I shared a very personal post on Instagram last week about the body positive path I’ve been on for roughly 18 months. Learning to love who I am right now hasn’t been easy, but it has been so good! I usually post photos of my home and share my thoughts on projects or decor choices, but I felt nudged to be more open and talk about a journey that started at the beginning of 2017.
My post drew a flood of comments from women who feel the same way, or who are struggling to love the body they have today. So I wanted to share it here too, in case you could use a little extra body love encouragement!
Note: if you’re hunting for more cute fall outfits, take a look at my favorite picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!!
Here’s what I shared on Instagram …
Here’s the thing: I can’t stand a bandwagon. I get irritated when I hear “everybody else is doing it.” So posting a picture of myself trying on clothes feels very odd to me.
But I’m pushing past that discomfort for a good reason.
Over the course of 2017 I made real progress in accepting myself exactly where I am. For as long as I can remember I wished I looked different: thinner, smaller in this particular spot, less cellulite in that spot and less bulge over there.
But I decided to love myself where I stood and start caring for this body simply because it carries me through every single day. It walks me places, lifts heavy furniture I’ve built with these two hands, and grew 2 sweet babies in my own womb. When you really think about it, your body is a gift. So I started treating it like one.Over the past year, as part of this journey, I chose to buy clothes again. I had stopped buying cute clothes because I didn’t like how I looked in them. But when I looked around, I saw women in my life who looked like me and looked fabulous. I wanted what they had.
Jacket // Tank Top // Jeans // Shoes // Shoes
So I tried on clothes, bought some, and returned the ones I didn’t absolutely LOVE on me. There’s no point in taking up space in my closet with things I don’t love, you know?
I stepped out and decided to show up in my own skin for my own life. Along the way I found out that you CAN feel beautiful in whatever skin you’re in. None of this “I’ll punish myself by wearing ratty old clothes until I shed this weight.” Nope. Not anymore. Weight is its own thing, and it doesn’t decide whether I deserve new, pretty clothes.
All that long sermon to say, I’ve found some new staples I adore and wanted to share them with you. Many of the women I follow in fashion wear a size XS or 0. Not me. I’m a size 16/XL. So if you’re wondering whether that skinny model’s outfit will work on your XL frame, here you go. I won’t be turning this Instagram account into a clothing and style space. What I will do is share what I love, and maybe it will help you find pieces you love, too!
Today that means this outfit, which I absolutely LOVE. I tried on a pile of clothes yesterday, but I kept coming back to this one.
Moving More & Loving It!
This change gave me the push I needed to start working out again. Isn’t it funny how, once I let go of my high expectations, I could finally tackle the things I’d been wanting to tackle?
In the past I always worked out to fit into a smaller size or drop a certain number of pounds. But once I hit my goal I would slack off or quit altogether. So now I work out because of how it makes me feel! I feel strong, mentally well and physically better when I move. I feel like a better mom and wife (hello endorphins) and just feel so much better overall. When I make life choices based on how they make me feel and focus on my emotions and well-being, the routine turns into a habit. I’ve worked out 2-3 times every week for almost a year! Woohoo!
Have I lost any weight from working out? Not a pound.
But I’m not discouraged, because I have more energy, my back doesn’t go out anymore, and I simply feel better in my own skin. I can tell I’m more toned, and I even have some abs again after 2 c-sections! (Not visible abs, of course, but they’re in there anyway!)
So do you see the shift? I’m not saying goals are bad. I’m a firm believer in goals. But I was living under this pressure to perform, believing I had to weigh a certain amount or fit a certain size before I could enjoy my life and embrace my body.
But I’ve only got one life! I don’t want to look back on my 30s and wish I’d really lived instead of striving to be something different.
I know this is different from my usual posts around here, but I hope it encourages you to embrace yourself right where you are. Buy the pretty clothes and treat yourself to something nice at whatever stage of life you’re in! I think you’ll enjoy showing up for your life regardless of the scale or the dress size!
Much love, Laura
