Would you be willing to try this for a day?

I have been reading A LOT of interesting posts lately, about a lot of different topics and they got me to thinking...about being invisible (due to being over weight) and other people's perceptions....

At my highest weight I weighed 322, and never once did someone yell out a car window, some stupid comment, or say something in passing. Now, I can't say they didn't think it or say it in private. Anyway, I know I'm lucky on that count.

Now I'm just wondering if it has something to do with the way I carry myself. I've been told that I don't look like I weigh as much as I do (But we all know that those pesky scales seem to scream the truth!).  Just as I've had people think I'm up to a decade younger than I am. 

People also think I'm taller than I am. (I'm 5.5").  I was talking to one of my sister's who is shorter than me (by a few inches) about how people think I'm TALL, and you know what she said...."You carry yourself tall". That didn't make any sense to me... I had to really hear what she was saying. And you know what, she's right.  I do carry myself TALL. I walk with my head held high, I walk like I should be noticed and respected. I walk with confidence. I realized that I started doing that when I was in my late teens, overweight and had friends all wearing sizes 3 to 7.

After that conversation, I really took note of how I carry myself. Now a days, I walk like I've lost all the weight I need to. I walk as though I AM 157 pounds. I hold in my stomach (it helps with my posture), head up and I smile. After re-reading that, it sounds really corny, but trust me...it's the truth. I would love for everyone that reads this post to try it for a day.

In school I had to take a class and we kept being told that "if you can visualize it you can achieve it". **Sidenote: That first day of school, I saw myself talking at our graduation. And guess what! I was the speaker for the Graphic Design Dept. granted, when I visulaized it I was 100lbs thinner (that didn't happen), but you get the point. So for one day, don't be invisible, be that person that is glowing and knows that their goals can and will be met.

I look at this picture of myself that is on this ite, and I am proud! I weighed 268 pounds (down another 20 since this pic), and do I look "invisible"? HELL NO!!

Thank you for taking the time to listen to this crazy person's ramblings!

Have a beautiful day!

I totally agree with your statement. Posture is half the equation, attitude too.Growing up, my mother pestered me all the time about walking straight and sitting straight... well guess what? I am truly grateful for her nagging.
At 5'3" I too look taller and younger at 56 than most of my school mates. Even when I was heavier I looked thinner because I walked with my tummy sucked in.
There is some science behind the attitude you get from good posture. If you walk tall, you breathe better, your brain gets more oxygen and your mood is better.
So, yes. Keep walking tall.

Artiparte~ Isn't it a wonderful feeling? And I mean ALL of it. I feel so empowered.

I'm trying to teach my children to be who they are and be PROUD of it.  All my children are young (8,6,5 and almost 4). My 8 yr old wears glasses. She got them right before she started Kindergarten, and naturally I was worried about the teasing. So I sat down and had a talk with her, letting her know that other kids may tease her, call her four eyes, etc... and at 5 years old she very proudly tells me that she doesn't care and that the important thing is that she can see! Those were almost her exact words. I seriously almost started crying... I was wondering where did this wonderful child come from. Here it is 3 years later and she's had a few knuckleheads make comments, but she doesn't let it get her down, to her be able to see is still the most important thing.

Let her know that the knuckleheads are mostly doing idiotic things as a way to start a conversation since they lack the skills to just walk up and say "Hi, how are you?".

It's the little boy who pushes you in the mud puddle who has a crush on you or so my mother told me.

smwhipple: Haha....I remember my mom telling me the same thing. "Oh, he just likes you!"  Thank goodness for mothers. They may not always be right, but they sure do try to make you feel better.