Let’s talk for a minute about the word “Skinny”. Many people who come to my blog and know me in person will sometimes say things like “Tammy, I want to be healthy not skinny” or “It is not really my goal to be skinny” or something of that sort.
Here’s the thing. I am not skinny – not even close. I am 5 foot 3 inches and weigh about 140 pounds, give or take, depending on the week. Sure I am much “skinnier” than I used to be and I can now wear a pair of skinny jeans and feel pretty darn good about it. However, I still have another 10 – 15 pounds to go before I reach my goal weight. It seems like those last 15 pounds have been the hardest ones to lose. Anyway, even when I reach my goal weight I will not be considered “skinny” by society standards. I am short, curvy, and my body is just not shaped in a way that could ever take on a skinny minny form. So I guess you could call me curvy maybe even voluptuous. I am totally okay with that, in fact I even like it – and so does hubs.
What I have learned over the last couple years is that skinny is all about attitude. It is about how you feel after seeing the results of living a healthier lifestyle. It is thinking differently and intentionally about the way you live your life. You see, when you start being nice to your body by eating nutritious foods, exercising, and adopting other healthy lifestyle practices your body will be nice to you back by naturally taking on a slimmer shape. You will naturally become skinnier.
Keep in mind this does not look the same for everyone. Each one of you have a different shape and skinny will take on a variety of forms depending on your body.
Besides the smaller waistline you will notice other benefits to your skinny attitude and lifestyle. Your energy level will increase making it so that you don’t feel worn out and exhausted all the time. You will start to have more confidence and a little extra pep in your step because for the first time in a long time you feel awesome. Your hair, skin, and nails will look better because of all the extra healthy foods you are putting in your body. All of those perks (and there are many more) then trickle to other areas of your life. Suddenly, you can run around with your kids, attend more social functions because your not embarrassed to see people, enjoy clothes shopping again, and many (if not all) of the activities that you have since written off. You look better – feel better – think better!
I also get the feeling when people tell me “they don’t want to be skinny” that they are afraid of setting themselves up for failure. Meaning if they start with the goal of weight loss and don’t lose weight then, once again, they are defeated. So saying “I want to get healthy” makes more sense and is safer to them. Believe me, I get it. I have been there many times.
Yes, the goal is always to be healthier – that is actually the ultimate goal. But here is the thing, and I will say it again, if you start eating healthier and adopting a healthier lifestyle you will lose weight. Your body will respond naturally with a skinnier figure – and attitude – just like it responds with a fatter one if your diet consists of burgers, fries, and other fast processed food. If you eat more than you burn and never work out you won’t lose weight. If you eat nutritious portion control meals and work out you will. Period. So, while you don’t want to completely focus on the scale and pant size, I don’t want you to be afraid of wanting to lose weight and getting skinny either. It can be done – you can do it – I did it!
What I want to leave you with is this – when I say skinny I am not talking about the pant size I am talking about the attitude. The skinny attitude is the feeling and motivation you feel from seeing the results of your hard work. It is the confidence you find in yourself when you gain control back over your life. It is the intention in which you lead yourself and family into a healthier lifestyle. That is what skinny is to me!
Tammy, you are so right about the attitude. I work with women all the time whose identity hinges on their size and it gives them comfort. They are afraid that by setting out to lose weight that they will fail – because they always have in the past.They need to come to the table (if you’ll pardon the pun) ready to eat more healthily in order to change their own health and their weight.
What they need to do (as you have) is to see it as a lifestyle overhaul and play the long game. Losing 30 pounds in two months is neither healthy nor realistic and inevitably it all goes back on. Losing a pound a week or every 2 weeks is maintainable and ensures that as long as it is coming off that it will not go back on.