By guest writer, Colleen Jeruzel.
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New year, new me? NOPE
Struggling with body image is a big deal to me. Raising a daughter, I want her to have a healthy love for her body. I never want her to hate the way she looks and feels in her own skin. Or course I know some of that cannot be completely avoided being that we are ladies and are judged relentlessly on our appearance.
Growing up, my mom was always beautiful to me. She was also not happy with her body. Her mother had been harsh about her weight and she had been plus size most of her life. As a child and now as an adult, I couldn’t imagine her any other way, nor would I want to. My mom had been picked on and hurt about her body size her whole life, she only ever told me I was perfect. And she has always been perfect to me, no matter how she felt about her body.
As a child, I was always thin and active. Having a child definitely added weight and stretch marks but I lost weight in my 20s. And then my 30s happened. Woof. I am plus size but not miserable with my size 16. I am pretty tall, 5’8”. Would I like to be thinner? Sure. Should I constantly starve myself, feel guilty about eating and complain about being fat? No! Especially with my impressionable tween daughter always watching. Yet so many people do these things. I am very guilty of speaking negatively about my body, especially when trying to find an outfit.
My daughter will say “You’re not fat!” after I’ve slipped up again frustrated with my body. Do I hate it? Of course not. This body carried and gave me my amazing daughter, it attracted my husband and gets me through my days and activities. I know I need to make healthier choices and be more active, but let’s be real. I work full time and love to Netflix and chill after work with wine and snacks!
I have started doing some yoga on Amazon in my home. My family loves to bike ride, swim and go on walks when Michigan weather permits. I have taken an adult tap class that I LOVED. I know how to be active, it’s more of a struggle with motivation and not feeling guilty for taking away from time at home with my family. I know, get up early and do it. GROSS! I love my sleep!! Amazingly I have been up and done my few yoga sessions and it felt great.
Self-care is so important. For me, this includes my mental health. Saying no to things I do not want to do and taking a weekend nap or two are important necessities for my mental health. Doing things for myself like working out are hard for me when I know my family needs me for many other tasks I do not want to do like clean the house and the never-ending laundry. Yet I am persisting.
I have friends who are so inspiring to me. Plus size MODELS and they are gorgeous too! All bodies are beautiful. My other friends are always dressed gorgeously with killer makeup! I am more of a minimalist with makeup and beauty routines, but I can apply some basics.
Being a mom who struggles with body image is especially difficult. Women are pushed to incredible standards of beauty and motherhood. We know this! Let’s do something! Love our bodies and know we are good moms and women no matter what standards and judgments are passed.
Love your mom bod! New year, new me? NOT TODAY!
What are your body image struggles and wins?