Who Am I?
When you look in the mirror do you see who you are, who you were, or someone else? This is a fundamental question that you should really take seriously. Self image is an increasingly difficult concept today. We are inundated with the rhetoric of the be this way or you suck or be fat and happy.
Elsie commented on my Ironman post that I shouldn’t hold myself to that standard. To some extent, she was right on target. We should be realistic about who we are and what we can accomplish. I’ve been giving that a lot of thought. What should a healthy 42 year old man look like? Do I fit that mold?
Here is a picture of me when I was 29.
Women noticed me. Men respected me for my strength and ability. I was smart, strong and sober. I had single digit fat percentage. I could run a marathon on Saturday and a 5K the next day. I could leg press 800 lbs for reps. I miss that part of me.
So, here is the target. I want to get closer to that, without losing who am today. Exactly where that journey takes me is anybody’s guess. I thank you for joining me on this journey! Your comments mean the world to me, even when I don’t respond. Please keep ‘em coming.
I reckon you can do it!
and so key is what you said about reclaiming the past you with out losing who make you the YOU YOU.
I swear I look at 20 year olds and think “Im twice your age and I would NOTNOTNOT go back to being 20 for anything. Im older and wiser and wrinkler and that’s beyond ok”
M.
MizFits last blog post..odds & ends.
You were obviously very slim and fit in your 20s. I have been (slightly) overweight since I was a teenager, obese since my 20s and morbidly obese since age 30 and upwards.
I am always surprised when people who *have* been slim as adults, somehow lose their fitness and become podgy …. I know this sounds ridiculous when I am *wayyyyyyyyyyyyy* much fatter myself — but it’s like I almost grew up being overweight so I got used to ALWAYS being the largest person in class at whatever age I was at ….. I got used to other school kids ASSUMING that I would be crap at sports and thus never picking me for school sports teams.
So although I am slightly more surprised to come across weight loss people who *have* been slim during their adult life, I am also impressed that you are making the journey.
Also — you have a slight advantage over people like me who have been overweight since late childhood — becuase you HAVE been slim and fit as an adult you know how good that feels — surely that is a pretty strong motivation to get back there again ….?
Best wishes,
Sharon
goodbyetoallfats last blog post..Fattitude – Part 1