So, I had a homework assignment this week. I was to spend a little time really looking at myself in the mirror. I did it naked, just to get the full effect. I wanted to look at all of myself and not just chunks (face, body, etc). Here is what I learned.
First of all, I really look like my father. I have seen it in pictures, but never in the mirror. People have said I am the spitting image, and by looking at myself, I think I am. I can see some of my mother there, but mainly dad. It isn't just in the face, but it is my body shape and the way I carry myself too. I don't think I would have ever noticed that if I had not done this.
I have lots of scars from past surgeries and youth. This doesn't bother me at all. I feel like I have earned every one of those scars. Since it had been a while since I have had a surgery or been youthful, the scars are all light in color and flat against my body. I remember when they were new and red and raised. I was terrified that they would never go away. I have two areas on my face that are lighter in color due to a fall in February 2011. Those are the only two that kind of bother me, but then again, those are the newest scars.
I have a belly. Every since I had my hysterectomy in 2006, I have had a bit of a belly. I have been trying very hard to flatten that bump. I ain't gonna go! No matter what weight I am at, I still got the little bump. Sources (my doctor) say it is due to the scar tissue from the surgery. I now am trying to just love the damn thing! I will keep you posted on the love fest.
There is more, but I thought I would only speak of the top three. I am really glad it spent some time in front of the mirror and encourage each of you to do so as well. Tell me what you liked best. Tell me what you learned.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Body Image: Who is that girl in the mirror?
Last week I wrote about "Bad Body Image" and I got tons of feedback. Apparently big or little, there is a lot of confusion when we look in the mirror. I got to wondering, do we avoid the image we see? Sure, I look in the mirror everyday, sometimes MANY times in a day, but do I really see my whole self?
When I look at the full image of myself, I usually am checking the outfit I have chosen. I am looking for lumps, bumps, length and general "coolness" (don't want to have an out of style, style). When I look in my face mirror, I am checking for imperfections and perhaps preforming a little surgery. The bathroom mirror? I am looking to make sure that I don't have a toothpaste smear, or fixing the hair, or even checking my teeth for lipstick. So do I ever really look at myself?
This week, I think I am going to plan to look into the mirror at me. Not my face, my hair, my clothes, but me. The whole package. I want to really see what I look like. I will report back next week.
When I look at the full image of myself, I usually am checking the outfit I have chosen. I am looking for lumps, bumps, length and general "coolness" (don't want to have an out of style, style). When I look in my face mirror, I am checking for imperfections and perhaps preforming a little surgery. The bathroom mirror? I am looking to make sure that I don't have a toothpaste smear, or fixing the hair, or even checking my teeth for lipstick. So do I ever really look at myself?
This week, I think I am going to plan to look into the mirror at me. Not my face, my hair, my clothes, but me. The whole package. I want to really see what I look like. I will report back next week.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Not As Small As I think I am!
Yesterday I was leaving a friend's house who has a circular driveway. I drive a small car and thought that I could get around her car without driving on her grass. Well, I am not even to the end of the block before she calls and tells me that I am not as small as I think I am. Apparently I had driven over her grass.
We giggled about her comment, but it did make me think. When we go through a large weight gain or loss, people get body dysmorphic. I call it BBI, bad body image. People think they are either larger or smaller than they really are. Once I had lost 200 pounds, I found myself trying to shop in the plus size department. I was no where near a plus size, but I thought those clothes would fit. Of course when I was bigger, I would order size large from catalogues and would be genuinely shocked that they wouldn't fit.
For years after I had lost weight, I would look in the mirror and see the 340 pound person still in there. It took me forever to get rid of her. We can get BBI from just some slight changes in your body. Lately, I have been working out more often and have noticed my body changing. Things that were jiggly are now muscle. I look in the mirror and am kind of shocked. I am about to be 50 years old and my body is getting leaner and meaner! I have to really look at myself when I look in the mirror. I have to be honest with my image. Are you honest with yours?
We giggled about her comment, but it did make me think. When we go through a large weight gain or loss, people get body dysmorphic. I call it BBI, bad body image. People think they are either larger or smaller than they really are. Once I had lost 200 pounds, I found myself trying to shop in the plus size department. I was no where near a plus size, but I thought those clothes would fit. Of course when I was bigger, I would order size large from catalogues and would be genuinely shocked that they wouldn't fit.
For years after I had lost weight, I would look in the mirror and see the 340 pound person still in there. It took me forever to get rid of her. We can get BBI from just some slight changes in your body. Lately, I have been working out more often and have noticed my body changing. Things that were jiggly are now muscle. I look in the mirror and am kind of shocked. I am about to be 50 years old and my body is getting leaner and meaner! I have to really look at myself when I look in the mirror. I have to be honest with my image. Are you honest with yours?
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