing it to each other and then we believe it about ourselves.

I truly believe I am lucky to have EVERY friend in my life, that I am the blessed one, that they are the best friends in the world. I believe my husband is a prince among men. I believe my daughter is beautiful and amazing. But, I also believe that about myself. While we as people can easily believe greatness in others, we rarely feel the same way about ourselves.

So why is she out of his league? Because she believes this about herself, and he doesn't. This won't stop her from loving him, but it will stop their relationship from working.


What Lyz said is spot-on. Melissa, Dawn I get it. I have been there. I am OFTEN there. All the freaking time! But I just believe that at the end of the day, it doesn't matter how thin or pretty or smart or rich or nice I am. I rock. I rock because of who I am, not what I am. I am the person you want to be with, to be in your life. And no amount of skinny can top that.

So please, know that you rock too. That all that other stuff doesn't matter, truly. If you are in love with you, you will feel like you are worth every good thing. You will be the star of the room, because that's your birthright. It's all of our birthrights. And it doesn't mean we don't have to work on our sh$t, because we do. I do, you do.

You can be the heaviest, the poorest, the least educated, and you can make everyone feel like they want to know you better. Like they got a treat being with you. It's not about anything else than what you think of yourself.

So if you made it through this, thanks. If not, no worries. And if you do anything this year, please do this. Read it, believe it, live it. We're lucky to even know YOU.

xoxo

Liz - Thank you for that...I do need to create a mantra of sorts that allows me to put that forth..the funny thing is..like you said...I give that to my kids...I give that to Dan...my sisters...my friends...but I do not give it to myself.

 

[Dizneydawn]

Oh yeah -
Stacy - met a girl getting married today that is wearing your dress but in green trim...so cute....

E - thanks for the hard work....

Lyz - I think that people have a deserved right to think highly of themselves...to build their own self worth...

but they earn the gift of others to think the same...that is not a freebie...you earn respect and gratitude...that is not inherent...that is not a thing to take for granted or assume...you work on what you get back...and if Liz thought she was the SH!T without giving...it would not be the same...she loves and gives to others as much as she gives to herself...if their is not that balance...tahn power takes the place of equality...and that is the situation she was describing with her friends..he will never be good in a relationship he thinks he is less than...or for her if she thought she was better than...

 

[SeptemberGirl]

Wow. You are awesome.
My DH is like that - he oozes self confidence, it actually radiates from him. Im getting there, ive started telling him Im the best wife ever AND, my 'so fabulous they'll make people cry' jeans will make people want to know me even more!
Seriously, that was great and a real eye opener. Ive printed it out, and now its stuck on the front of my tracker notebook

I think you're pretty awesome, too. Jeans or no jeans - you can rock it anytime. You know why? Look at how easy it is for you to fit in, to become someone people want to talk to, to know. That's more than a good personality, that's a special quality that draws people to you. You absolutely have that. And your husband oozing confidence says a lot about his pick of a spouse - someone equally as awesome.

Good morning everyone. I am late because I picked up this stinkin book and I cannot put the darned thing down. Yes, you have got me hooked...I am reading Twilight.

Agreed that we all rock. We are all worth every bit of everything and that we are all lucky to have each other. I have met some truly wonderful souls on this board and yes, it is your heart and soul that make you awesome, not the outside. Say one nice thing about yourself every day and say it until you believe it.

And no Maine bashing. I was born and bred here. I live and breathe it. I love the seasons and the lifestyle and well, everything. And I do sleep, probably too much..... I live as my MIL says "pack everything into every minute that you possibly can" otherwise known as using your time to the fullest extent. Unfortunately, sometimes I over-extend...

Eating, good. Exercise, zero for yesterday. Today is a sliding party on a humongous hill that I will have to walk up a million times. So hill work for me today and I will log the time not the miles. Fun times, fun times. After that, probably some sleep.

Okay, off to put on a pot of baked beans and fold the laundry, or read....

Have a great day everyone!!!!

I am so happy you are o the Twilight train! Whoo-hoo!

The hill sounds like a super excellent work out! And fun, too.

Did we Maine bash? I love Maine. It's the way life should be!

Wow, Liz. I desperately needed this little kick in the a@@. It hit home, especially when I am feeling sorry for myself in the relationship department.

I'm glad it spoke to you.

