To Hell and Back (mel's log Act II)

[mom2w]

OMG Mel! If I'd have seen you in the first pic I'd think you weren't bad at all, but the comparison is just unreal. Awesome job-- you should be so proud of yourself and all of the hard work you've put into it. Amazing! I don't think there's anything wrong with your thighs, but I'm a woman so I understand the "need" to fine one thing to consider "off." Your legs seem longer, if anything -- how'd you do that?

I hear you on the eating thing. My trainer raised my calories and I feel better physically, but mentally/emotionally it's really trying.

What program are you doing now? I lost track of everyone while things were crazy.

Nice restraint on the GS cookies too. I'm a Brownie leader and we have cookies at our house. Amazingly, my new diet has me feeling so full most of the time that they haven't even tempted me. Something must be wrong or I'm dying. I don't know how else to explain that. LOL

[RedWifey]

Mel, Mel, Mel! It won't due any good for all of us to give you the props you deserve...'cause you struggle so hard to give any to yourself. Girlfriend, you rock and not just because you have an awesome body. You are kind, encouraging, determined, strong (emotionally and physically), and beautiful (that pic of you holding up the fish radiated beauty inside and out). So, give yourself a break and love yourself...just for today.

Be the master of your inner voice and tell it to shut the f@#! up!

p.s. Maybe it's all the adrenaline after stage 2-B, but I'm cursing up a storm today...sorry!

[bacardio]

Originally Posted by mel

Holy Crap, mel !!!

The changes are fantastic.... Keep it up, you're a role model for the rest of us who just need to be reminded that genetics are everything, hard work and a "never say die" attitude are.

Thanks

[Littlemermaidklb]

Your before pic looks kind of like me.... which I guess is a good thing because seeing pics of you now shows me that I CAN change it even if it's not a bad starting point at all. You've done an amazing job so far, keep it up!!!

[missjane]

Mel, you were beautiful before and you are beautiful now. I hate to see you have a problem with your self-image. I truly wish you could see yourself through my eyes. You had a figure to die for before. Now? Well......it's just amazing.

[Kirjava]

Originally Posted by RedWifey

p.s. Maybe it's all the adrenaline after stage 2-B, but I'm cursing up a storm today...sorry!

LOL So it's not just me that's affected like that after 2b?

Mel, not to sound like some internet creep, but your body is beautiful and STRONG. It is hard to hear yourself beat yourself up.

I can relate: A year ago I was at a "happy weight" for me, even though I didn't realize it at the time. I always moaned about the tiny bit of flab on my belly and my thighs. Now, looking back at pictures and the clothes I was wearing, I realize 100% that there was nothing wrong with me at all. In fact, I looked good and was buff and fit. Maybe not ready to model for Shape magazine, but I think I need to gain about 6 inches in height for that, anyway.

Now I'm 10 lbs chunkier (sigh) and struggling to get back to where I was--even though at the time I always thought I should be smaller.

The moral of my sad little tale is that I do think it is important that you see yourself as you are right now--which is gorgeous. Not just because our bodies are constantly changing and we must learn to give them a little breathing room sometimes (part of the reason I have pudged a bit is because of health issues) but also because our bodies work hard for us and deserve our love. These are issues I deal with every single day myself. It drives my husband to distraction that I don't love my body and am constantly fighting it (and I don't tell him the half of it), and it creates so much mental junk in my head it wears me out. Those daily battles add up. I don't have an answer for you as to the how, of course--that's different for everyone, and I'm still battling it. You might get even leaner, stronger, fitter than you are now--I suppose that might be possible, somehow, even though I have a hard time seeing how that could happen-- but your body is already perfect as it is now.

[Karen411]

Originally Posted by missjane

Mel, you were beautiful before and you are beautiful now. I hate to see you have a problem with your self-image. I truly wish you could see yourself through my eyes. You had a figure to die for before. Now? Well......it's just amazing.

I agree with this and everything else that has been said, too. I like RedWifey's idea of mastering your inner voice, too, and redirecting your thoughts (and I need to take this advice myself, so I know whereof I speak ).

[UConnJulie]

Amen ... give yourself a big pat on the back ... and a question ... why are you so tan in the middle of winter? (Just in case our resident pimple-popper doesn't pop in and ask!!)

[kfisherx]

Of all the woman in the challenge, I admire your physique the most.

[kfisherx]

I also think you are totally screwed for winning the "most improved" category.

[LWilson212]

Hi Mel-

I can totally relate to what you're saying. I was always chubby growing up and people picked on me and I turned to food for comfort and there are always going to be lots of issues in my head about all of it. I keep asking myself - what is so important about having perfect legs? The worst is, even if they were "perfect", whatever that means, I could probably still find some flaw.

I have always heard and read the advice to focus on what my body can do rather than what it looks like. And I do feel my best and happiest when I focus on a physical accomplishment like my lifting goals, etc.

You are gorgeous on the inside and out!

[dillytl]

Originally Posted by missjane

Mel, you were beautiful before and you are beautiful now. I hate to see you have a problem with your self-image. I truly wish you could see yourself through my eyes. You had a figure to die for before. Now? Well......it's just amazing.

I can't say it any better than Jane did, so I'll just "cheat" and quote her!!!

[gregl515]

You look great! To put it in context, you look so much better than you think. It's kind of like someone who is overweight and gaining and one day sees themself and goes, "OMG how did I get this fat!" One day, hopefully, you will look in a mirror and realize, "Hey, I've got a rockin' body."

If you doubt this, put on a short skirt and go to a truck stop restaurant. Every guy in the place will give you a thumbs up!

[Susan4]

Originally Posted by Kirjava

but also because our bodies work hard for us and deserve our love.

Ding ding ding ding~!!~

This was a lesson I finally experienced last summer on fire duty in Idaho. I was pushed to my utmost limit and my body made it, it carried me through and I remember, probably for the first time ever feeling love and appreciation for it, lumps, bumps, fat, fire duty filth and all.

Try it

(or we'll keep nagging you about it )

[tcoy777]

Your progress is amazing!!

[nutbar]

Wow, what amazing progress between the two pics!! Just wow.

[Espi]

Ditto to everything the others say.

Love your body as it loves you and works it's 'ass off' to do everything you throw at it!

You look great... now just realize it and feed that gorgeous body of yours appropriately!
(am jealous of you having access to great Mexican food, we don't have any of it.. and all burritos are old & wheat-based )