For anyone that has been following me for the blip of time that I have been a wannabe blogger, you may have noticed that I cover a range of topics from food recipes to life as a step-parent, there’s some travel tips, and a touch of relationship advice and now style. This is primarily because I have the attention span of a gnat.
Recently…like last week, I decided to start sharing my style pics on #Instagram for the world to see. Perhaps you have seen them? No? Then you are clearly following the wrong people….haha. All good, you can check ‘em out here and follow along.
But gaining more followers isn’t what this post is about, although, a few more wouldn’t go astray….hint hint, it’s about my take on adding style to the blog.
Now it’s not just any type of random style, it’s my style. It’s about being over 40 and still wanting to look half decent when I head out of the house. It’s about changing up my wardrobe and trying to get creative and god forbid, be slightly trendy. However, and most importantly, it’s about being confident, comfortable and feeling good.
You see, my tight little bod that I once sported many moons ago, in my teens and 20’s, has been on vacation for quite some time. I’m sure she’s having a lovely time swanning around in a bikini somewhere, eating whatever she wants and not putting on an ounce of weight.
But things have changed. Years of sitting behind a desk for hours a day and not moving has taken its toll on my body. My muscles are no longer being used as much as they should be. I rely on the backrest of my chair, and my core, well let’s just say that is beautifully protected under some very relaxed muscle tissue. I think the worse thing though about it all, is that my butt somewhat resembles the seat on to which I sit. Not a very flattering look.
Anyhow, I’m not having a whinge, I know my choices haven’t always been the best and I have chosen to hit the snooze button far too many times. I have chosen not get out of bed and go for a run, ok, well running is a bit ambitious, let’s start with a slow stroll, and I have chosen to eat copious amounts of chocolate instead of kale.
I’m also very aware that there are plenty of people who’s routines and commitments far exceed mine and yet they still make time to exercise, eat right and do everything good for themselves. Hooray for them, but that hasn’t been me.
So where am I heading with all of this?
Since adding style to the blog and taking photos of myself, something I absolutely loathe by the way, I’m starting to really see things about myself that I just can’t turn a blind eye to anymore. For example….that one shot that you see on Instagram is potentially the only photo out of the 160 or so that I have taken that I’m happy to put up for the world to see.
This leads me to think that it’s time for me to make a change. Things can’t continue the way they are. My body is telling me that it’s had enough. Everything is starting to ache, like my feet, ankles and now knees. My back is sore most days, pretty sure that’s because it has to carry around my ass around and it clearly can’t cope anymore.
Not only are these telltale signs enough to encourage me to change, but to add salt to a growing wound, I walked up two flights of stairs the other night, whilst putting my step-daughter to bed and was almost out of breath at the top. I sat to read a book with her and had to stop because I was starting to sound like the main character in a Mills & Boon novel with all my panting, huffing and puffing and not the young fictitious 7-9 year old, Alice Miranda in Japan.
This morning I thought I would step on the scales and I wasn’t shocked or surprised at the numbers staring back at me. More disappointed that I have let things get to this point. From someone who is relatively sporty and active I’m now struggling in my own private world.
I’m not writing this post for pity or comments of ‘you’ll be right’, I’m writing it to show you all that, I don’t have my sh*t together, that I too struggle with body image and that I’m not as confident as you may think. I do practice the mantra of ‘fake it, till you make it’ regularly. But I’m also aware that I’m getting older. That things become harder and that if I don’t make a change soon, then I won’t be living the fulfilling life I want to live in years to come.
With this in mind, I’ve decided to do something about it.
What?
I have no idea yet, but I know that I won’t be following some fad diet, cutting carbs, living solely on steak, chicken or eggs, or drinking my meals via shakes. These days I’m seeking a more balanced lifestyle and at least trying to remain consistent.
This isn’t just about weight loss, it is about making better choices, moving my body and not needing a rest at the top of a set of stairs. I have bad habits like eating too much sugar that needs to be broken and I’m fully expecting resistance, but by putting this out there, I guess I’m making a commitment of some sort. Geez, just don’t hold me to it!
If you are feeling the same and want to start living a healthier life, making better choices, increasing your confidence and feeling great about yourself, then join me on this journey and leave your comments below, together I’m hoping we can build a supportive group of like-minded women to empower each other to reach our goals, whatever they may be.
Don’t forget to like my page on Facebook, and join in on the conversation.
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