Keep it up everybody! Erika ~ thanks for doing this for everybody!

I have so much to explain about the bridesmaid part of my cousin's wedding, but it has to wait. Gotta get the kids to basketball. I promise you will get a long drawn out post from me very soon. Gotta give you some background, lol. And heck, I am not the least bit reserved about sharing some more of my past here.

Have a great day!

Yes, tell us about the bridesmaid thing. And anything else you want to share. We want to hear it.

Liz. You SO rock. And you definately have the auora. Why I love watching you and wondering what the heck you'll do next.

How did you get this way? Did you decide to like yourself? Or have you always liked yourself? Remember, even in Sept of 2007, at 75lbs heavier, you still thought you rocked. And you did. For me, I don't think that way about myself. How did you do that? (and no need for you tell me how much "I rock" cause if I don't believe it myself, you telling me isn't going to change my mind, kwim?)



Yes, I live with that too. And I believe it, like everyone else believes it, cause that's what's sold. Make sense.

And Liz, what about the people who think they are the shiznit, but SO aren't? Are they anyway cause they believe it or are they just delusional?

Ok, lots here. How did I get here? Hmm. I was a shy kid. I didn't feel like I fit in. I had good close friends, but then in 6th grade my best friend and I (this is Jackie, btw) stopped being friends. (Yes, that's right, we were friends since 1983 with one break, the school year of 1985-1986). Now this was TRAGIC to me. I got my period, I had all these hormones, my best friend EVER had moved on past me to be friends with more popular girls. I was utterly alone. Not a friend to call my own, except for my cousin and pen-pals. But in school? After school? No one.

Pathetic. And depressed.

But it was 1986, and there was a new service being offered at my peditrician's. There was a child psychologist on staff, with her own little office in the big practice's office. My mom took me to see her, because I was depressed. It had gone on for months, and nothing helped. I didn't get happier, I didn't make new friends, and this spilled over into my home life, making thing tense between me and my mom.

For a few months, from probably the springtime to the end of the school year, I went once a week. Tuesdays. I talked to her. In that office, I was funny. I was smart. I was cool. In that office, I had something to offer. She gave me homework - like, go talk to that girl you like in your class, the one without any friends. Little things, baby steps. In the swirl of hormones and Mean Girls and Queen Bees, I knew there was something more to me. I remember her saying to me. "You're a great kid. Who wouldn't want to be your friend." Aha! I had intrinsic worth! Who knew?

Honestly, without those Tuesdays, I never would have navigated the teen landscape unscathed. I had confidence, not just in my self but my body, too. I learned not only to reach out because I was worth friendship, but also to demand real friends. To ask for what I wanted, to expect good things. To deflect the stuff that wasn't about me, but someone else's stuff they were throwing on me. Not all of it in that moment, but it planted the seeds for the person I have become.

When Emily was tiny, I took her to that same ped practice. And one day, I stopped in the doorway of my former therapist's office and introduced myself, tearing up as I told her how she had changed my life.

I can never thank my mom enough for her foresight to do what was needed. It was an unusual move, for that day and age and even this one. I mean, I was unhappy, but not troubled. But she didn't know what to do, so she found a resource, and she broke a taboo (against therapy, and weakness and labeling) to do the right thing by her kid. And man, did she ever do the right thing by me.

I believe that is why today I know I have intrinsic worth. Because I was told it and taught it. And yes, it doesn't matter what others say, but it doesn't hurt. Told every day you don't measure up, and you'll believe it. We all ave been told that and we all do believe that. Told every day you are a gift to this world, and why wouldn't you believe that, too?

As for the people who think they are the sh$t and aren't, I hold that this is not true confidence. It's conceit. They are using conceit to hide their lack of confidence. Sad, because if they shifted it, they would be all that and a bag of chips.

Lisa - I know I KNOW! I'm happy with the loss this week, i just REEEEEEAALLY wanted to hit 5 lbs, but hey, thats what next week is for. I think i'm just still mad at myself for catapulting off of the wagon after the wedding. I'm still up 10 lbs from where i was when i got home from my honeymoon. But you are right, I should appreciate where i'm at and keep working at it, Thanks

Nancy - haha, i guess when you put it in terms of butter it does feel pretty fabulous, i need to stop beating myself up. Thanks

Liz - there IS an E StacEy it's all good though, i'll forgive ya. I'm sorry about the BIL I love your self-confidence post.....

