Too many things happened. I am worried that instability will strike again, but I am really, really hoping that it doesn't.
If I were to talk about physical health...
I quit sweets from Dec 10th to June 10th. I lost 25 pounds! I am in much better physical health. Lost 60 points off my LDL and my overall cholesterol is back in normal range! I plan to upload pictures exactly one year from my original pictures!
I restarted my dessert strike on September 6th, and this time I've made a exceptions for certain days. Truth is, I think I am an actual dessert addict and this is really the only way I can prevent my self-destruction and self-sabotage.
For my entire life people have told me I am "naturally athletic". I am not "naturally athletic": I am an asthmatic with historically really poor cardio health and joints that partially dislocate themselves if I put pressure on them slightly weird. What I *am* is naturally tall and slender, even more so when I did absolutely no physical activity and ate very little because my neurodivergent body didn't give me hunger signals, which most people mistake for "naturally athletic".
That's not to say I don't have the potential for athleticism. My mother, who has never been under 250 pounds my entire life, is built of sheer farm girl muscle, has stellar blood pressure and cardio health despite her weight, and could (and has!) bodily haul me and my grown brother around like we weigh nothing. When I was a kid the woman was biking triathlon distances before we were even awake for school. The woman is an ATHLETE, and her whole life she has been obese (and heard from everyone and their dogs that she needs to lose weight).
I'm not sure where I'm going with this long piece of anecdotal evidence, except to say: my whole life I heard I was naturally athletic, until I actually became athletic. Because the thing is, I put on muscle like my mom. It fills out my shoulders and arms and makes me look big, thick, and barrel chested. "Genetically beefy", as my brother puts it. And suddenly I wasn't getting comments about my athleticism anymore. I'm quite literally the healthiest I've ever been. I can run for miles, lift my weight, my balance and heart health are excellent. I'm just bigger now. And not one stranger has a comment about my physique since I got fit. Because I don't look like what they think "naturally athletic" is.
I guess what I'm saying is, maybe don't let your perception of what "athleticism" or "health" LOOKS like color your perception of like. People's actual health.
We will explore how fear of attention can sabotage your weight-loss goals. It is common for people to feel self-conscious and uncomfortable when drawing attention to themselves, and this can manifest in various ways that hinder weight-loss progress. One way fear of attention can get in the way is by causing individuals to avoid public spaces, gyms, or group fitness classes where others may notice them.
This can limit the variety of exercise options, making it difficult to stay motivated and engaged in a fitness routine. Another way fear of attention can sabotage weight-loss efforts is by leading to emotional eating behaviors. When feeling anxious or uncomfortable, individuals may turn to food for comfort, leading to overeating or binge eating patterns that may slow or even reverse progress. Fear of attention can contribute to negative self-talk and a lack of confidence, which can limit the ability to stick with a weight-loss plan or make healthy choices.
By recognizing and addressing these hidden barriers, individuals can break through the fear of attention and get on the path to achieving their weight-loss goals. If you struggle with fear of attention and want to start your weight-loss journey, be sure to watch this video for valuable insights and tips on overcoming this hurdle.
get a gua sha!! not expensive at all and made such a difference in my face shape and carving out my cheek bones and jawline. there’s lots of good tutorials on tiktok or youtube!
tea in the morning/night! there’s so many teas to help with different things but my favorite’s are spearmint tea for clearing skin and green tea for reducing bloating.
ice your face! helps SO much with de-puffing and closing up your pores! dipping your face in a bowl with ice water can reduce inflammation, help with acne and reduce oily skin!
make sure to get enough sleep! It’s so easy to stay up scrolling on tumblr until the sun comes up but getting enough sleep is so important mentally and physically!
find a skincare routine that works for you and remember too much skincare can be bad for your skin! my skin was breaking out the worst when i was using a bunch of skincare and It’s cleared so much since i simplified my routine.
use a lash/brow serum! my favorite brand is grande lash and it’s a little pricey but using castor oil works as well and it’s super affordable.
going on walks! I’ve never been a fan of intense exercises and I’m a chronic bed rotter but putting on my favorite hot girl playlist and strutting on the treadmill/sidewalk is genuinely so fun!
rosemary oil for hair growth! my holy grail of hair growth products along with a scalp massager. my whole life my hair grew so slow and since using rosemary oil i have to trim my bangs twice a month sometimes!
i cannot stress this one enough..wear what YOU want! don’t let new trends or judgment from others stop you from embracing your true style. we look our best when we feel most confident!
most importantly ~ take care of yourself! make sure you’re eating enough, drinking water, listening to your body and being gentle with yourself always. improving ourselves can be so fun but make sure it’s not at the expense of your mental health <3