Buffet time! Well, not really that kind of buffet. When we were kicking around topics for this month, it seemed to come pretty quickly to think of being thankful this month and how much we have to be thankful for. A bounty of things to be thankful for…or a buffet 😀
There are a lot of directions one could go in with this post, but I will sort of keep it in line with weight loss and health or else this post would go on for days. These are things I am thankful for:
– Wearing normal clothes. I don’t think this ever gets old. To be able to go into pretty much any store and find clothes is still weird to me, even after all these years. Of course – most of that comes from consignment or the sale rack, but who cares??
– Being much more comfortable in my own skin. Yes, I have loose skin and flab and cellulite. That doesn’t make me less of a person and it doesn’t mean I should be hiding my light under a bushel – or over-sized clothes.
– Blending in with the crowd. Doesn’t this seem like something funny to be thankful for? When you spend so much of your life being the biggest one in the room and feeling judged or the target of bullies, it is so nice just to walk in a public place and not feel like you stick out. I can glide in and out and not be noticed if I chose not to be.
– I am so thankful that I can move. I chose to move now. I want to be strong as I age and not weak. I can’t do all the things I used to do, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do new things. I have back and leg problems, but I don’t use that as an excuse not to be active. There are many people that can’t even walk and I am so thankful for what I have.
– All of my internet friends. I have met so many wonderful virtual friends. Some I have actually met in ‘real life’, too, which is neat. Then there are some that I can’t believe I have not met because it sure feels like we have! Thanks to everyone who has come into my life 😀
– I am thankful that I am willing to try new foods now. I was a very picky eater growing up. Mexican food to me meant Ortega, so I have come a long way. Now I will try new foods and cuisines and can’t believe what I have been missing out on!
– I think the very biggest thing I am thankful for is John. I am lucky to have a partner in life that is so supportive of me and my health. His unconditional love for me has helped me to see myself that way and I am forever grateful for that.
I hope that all of you in the US have a wonderful Thanksgiving this month and just have a great month in general to everyone! Thanks for reading my little corner of the internets.
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Make sure you read more at my fellow AIMers’ blogs for their thoughts on this topic!
AIM: Adventures in Maintenance is Lynn, Lori, Debby, Shelley, and Cammy, former weight-loss bloggers who now write about life in maintenance. We formed AIM to work together to turn up the volume on the issues facing people in weight maintenance. We publish a post on the same topic on the first Monday of each month. Let us know if there is a topic you would like us to address!
Well, shoot. I could have just copied your post (except the John part) and saved myself some time. 🙂
Now that I think about it, I’ll leave John on my list too. I’m thankful you have a support system in residence!
Thanks Cammy – you are part of that support system as well!
You really are an inspiration with your loss & maintenance Lori! All great things to be thankful for above!!! Just being able to move when others can not – very thankful!
Thank you Jody!
Love this post! Yes, I love being able to find things that fit easily–even at the thrift store!! More choices!
And also this sentence: “I can’t do all the things I used to do, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do new things.” Yes!!! I think about this all the time!
And lastly, I was not a picky eater, but we are both a lot more adventurous than we used to be! Yumm!
I wish I hadn’t missed out on Indian food all these years 😀
Dang it….that made me tear up a little. Expanding on my narrowly focused AIM entry, I, too, am grateful for fitting in and feeling loved and, as Debby pointed out, that because we can’t do the things we used to, it doesn’t mean we can’t try new ones. Now excuse me while I grab a Kleenex…. 🙂
No Kleenex – this is happy stuff!
I forgot about fitting in with other normal-sized people! Yes, after so many years of being the large one, it’s nice to just be one of many. And clothes, too…how could I have forgotten about being able to shop for regular-sized clothes??? Thanks for the great reminders. 🙂
I am being all superficial with the clothes LOL.
I love the thankful posts! Looks like people on Facebook are posting one thing they are thankful for each day in November. It’s great to remember all we have when often we fixate on what we don’t.
This was a good post for me because I was griping a lot in October.
Yep, I shop at Goodwill and thrift stores, but it is nice to be able to shop anywhere. When I was big the only store by me was Lane Bryant and those clothes looked like ass and I felt awful wearing them, but I didn’t have a choice when I was a size 22!
Loved this post Lori!
Awww…LOVE this post!!!! I’m thankful I found your blog and your electronic friendship Lori! Thank you for your inspiration, wisdom and support!! Have a great Monday.
I’m with you on the normal clothes! And being able to just grab something in my size and know it will fit.
Yes,I would agree – these internet friends are pretty special! I always love these AIM posts.
You forgot to mention that you often look positively radiant, esp. in your biking photos! 🙂
I think the major reason I’d like to get rid of my extra weight is clothes. I get a mini meltdown every time I have to shop for clothes – they just don’t look good on me. Otherwise I probably wouldn’t care one way or another.
Re the last post I’m also foamrolling (and using all kinds of balls) regularly these days. It can be somewhat painful at first but that will pass soon.
Crap, the last thank you almost makes me cry. Love it!
And I love all the other thank you’s too. I have been to my doctor last week and still waiting for test results but suddenly my health that I always took for granted could be not that common anymore. Will get back to this in my post later today. Nothing to worry about, it’s not something life-threathening. But I always have been thankful that I’m (was) healthy.
And I love the internet too, otherwise we would never have “met” and meeting you is something I’m definitely thankful for.
Thank YOU, Lori, for your inspiring writing!! Some people talk about maintenance as sort of maintaining the status quo, but you are always changing it up, doing a new weight program, trying new foods, going grain-free some days, etc. Maintenance does not equal stasis! And how boring would that be–like having a house (or garden) where nothing changes, year after year. Change=life!
Late to the party, thank you internets for not letting me see all my blogs yesterday!
I love this because there are things in it that some of us take for granted. It’s a good reminder to be thankful for those things. I especially love your thankfulness about being comfortable in your skin – most definitely something I’m working on.
This is a good “reminder” post. This time of year can get so stressful. It’s important to sit back and remember what we should be thankful for instead of focusing on all the worries and other things that creep up and could be detrimental to a healthy holiday season.
Thanks for this good reminder post, Lori. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving to you as well
I love this! I am thankful for many of these things myself. 🙂