It’s all fun and games until you look in the mirror and hate the person that stands before you…
I am a twenty-one year old girl who is completing her final year of college. I had heard all the horror stories of weight gain, loss of control, lack of motivation, and the excessive drinking and eating that often occurs in college. I never believed them. I was always in shape. I never had to count my calories, eat more protein, cut out carbohydrates, and stand on the scale weekly. Now, that seems to be all my life is centered on, or at least it’s what I’m told it should be.
I have been struggling with my weight for a little over three years now. I have tried it all. I’ve tried working out every day slaving on the elliptical, stepper, and treadmill. I’ve signed up for weight watchers. I’ve cut out certain foods and stopped going out to avoid temptation. I’ve strictly bought only healthy food at the grocery store. I signed up for a half marathon in hopes I would get somewhat of my runner body back. I have written multiple entries in my journal about how I’m finally going to lose the weight I gained. And none of it worked.
At school there are so many temptations. The food court has a salad bar but then you look to your right and see chicken fingers, french fries, wraps, paninis, burgers, taco salads, even a Chick Fil A. All of these cheaper options surround you and it is easy to justify choosing the cheaper options when you are a college student on a budget.
A war explodes in your mind, because you know you want to live a healthier life, but you don’t know how.
The first step in starting a new lifestyle is knowing the secret. Everyone struggles with their bodies. Everyone looks at others and compares themselves to others. Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we allow ourselves and everyone around us to constantly look down on their bodies? There have been times where I have hated myself and asked why I continue to do this to myself; but now I’m having a new outlook on the situation. I’m going to start loving myself, and being proud of who I am. You should too!
No matter what your weight is you need to love yourself.
Realizing that there are literally thousands of different bodies in the world and all are unique and beautiful is truly the first step in loving yourself. Comparing one person to another is like comparing apples to oranges.
Instead I challenge you to love yourself to the fullest. It’s okay to want to change and create healthy goals for yourself in order to reach the healthiest self you have ever had. But also, love yourself and your body throughout the process as well. It’s so crucial to be happy with you are. It won’t minimize your motivation or goals, but it will make the long journey more enjoyable. I challenge you to look into your mirror and rather than pick at everything you aren’t happy about, point out the things you love about yourself.
If you want to create a healthier lifestyle a good idea is finding a person who wants to come on a journey with you. You need that other person who will support you, stay on track, boost your confidence when you’re feeling low. Sometimes I forget that I did not gain this weight in one week; therefore, I won’t lose it in one week. But with the mantra that I am doing this for myself and for my health then I can remember that this is a journey, a lifestyle if you will. Not a diet.