Last week was a rough body image week for me as you may recall. I have those days, week, months… years… from time to time.
This week, I am reflecting on how far I have come in this newest get healthy journey. In my opinion, I woke up one day in December and was heavy/ plump/ chubby. It was a very all of a sudden feeling. When, in reality the weight slowly crept on.
I keep thinking that last year at this time I was thinner, I was in better shape. The reality is, I wasn’t. I may have weighed less, but I am in better shape now. I am running faster. I am lifting heavier weights. I am eating slightly better.
Here we have a side by side comparison of me now, and me 9 months ago. I weirdly posed almost exactly the same way without meaning to. (I suppose I need to get some new moves…. Also, have shrunk all my running shirts since I refuse to line dry them due to impatience…It may seem like the shirt is snugger, but that is because the shirt is legit smaller.) My five-head is the same. I’m definitely not flabbier. I noticed that my arms are slightly more toned and my side boob is much more under control. Besides that, I look the same. Yet, in my tiny head I feel as though I am enormous compared to where I was last year.
Sometimes we are so focused on where we want to be, we forget where we started. When I began working out again in January or so, I had not run since before Thanksgiving. I was out of shape. Now I am running under 9.30 splits. Within 5 months I have gone from 11 min miles to almost 9 min miles?!? Pretty f-ing good if I do so say so myself.
Side by side comparison, again nothing earth shattering in these 5 months, but there is progress. My face is looking thinner, my legs more toned, the elastic around the midsection is working less hard, that chest fat/ side boob area is prob the most noticeable difference.
Knowing I have made progress is motivating. Am I where I want to be? No. But, I am closer. Knowing that I have toned up without sacrificing too much of my lifestyle is VERY encouraging. It makes me hopeful and excited to see where I will be in 5 months from now.