For my entire life people have told me I am "naturally athletic". I am not "naturally athletic": I am an asthmatic with historically really poor cardio health and joints that partially dislocate themselves if I put pressure on them slightly weird. What I *am* is naturally tall and slender, even more so when I did absolutely no physical activity and ate very little because my neurodivergent body didn't give me hunger signals, which most people mistake for "naturally athletic".
That's not to say I don't have the potential for athleticism. My mother, who has never been under 250 pounds my entire life, is built of sheer farm girl muscle, has stellar blood pressure and cardio health despite her weight, and could (and has!) bodily haul me and my grown brother around like we weigh nothing. When I was a kid the woman was biking triathlon distances before we were even awake for school. The woman is an ATHLETE, and her whole life she has been obese (and heard from everyone and their dogs that she needs to lose weight).
I'm not sure where I'm going with this long piece of anecdotal evidence, except to say: my whole life I heard I was naturally athletic, until I actually became athletic. Because the thing is, I put on muscle like my mom. It fills out my shoulders and arms and makes me look big, thick, and barrel chested. "Genetically beefy", as my brother puts it. And suddenly I wasn't getting comments about my athleticism anymore. I'm quite literally the healthiest I've ever been. I can run for miles, lift my weight, my balance and heart health are excellent. I'm just bigger now. And not one stranger has a comment about my physique since I got fit. Because I don't look like what they think "naturally athletic" is.
I guess what I'm saying is, maybe don't let your perception of what "athleticism" or "health" LOOKS like color your perception of like. People's actual health.
So it's been just under a month since I saw the GI, and he diagnosed my stomach issue and severe colon pain as being a result of undertreated MCAS and my body not getting enough nutrients.
Prior to that, I'd lost 40lbs in 3 months because my body wasn't processing solid foods, and I was getting desperately weak and couldn't hold a thought in my brain.
I am hesitant to jinx myself, but I seem to be absorbing the high dose of supplements he prescribed (I need to get my levels checked again, but I feel better), and also, the rapid weight loss has stopped. I have, in fact, gained five pounds. Heck yeah!
I'm also managing to tolerate solids again. I still have bouts of debilitating pain, but the meds help.
Turns out I just needed proper meds and nutrients. Who knew?
Next time you think you should be smaller, please ask yourself why? If this women existed, and was in today's western world, she might think she's too big. Hips, back, breasts, she'd probably think she "could lose a little."
I mean I hope not, but I just look at this and I think she's perfect, she's strong, she takes up space. I hope those who think they "should" be less, not so obvious, smaller, f-in skinnier, just realize they're allowed to take up space. It's your right. The world is a big one. You don't ever have to make less of you. Especially for someone else.
After losing nearly 60 pounds this year I’m dealing with what I’d consider a decent amount of loose skin and I’m surprised by how much I hate it. I thought I’d be fine with it but my self esteem has taken a decent hit because of it and a lot of days I feel less attractive than I did when I was around 140-150 pounds. It’s all confusing. If I can maintain my current weight for over a year I’m likely going to consider surgery to remove the excess skin despite the fact that it will be incredibly expensive and most likely entirely out of pocket. We will see 🤷🏼♀️