• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Join the Waitlist!
  • Log In

Women Create Weekly

Find Yourself Through Art

in creativity

I’m fat… what am I going to do about it.

One of the biggest thing we talk about here at Women Create Weekly is self-love, self-acceptance.
With a new year dawning, you’ll see New Year’s Resolution posts all over the place.

One that seems to speak the loudest: LOSE WEIGHT.

You see, I’m about 40 pounds heavier that I would prefer to be. It’s been a struggle for the last 3.5 years since I moved away from my strict trainer. She worked miracles, y’all. I adore her. But… I realized as I’ve done personal development for the last few years is that I did it with people-pleasing as the strongest motivator. I could show up for HER, but it was harder to show up for myself. This time I want it to be ME-led.

I get asked almost once a week if I’m pregnant.

That’s where I hold the weight. I could totally pull off 7 months pregnant. What’s worse is when after they find out they are wrong about thinking I’m pregnant, they just keep going: “well, you have the pregnancy waddle” or “my daughter saw you announce it on facebook”… nope, sorry! But most often it’s a blank stare. I’ve gotten really good responding now: “Nope, it’s just my food baby” or “I just like food too much.” It doesn’t really phase me anymore. Most of the time.

But I’d like to not have to explain my belly any more.
Thus, the crowdsource on facebook.

I went into a  group I’m in with a bunch of business ladies and asked for motivation/opt-ins/blog posts/etc to help inspire me. My brain knows all the ways; my body is less willing. But I’m sick and tired of feeling this way.

I had at least 80 people jump in to the discussion. I had a lot of friend requests of people with weight-loss profile pictures. Lots of enthusiastic people telling me their answers. Often programs/supplements. One lady told me my best solution was bariatric surgery. I had to google that to make sure it was what I thought she was saying. What in the world?? That’s a solution for some, but it seemed extreme to be her first suggestion.  I just said I wanted to get healthier/thinner. Most people recommended their clean-eating motivation groups/programs. A lot had free group challenges starting soon. What I really appreciated is the people who took a minute to share helpful information, ask questions, and “chat” if we’d been sitting next to each other at a networking lunch.

Honestly, it exhausted me reading all their responses.

I joined a few of the healthy facebook groups, so I’d have that sprinkle in my newsfeed.

Here’s the magical thing, though.

My answer didn’t come from ANY their responses.

My answer came from the process of asking the question. It helped me WANT to find the answer more.

Not just staying in the discouragement downward spiral. Victim thinking.

So what’s my answer?

Here it is:

Do what already works for me.

I’ve done it before, I can do it again. But I failed. And I failed again. But this time? This time is different.

I wasn’t making the feeling FAT a priority in this search. I wasn’t beating myself for not being what I wanted to be.
I was spending time reading, and thinking, and making the solution a priority (not the feeling fat part).
It feels possible again. I believe it’s going to happen. It’s like someone turned on the light. It’s possible.

On paper, nothing’s changed. But it feels completely different.

So what’s worked for me then?

It’s not Keto, or Whole 30, or Intermittent fasting, or paleo or…. [insert current diet fad here]

It’s just some guidelines that help me, and I can adjust as needed (and add more to as these become easy)

  • Don’t eat after 6 pm. 
    • Now, this is a gray line. I try to start dinner 5/5:30, but I’m not going to put my fork down at 6:00 on the dot. We’re nixing the 10pm ice cream binges, my friend. Whatever your time, choose it and give the gift to yourself to hold that boundary.
    • My sister has the best phrase when offered something and it’s not good timing: “No thank you, but I appreciate you thinking of me.”
  • Eat 2 CUPS of veggies before your main course
    • Really?? 2 cups? Yep. Have a huge salad or regular salad and another veggie. Fill your tummy with that and you’ll be less inclined to binge on pasta.
  • Drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces
    • I’ve been trying to do this for almost a year now, and this one is a bit obligatory, but when I do it and then DON’T…I notice the difference.
  • Move your body
    • Obviously, an hour/day at your gym with an intense workout would be stellar, but… are you kidding me?? This homeschooling-work-at-home-mom-of-4 don’t got time for that! To get started I recommend my ladies begin with 7 minutes to move your body. You can do anything for 7 minutes. Just 2 of your favorite songs. I’m working up to 30 minutes of movement a day. Some days it’s yoga, some days it’s walking, often youtube fitness.
  • Breathe and slow down
    • When I stopped ignoring my body, I noticed when I truly should relish in a dessert, or need a small protein boost of peanut butter and banana. It’s when we push too hard or deny too often or blame for an indulgence that we build a wall with ourselves. Trust yourself, and be gentle as you re-learn.
  • Track your progress
    • This can be a tricky one, and find what is inspirational for you. I set myself a goal to lose 1 pound a week until mid-April. I KNOW I can lose weight. I’ve made charts before. This time, I have a sparkly new planner, and a teal marker I’m writing in on the days I weigh myself. I know there are so many ways to measure progress. This is just my tool right now for it’s ease.
  • Set a word of intention
    • Every year since 2016 I’ve set a word of intention for the year, to guide my thoughts and words and goals and self-perception. You can download my free guide to choose yours here.

