If you lost 10 pounds you'd be perfect...

It all started when I was told as a teenager, “if you lost 10 pounds you’d be perfect”...

I know.  Not the healthiest or most validating words you could say to a 16 year old girl, developing teenager.  To say these words did not hurt or affect me negatively, would be a lie. Because, at my core, my young, sweet self just wanted to do everything right (recovering perfectionist over here) and the thought that my body was wrong or should be different felt overwhelming and out of my control. Needless to say, I started to spin internally. That statement about my body stuck with me for decades, and I didn’t even realize how much power and control I had given it. I essentially chased those last 10 pounds for most of my adult life. The thought that I wasn’t ‘perfect’ and I should be, haunted me in every aspect of my life.  I tried to prove or earn my worth at every turn and in all my relationships.  

Victimizing oneself is not very attractive, and consciously I knew this, and did my best to avoid blame, BUT on the inside, I very much saw myself as a victim.  This person had caused all my perfectionism and weight drama in my head.  If I was just loved unconditionally, life would have been so much easier.  If these words were not said, I wouldn’t have developed an eating disorder in college.  But, I can honestly say now, with genuine love in my heart, if I hadn’t experienced the pain and struggle with my weight and my body, I wouldn’t have the beautiful opportunity to step into my higher self, share my story, and potentially help others who may be struggling themselves.  Ultimately, I’ve learned a better way towards internal peace, that has manifested externally. The knowledge and growth I have experienced as a result of my struggles have led me to where I am today and I couldn’t be more thankful.  Realizing I have the power to be, do and become whoever and whatever I want, regardless of what others may think, in this beautiful body God has given me has been so powerful. I get to treat my body however I see fit and best, eat foods that feel good, think thoughts that inspire and light me up, versus hold me back and what a gift that realization is.  The peace that I get from knowing that I have full control of my actions and thoughts, is magical and incredibly empowering.

 At this point in my life, I now reframe my story to say, “as a teenager, I was told that if I lost 10 pounds I’d be perfect”, I didn’t know this at the time, but now I understand, it’s what I think that is most important and that statement was more about them than me. I now choose to live into my highest self with intention, not confusion and chaos.  I love being in integrity with my body, using tools like macros to eat healthy, because I love myself.  Those words from over 30 years ago have no power over me anymore.  I am the co-creator and editor of my life and knowing that feels amazing.  What about you?  Have you ever experienced a circumstance in your past that impacted the way you saw yourself or your body? Were you told something about your body or anything someone thought about your character in your past that made you feel less than ?  Do these thoughts or memories from your past need reframing?  Does taking the power back about how you see yourself inspire you?  I sure hope so, because your uniqueness, experience and resilience is to be commended and embraced my friend. This is the foundation to living effortlessly into your naturally healthy, fit self with ease and peace. Mindset is the soil and we get to plant the habits and nurture our skill sets (such as macros) to help us feel, look and be our best.  So, in case no one has told you today, I want you to know… you are beautiful and worthy as you are right now and capable of doing whatever you see fit in this life.  It’s never too late to rewrite and live into your elevated, empowered story.

XX,

Monique