While I am off in a cabin in the woods mountains and enjoying a good time with friends, I decided to share a post about something I am always working on. It is no secret that I had some body image issues after my fitness competition when I had to put on weight in order to conceive our second child. I fought them and mostly appreciated my body, but I still had ups and downs. Even on the best of days, negative self-talk can make an appearance and we have to be mindful of it. One of the biggest ways I combat such negativity is to have a running list in my head on why I love my body and need to respect it. In no particular order, here are a few of those reasons.

1. It is strong. My body has taken a lot of beatings from me, both good (in the form of tough workouts) and bad (in not feeding it enough at times). Despite the many pounds it has lifted, the many miles it has racked up in various forms of cardio, and the fluctuations it has encountered in weight over the years, it still works properly and can make it through every day with energy and strength. That’s pretty impressive in my mind.

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2. It is smart. I don’t mean the “score a 1600 on your SAT” smart. I mean it is intuitive and knows what it needs. If I have a few days with more treats and less fruits and veggies my body will seek them out for awhile following that time. It tells me when it needs rest by a new pain or just pure fatigue. It doesn’t like being fed too much or too little and guides me to an appropriate food balance. It has instincts that can help keep me safe or drive me further.

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3. It is healthy. My body is currently free from illness, functions properly, and can move, walk, dance, and play. Health is something to be treasured and I am very thankful to my body for being a healthy one. Face an injury, illness, depression, or anything else that can hinder your health and I bet you gain a newfound respect for your body being healthy over it looking hot in a bikini. I fortunately have never had to face a huge health scare, but knowing others who have opens my eyes to appreciating my blessings and valuing my body for the health it gives me.

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4. It is alive. It is through my body that I am able to get up in the morning and go out and experience life. Without my body I would not be able to see God’s beauty, hear Makenzie laugh, feel the embrace of loved ones, or laugh at a good conversation. Without my body I would have no life. I love my life and therefore should love my body for giving me the means to live it.

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5. It is used to bring  life into this world. It is immensely fulfilling to know your body is capable of bringing a life into this world. Throughout pregnancy, the changes my body goes through are beautiful to me. They are all part of helping create life. And after the delivery, seeing that baby and knowing my body accomplished that makes it hard to hate it. Every day, seeing my  child is a reminder of the amazing things my body can do and I would not have my daughter without it. I love my body immensely for that.

6. Lastly, and most importantly, my body was crafted by God. God took great care in making me. He had a plan for me from the first moment he formed me in my mother’s womb. He thinks I’m beautiful and part of his perfect creation. God can do no wrong. He made me. That means I am not wrong. It means I am perfect in God’s eyes. How can I argue with God? If he believes I am beautiful and worth loving, why should I deny that I am? God says my body is beautiful…and beautiful it is.

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• Name at least one reason you think your body is beautiful. We ALL are beautiful so we all need a reason to believe so.
• What is something your body has done for you that amazes you?
• Please listen to this song. It is amazing and one of my favorites.

...give me a break. Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat Bar! Now I want one!

Although not really because while it sounds good I don't feel like seeing it twice (aka a before and after eating scenario).  Today is ROUGH. I still haven't gotten sick yet, but I sure do feel like I could at any second. I planned on writing a post about how I approach vacation so I don’t stress over food, working out, body image, etc but I hate to say it just isn’t going to happen. All I’m going to do is curl up on the couch during Makenzie’s nap and hopefully find the strength to do some packing before we leave this afternoon. I hope you all have great weekends! I do have some posts already written and scheduled to go up over the weekend, so you can look forward to those (Why I Love My Body and Intuitive Eating Part 8). If you want some reading today, I would love to hear your thoughts on my post about Body Dysmorphia that I did last night. And I guess I’ll save my vacation post for before my other travels.

I’ll close this with a different form of Flashback Friday. Here are some pictures of my progression through my last pregnancy. Enjoy the pictures that are both a flashback but also a flashforward to the types of changes you will be seeing my body make this time around. It’s like the Twilight Zone!

8 Weeks –> 12 Weeks –> 16 Weeks

19 Weeks –> 22 Weeks –> 24 Weeks

26 Weeks –> 30 Weeks –> 32 Weeks

34 Weeks –> 36 Weeks –> 37.5 Weeks Front (about 5 days before M was born)

I noticed a few things looking at those pictures…

1. I show FAST compared to other people, even if I don’t get as big as some other people by the end.

2. When your belly grows bigger, your butt/arms/legs/etc look smaller and smaller by comparison. Me likey!

3. Even starting at the same size, at week 6 of the current pregnancy I am already somewhere between the size I was at week 8 and week 12 during my pregnancy with M. And no, that is not body dysmorphia. It is apparently true that you get bigger much quicker with the second pregnancy. Too bad I couldn’t just bypass the awkward bloated and chubby phase that of course has to hit while I’m at the beach. Oh, God’s irony. I sure do love you Big Guy.

• What are your weekend plans?
• What’s something ironic to you? I got one. The other day there were two women walking out of the gym the same time as I was and were parked next to me. While I was loading M in her car seat they both pulled out some cigarettes and started smoking while they continued their conversation. Huh? Even more ironic, they were badmouthing a friend for her how inconsiderate she was while blowing smoke TOWARDS MY BABY!