Ladies - Pay Attention To Self Talk!!!!

I hope this doesn't freak anyone out but my husband has always told me I am a hot & sexy chick.. For the entire 30 plus years of our marriage.


However, my "SELF TALK" has NOT been "I am hot & sexy", if it had, I wonder where I would be today.


When did it all start? Was it the comment I overhear my Aunt Grace make to my mom when I am about 5? - "Every one in the family has an overweight child. Looks like Charmaine will be yours." Was it the comment my dad made when I was in grade school - "Charmaine has the legs of a linebacker, too bad she can't play football." Or maybe it was the school nurse - "She's not fat, she's just big boned."


All of these were little worms that wiggled their way into my brain and began the self talk that has continued. Until today.


But I go forward too quickly. Let's go back. My husband says, You are so good looking. I think - I am fat, not good looking. He mentions a time when I was in college, about the time we first started dating. My mind tells me I was dieting, it recalls a picture where I have "rolls" of fat on my tummy while I am brushing my teeth in bra & undies (roommate pics) Or maybe he mentions how sexy I was after Genevieve was born. My mind tells me how much weight I gained during that pregnancy and how long it took to get back into shape. Or he talks about how much fun we had snorkeling in Bermuda. My mind tells me how hard I dieted to go on that trip.


Today Butch and I got out all our photo albums. I look at my childhood pictures and see a normal kid. Not overweight as my mind has told me year after year. That picture of me brushing my teeth in college. OH MY GOD, am I hot!!! Not a tummy roll to be seen. And the mother who is struggling to lose weight after the first child.?? She is a sexy chick! Who would have known??? All these years I have been telling myself how fat I am, how much I struggle to lose weight, when the entire time I "thought" I was fat, I wasn't...


I pulled out a picture of my best friend and I - taken a year after Genevieve was born and after my friend had her third child. I start asking her how she thought she looked then. We both agreed that we were overweight, struggling to get into shape. I pulled out the picture. We are both in bathing suits at Lahontan. It is stunning to see the reality of how GREAT we looked.


My point here is to be aware of those voices in your head. Be aware of what you are saying to yourself day in and day out. Reality is seldom a part of that voice. Start today by giving your self the "self talk" that will help you reach your goals, your dreams. You are an incredible woman. You can do anything. You have the power to accomplish your goals and today is the perfect day to do it. One step at a time.


Feel good about your accomplishments. You can replace any bad habits with good healthy habits. You can create a better future for yourself, and those you love.