Walking around Grand Fork's dinky little mall yesterday gave me enough of an ego-boost (not) to last for the whole month! Before going to the mall, Eric and I made little personalized Jelly Belly bags at Target and excitedly ate some of them at the mall.
I admit, I've always had "issues" with my body image, and being 6 feet tall only amplified things. Praise God I never developed an eating disorder. I have overcome being the giant, and I am overall very happy with myself.
Is it enough that my loving husband says he thinks I'm hot and that I drive him crazy?
So here I am, pushing my baby stroller while walking with Charlie actually in my Sleepy Wrap on my body. Baby #2. I've grown, carried, and pushed two whole post-term babies out of my body! What?! When you really think about that, it will blow your mind. Up I roll to Victoria's Secret, with the way larger-than-life-sized images of super models filling the windows. Oh, to have a tiny body and sexy legs and stomach like her! And that perfect hair and perfect make-up! I reach into the bag of Jelly Bellys and grab a few extras in a humpf! Yeah, bring on the candy, because I'll never look like that!
I don't watch cable. I don't read magazines. I'm not really exposed to too much advertisement. I do, however, receive Victoria's Secret catalogs at home because I love their clothing, so that's about the extent of hot, sexy models that I see.
It is SO hard to remember the truth when a 12-ft, half-naked woman is enticing you to think that you should be something different, something that you will never, ever be. We look at her and think, "Why shouldn't I look like her? Why can't I look like her? I WANT to look like her!" I've been working out and losing weight consistently since Charlie was 4 weeks old. All those cookies I ate during pregnancy have been slowly melting away, but somehow, when I look at those models, it's like someone slapped 'em right back on my thighs. WHY IS THIS??? How can something so positive be turned into something so negative?
I believe we should be a healthy weight so we can function at our best, and hopefully live a longer, fuller life. Exercise is great because it makes you feel good and keeps your body in great working condition. I think it's fine to tone and shape your body, but without going over-board. I will ALWAYS be able to jiggle my buns and get a great laugh! I have a goal, and I'm certain I will reach that. My goal WILL NOT be to look like one of "them."
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1Cor 6:19-20
In Eric's words, pointing to me: "This is what a woman looks like."
Thank you. Thank you for breathing truth back into my soul.
