Exercise: a healthy new perception
 

I just wanted to share something I experienced today. I honestly think, for the first time in a long time, I saw myself as I really am. I think when we have been overweight for years (I have been since 3rd grade), we tend to get down on ourselves and our bodies, and perhaps our own vision of ourselves can get rather distorted. Well, I was reading a magazine while on the eliptical and there was an article in there about Carson's show, "How to Look Good Naked", and it discussed these common misperceptions that women have about their bodies. It inspired me. I began to look at other women at the gym, to study their bodies. And then, being on the eliptical right next to the mirror, I began to study my own. I really looked at it, watching myself move on the eliptical and I realized something- I'm really not as fat as I always picture myself to be. For the first time in a long time, I realized that maybe my husband is right for chastising me when I would talk bad about my body. Sure, I have some weight to lose, and some places I would like to tighten up. But seeing my body active, watching it move, and really studying it, I gained a new appreciation for what I have. My body is active, my body is strong, and while it may be imperfect... my body is actually quite beautiful- and I haven't felt like that, well... ever. It's a real accomplishment for me, and I just wanted to share. Has anyone else watch themselves in the mirror at the gym and make this realization?

What a wonderful AHA moment.... Good for you :hug:

I was watching my legs move in the mirror when I was stair climbing, and I realized, I have some actual muscles in there! I carry most all my weight in my legs, pretty much hips all the way down to my cankles is where my fat dwells, and i've sort of had the perceptions of myself as having just flabby doughy legs with nothing going for them, a lost cause really...but watching the muscles flex and ripple under my skin, noticing they're actually sort of shapely, I realized that they're not so bad. Bigger than I'd like, but then I'm still losing weight, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

LOL I have done the samething watchimg myself in the mirror when running on the treadmill, my legs are amazing!! now if i can just get rid of the belly!