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Then & Now

Kathryn Wheeler
By Kathryn Wheeler
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Happy Friday everyone!

I’m spending my morning with this pretty face:

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Aren’t I lucky?

She even tried to help me with my post by sitting on my computer…

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She’s so thoughtful.

Before I get into today’s topic, I just wanted to direct all of you to a great post by Kelsey about something she saw in Runners World. I have a love/hate relationship with Runners World – love the running info, dislike the constant weight loss undertone. Check out her post!

So no, my “Then & Now”

For most bloggers, a “then and now” post would show them at their heaviest, and then now at their fittest. My post… is a little different. Just over a year ago, I weighed about 20lbs LESS than I do now. Yes, you read that right. 20. Pounds. Less.

Most people would hide in embarrassment, or never share such a number. But you know what the difference is? I like myself more now than I did then.

I decided to write this post after I had a bit of an epiphany on Wednesday morning. I was getting dressed to head to the gym and I threw on some shorts and a tank top. Yes, they fit tighter than they did before but then I stopped and looked at myself.

I got this Girls on the Run tank this past summer for being a Solemate during the Chicago Marathon. I wore it once. ONCE. I wore it to run the Chicago Rock N Roll Half, and you know why? Because I could cover up my stomach with my Race #.

Capture

I felt soooo self conscious wearing a fitted tank top. Even being so much thinner, I wore baggier clothes, I hated anything that clung despite the fact that I was the thinnest I’d ever been.

So why am I telling you this? Because I threw on that tank top and wore it to the gym without a second thought.

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I may weigh more than I did then, I may have more belly fat, I may not fit into my clothes as well. But you know what? I like myself. I like who I am. I don’t spend my day putting myself down like I used to. I am good enough NOW – just how I am.

I mean, I look alright.

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Scratch that. I look AMAZING.

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Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think I’m at my best. I have my “fat days”, I have my moments (many) where I wish I was thinner, fitter, etc. But I like who I am on the INSIDE. I love myself, and that is way more than I could have said a year ago.

 

Do you have a “then & now” epiphany every once in a while?

What are you up to this weekend?

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Kathryn Wheeler
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99 COMMENTS

  3. I have those epiphanies quite frequently. I weigh a little more than I like, but right now I’m healing and okay with it. In fact, I’m the happier now than I’ve been in awhile. And weight has nothing to do with it.

    And you do look amazing! 🙂

    I just read that piece from Runner’s World. Oh my gosh is right.

  4. Great post! This is the best Then and Now post I’ve seen in a good long while. I feel the same way actually. I’ve never been more comfortable in my body as I am now and I’m not at my thinnest, I’m at my happiest.

  6. You look great, and healthy. I know you don’t care to hear this now, but when you get older, you will wish you had the body you have now. I read the hungry runner girl too, isn’t her baby the cutest!

  7. You look better than amazing, girlfrandd! Seriously though, I emulate your mindset so much! I’m working on loving myself despite not being the happiest right now with my weight. And i’m much happier now than when I was restricting myself and over exercising to be at my skinniest.

  8. Love this post! I have moments where I look back and wish I looked a certain way, and then stop and say… what?! I’ve grown so much as a person over the past few years, and I wouldn’t trade that for the tiniest waist in the world. Looks only get you so far. Health and happiness… farther!

  14. Love this post! What do you think prompted the change in you? Would have loved a little discussion of how you changed from self-hating to self-loving.

  15. Awesome post! I LOVE hearing that you are happy and confident with yourself and who you are! Now that you are happy with yourself it’s time to talk to that boy in one of your classes outside of class and let him know how awesome you are 🙂

  17. You’re right – you do look amazing!! Whenever I struggle with body image (which is pretty often, I think all women do) I try to remember what my body can DO. It has carried me through half marathons, races, workouts. It could guide a 1,000 pound horse over 4 foot jumps. It hugs and loves my family and friends. Who cares if you have an extra 5, 10 pounds. Love it!

  18. This is my favorite post of the week, girl. You are amazing and beautiful and happy to boot! Thank you for this 🙂 it’s wonderful and inspiring and gives me hope that i can reach it too. Weekend wise, we are on our way to dc for the rock and roll half…first half for both me and joe!

  19. i def have then and now thoughts… i weigh more than i did a year ago but thinking about my goals and what i want in life often help alleviate some of the negative thoughts that may go with it 🙂

  21. Katie, I LOVE this post. You look amazing. But what’s better, is your attitude. Liking who you are is FAR more important than the size of your shirt or weight on the scale, and it’s so inspiring and motivating to hear you proclaim that!! Way to go! Happy Friday!

  26. I can tell in today’s photos that you look great! And happy! And you’re totally right that those are the important things.

    Also, if you keep posting adorable pictures of Molly I’m going to have to figure out a way to clone her for myself.

  27. You certainly do look amazing, don’t ever forget it! But I totally know what you mean. I wouldn’t say I’m quite there yet, but I’m definitely learning to be comfortable in my own skin. It’s been hard, because I’m naturally NOT a small person, and never have been. Of course we all still have days when we look in the mirror and don’t love what we see, but they are getting fewer and farther between.
    Proud of you!

    • I’m the same – soooo not a naturally small person. But it’s so important to love ourselves exactly how we’re made, and focus on the more important things in life!

  29. First, I think you look great!
    Second, I love that you wrote this post. I still struggle sometimes with “fat days” and what not, but I’m doing so much better than I used to – sometimes you just have to say “dang I look good!” This is a really inspiring post, thank you 🙂

  33. We are usually our own worst critics. I tend to lose and gain the same 5-10 pounds over and over again. Chances are other people don’t even notice, but sometimes I let it get to me. But I also realize I am strong and can do awesome things and don’t need to let how I feel about myself depend on my weight.

  41. This is awesome! You are awesome! I’ve recently accepted that I will always have a belly. And I’m fine with that now! It’s ME! I don’t want to be a stick. I like having muscle! You look great. Remember that! 🙂

  45. I love this post so much, and this is such a great revelation to have. I’ve spent my entire adult life at various weights within a 60 pound range or so, and I think I was about your age when I figured out that I’m awesome no matter what size I am, and I could finally be confident no matter what I looked like. Weight/size is just one of many things that make up who each of us are, and it’s a really great thing once we stop letting that define who are are, or how we feel about ourselves.

    • I’m glad to hear you’ve been through the same thing – I love that I’m slowly learning not to define myself by my weight!

  47. We are so similar, it’s scary. I have gained around 20 pounds over the past year. I am so much happier an h e a healthier view on food, exercise, and myself. Am I a little heavier and not as toned as I would like but I am now working on just eating healthy and intuitively and working out to be healthy, not to “be skinny”. When I was 110 pounds, I was sick all of the time and felt very fatigued. I am so glad you have made the same realization as I. It feels so great, doesn’t it?! Be proud of yourself and keep up the positive outlook! Feel free to shoot me an email if you’re ever dealing with anything that you want to chat about 🙂

  48. I love this post! You LOOK and ARE fabulous. I have too many days where I worry how I look. The reality is that I am stronger and healthier than I have ever been and that is something I should be proud of. Thanks for giving me (and so many others) some perspective. You rock!

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