How Losing Weight FEELS (the stuff you don't hear about)

     I've spent the past year almost, trying to lose weight. It may not seem like a lot to some, but the 20 pounds that I've dropped have dramatically changed my body, and I'm not even to my goal weight or goal fit level yet. Of course I'm proud of the work I've put in to get these results, and I LOVE being able to fit into my clothes that were always just a little too tight to be comfy. I am more confident and I don't want to go back to where I was before... but let me share with you some of the things that have surprised me about being smaller.

    I'm more confident with my body, but physically I'm not very comfortable all of the time. I notice it the most at night. Knee bones and hip bones have become my worst enemy because I just don't have the little bit of extra "cushioning" that I had before. Speaking of hip bones, I am constantly leaning up against the counter to do dishes like I use to, and hurting myself. Yes, that is a habit I need to change obviously.

    I've also noticed that I simply don't recognize my body as my own sometimes, and that can feel extremely uncomfortable. For example, my mom's house has a bathroom with a mirror that allows me to see all of my body at once (not a view I get from any mirrors at home). When I see myself, I have moments where I see my face on a skinny girls body, and as much as I poke and prod, it's just hard to wrap my mind around the fact that "yes, all of this is me." There have been times where I've actually been so uncomfortable that I've gone and put on some of my bigger clothes that don't fit anymore just for the comfort. I've also done some self-sabotaging with sweets which I'm not proud of.



    I've learned that weight loss is more than just changing a number on the scale, it's about what you do when you start seeing what's underneath. There will be uncomfortable moments where you don't recognize yourself, get tired of the remarks on your weight loss everywhere you go, or want to pull your hair out because you can't get comfortable at night.

With all of this, don't forget that with healthy weight loss comes so many health benefits! You are a more confident you most of the time, you'll appreciate the attention, and you really should be proud. People tell you that living a healthier lifestyle is your own personal journey, and I thought it was time to shed a little more light on that aspect of it. Thank-you to everyone who has stood behind me, motivated me, and continues to support me! Even with all of these aspects that I wasn't expecting, I'm still more driven than ever to get to my goal weight before school starts back up!