Karen Putz

A Deaf Mom Who Walks on Water

Embracing the Shape, Learning to Love My Body

By 6 Comments

 

Karen Putz-05

In the yo-yo roller coaster ride of weight up, weight down, I’m in the gaining weight stage lately. It’s a great disappointment to me, as I worked really hard to lose 55 pounds five years ago and it’s slowly creeping back on–the result of less gym time and more sitting time.  My muffin top has now turned into a pound cake.

I could blame it on mid-life, too. After all, menopause has paid a visit and apparently plans to stay. Hot flashes flare up at any given time and instantly turn on the sweat faucet. The hubby and I play a game of “Turn the fan on/Turn the fan off” all night long. I used to laugh at those stories of menopause from my elders when I was younger. I watched in amusement as my mother dropped everything to grab a newspaper and fan herself. Now I find myself doing the same.

I don’t know how I got to this point so fast.

I turned 50 this summer and vowed it was going to be the decade of embracing the shape. It was time to love this body that carried every heartbeat and every breath for half of a decade. So when my barefoot instructor posted this photo on Facebook, I cringed at first. All the “lumps” of me, hanging out.

lump and bumps karen

But I knew that if I was going to truly embrace every imperfection of  “me,” I had to embrace this photo as well.

Several friends were quick to remind me that I was missing the whole point of the picture–that I was engaged in something I passionately love to do. So I’m putting this out here to encourage others to “Embrace the Shape.” Those of you with less-than-perfect bodies, if you are holding back on life in any way, let this be an invitation to create a change. Identify what you would truly like to experience in life and take those steps to begin.

obese-woman-triathlete-on-bike

Comments

  1. Love your amazing body for all it does for you so well, each and every day!!
    Start a practice of telling each body part what you love about it. “Thank you feet for taking me to all the places I need to go. I love you for allowing me to pursue my passions.” ( And YOU, Karen, may need to apologize to your poor feet for beating them up! LOL) “Thank you legs for holding me up and helping me to move about. Thank you beautiful belly for holding me up, helping me to digest the nourishing food. I love how you helped my children to develop in you.” And you get the picture… Pick a body part for each day. Rotate around. When you find yourself criticizing your body, switch to love.
    Work on the things you can. Take baby steps. Make SMALL lifestyle changes. When it becomes a regular habit. Develop another one.
    I eat more legumes. Love me some hummus! mmmmmm! Seems to helps with the hot flashes. I also put flax seed meal in my smoothies. Caffeine and red wine make them worse! :OP ( I don’t care, I’m having the coffee and the wine. I’ll just sweat and take my sweater off! LOL)
    Don’t stress, cuz THAT does put the weight on ( or take it off only to REALLY put it back on when you relax! LOL)
    Know that you ARE BEAUTIFUL just the way you are. Focus on a healthier, happier YOU!!
    HUGS!!

    Reply

    • THANK YOU* SO MUCH for what you are doing; Both for your dear Self* & for encouraging the rest of Us!! It means a lot to me.
      My figure is small, but we All grew up with Barbie! At 61, I Feel like a pear, & am only beginning to Love my body the way it needs. It’s not about how we look on the outside, tho the media, fashion industry, & culture at large would sure like us to think so.
      Keep Shining, Karen* ~ It’s people like You* who ARE MAKING THE DIFFERENCE!
      I’M THANK*FULL for You* on this planet, helping Me* to Grow Bolder!
      (Overcoming PTSD from spousal abuse & resulting Life )
      Blessings to You
      MoMo*

      Reply

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