E - sorry about that, i worked out 4x this week sorry i made your chart incomplete


So the WW thing is going well, i have actually tracked every single morsel that has entered my body since 1/1, food, drinks, everything. And it seems to be working, i'm crossing my fingers that i can keep it up!

Any suggestions on good meal ideas, i'm always here alone at dinner time, bruce doesn't get home until after midnight and he'll just heat up and eat whatever. It's hard to get motivated to cook when it's just me thats home.....

Well, off to do some laundry, and dishes, and vacuuming, and.......

StacEY... Glad I got your name right now! That is sooo awesome, the weight loss, the tracking - you are doing great. Acknowledge this as a major accomplishment! Have you started giving yourself stars? We have a big family calendar, and every day I track, every day I exercise, I put a star on. Some days have lots of stars (I'm trying to follow this new skincare thing, so i get a star for that, too!) Childish? Maybe, but it works for me!

Lyz - I think that people have a deserved right to think highly of themselves...to build their own self worth, but they earn the gift of others to think the same...that is not a freebie...you earn respect and gratitude...that is not inherent...that is not a thing to take for granted or assume...you work on what you get back...and if Liz thought she was the SH!T without giving...it would not be the same...she loves and gives to others as much as she gives to herself...if their is not that balance...tahn power takes the place of equality...and that is the situation she was describing with her friends..he will never be good in a relationship he thinks he is less than...or for her if she thought she was better than...

I think you have a good point here. And, missy, I got your PM. Read above. I think that speaks to you, too, kwim?

 

[AKASnowWhite]

WTH? Last post was 11pm? Where are all of you???

I was out drinking



So if you made it through this, thanks. If not, no worries. And if you do anything this year, please do this. Read it, believe it, live it. We're lucky to even know YOU.xoxo

Yes, you ARE lucky to know me Seriosusly? Beautiful post. And yes, we are very lucky...each and every one of us!

And no Maine bashing.

Not bashing. More like....awed? Envious? Tired-just-thinking-about-it?

Not sure of the best way to post results, so I may be changing the format in coming weeks. But we ALL made progress this week! WOO HOO!

Thanks for posting the results, Erika. Yeah. We're makin' progress - in many ways...looking forward, not back. Keep on, keepin' on....

We laugh or a$$es off when we go.

yet another trick up those Maine girl's sleeves. Sledding=sliding=laugh you a$$ off= tiny hiney


But once in a while, we want "real" hills, so we all pack up and head out.

If it's hill you desire, come on over to my house We got hill. And after today, we should have enough snow to sled again. Haven't seen a weather report this a.m., but as of last night they were predicting 6-12" for tonight

So the WW thing is going well, i have actually tracked every single morsel that has entered my body since 1/1, food, drinks, everything. And it seems to be working, i'm crossing my fingers that i can keep it up!

Nice job. Doesn't it feel good to be in control?

you earn respect and gratitude...

Very true.

 

[AKASnowWhite]

any news from Amy????


I woke up at 4:30 this morning (no, Lisa/PR...I didn't GET up ) I thought about Amy & all the racers, meeting at the Epcot parking lot...the literal "wall" of port-a-potties...the excitement....

I went back to sleep.

I woke up at 6:15 (again, Lisa/PR...NO!) thought of everyone just starting out on their journeys...still dark there...the amazing site of all the clothes on the side of the road that people "shed" and drop....then, 20 minutes/half hour later as you circle around that same spot again....they are magically ALL GONE. Picked up, packed up...headed for charity...

and I went back to sleep!

When I *finally* got up at almost 8:00am....I thought..she's gotta be gettin' close. Sent her good thoughts...little "you can DO this" vibes....

And now...I just wanna know.

AMY!!! How did it go????

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Update from Amy...

She finished

Amy - we are SOOOOO proud of you.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Hey, remember when Liz posted and it took half an hour to read it?

Yes, just heard from AMY and she is DONE! WOO HOO! We are so proud of you! She will provide details when she can.

 

[SeptemberGirl]

Hey, remember when Liz posted and it took half an hour to read it?

Oh, Erika. You're going to scare off the lurkers! Being snarky to your adorable, beloved friend - imagine what you could do to defenseless lambs!