Life is bigger than a bathroom scale.
Bigger than what you put in your mouth.
Life means more than clothing size.
When I let the gravity of self-shaming around weight go… that’s half the challenge. It feels possible and almost sure already.

At the end of it all, body image and weight… it’s all going to be inconsequential. They are all just tools to helping us bring our SHINE to the world. We are changing the world in so many ways.

So for today, I feel FREE from the shackles of self-loathing. I feel FREE from body disapproval.

I only have some guidelines for my body, as a gift TO my body, to help me keep feeling FREE.

Whatever it is that your soul is telling you do do right now, you already have the answers. It’s a matter of getting quiet enough to hear them.

Till next time, my friend.
Amber

p.s. I’ve lost 3 pounds this week so far. Woot woot! I’m not going to adjust my goal (1lb/week for 15 weeks) so I have lots of wiggle room and no pressure to perform.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Side note: Do you want to hear more of my journey as we go?

1 Comment

« Too much water makes you crack
Do you Celebrate birthdays anymore? »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

More about Amber

I am Amber! I grew up in Upstate NY making cards and crafts and paintings with my artist mother. She taught me from a young age to love creating, and I am grateful to share that love with you. I have 4 children and a nerdy stats professor husband, living in the woods of South Jersey. Read about this creative journey…

Nitty Gritty

  • Terms
  • Work With Me
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • About

Let’s Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Looking for something?

womencreateweekly

Art doesn’t have to be hard
🎨 inspiration to live your creative life
Online🎨class: LIVE monthly projects

Watercolor Art With Amber 🎨
I decided to paint 100 skies for my #100daysprojec I decided to paint 100 skies for my #100daysproject and I finally broke open my @drphmartins bleedproof white on these #galaxy night skies
Two images to show a major shift I had the other n Two images to show a major shift I had the other night. As parents we work really hard, and often have to deal with stressors and the heaviness of life. Sometimes the people we care most about get the crumbs of our emotional energy and attention. (Even if they’re getting our face time, we may not be fully present). I worked really hard for 2 months on some big projects (one being a 50-video beginner watercolor course!!) and my daughter wished we’d do something together. But I’m exhausted. Yet, I a few nights ago I took a breath and 5-4-3-2-1 decided to make a fun mini date before bedtime (thanks #melrobbins). We made matching hair in 2 minutes and then painted some watercolor valentines together. It really wasn’t a big deal, and didn’t take a lot of time. As she went to bed, she hugged me extra tight and told me I was such a good mom. Nice to hear, but I didn’t need her words to know I’d made the right choice, and that it really wasn’t even that hard. Something I thought I didn’t have the energy to do, was now done!! What about you… what in YOUR life are you deciding not to put off any longer? I wanna hear about it.
When was the last time you took yourself to lunch? When was the last time you took yourself to lunch? Only you, no coworkers, friends, or partners. #selfhealerssoundboard podcast mentioned this a few months ago, but I didn’t do it. It was only after feeling down for a few days after releasing my new watercolor course, that I realized I wasn’t celebrating. 50 videos with logical steps building a secure foundation is something to be proud of, but I was too burnt out to see it. Take a pause and with a birds’ eye view, what needs celebrating in your life? Maybe you cleaned a junk drawer finally, or sent a difficult text, or got recognized at work. Tell me… what will you celebrate? #selfcare #selfcoaching #celebrateyourself
Celebrating my 3rd child for being a decade old to Celebrating my 3rd child for being a decade old tonight... what are you doing to bring in the new year?!
Looking back on an amazing 2022! We've grown in the number of members, I surpassed my overall business profit goals, and I am launching my signature watercolor course in mid-January. I'm so grateful my soul craves to create, and the feeling I get when I do it regularly. Thank you for being here, my friend. I can't wait to see what 2023 will bring.
Hard to believe 2022 is almost coming to an end! M Hard to believe 2022 is almost coming to an end! Merry Christmas everyone! Anyone else still shopping??
You guys. I just went to Hobby Lobby to buy ribbon You guys. I just went to Hobby Lobby to buy ribbon to match bookmarks to sell at my very first vendor fair Saturday. And I found a cute new blank bullet journal for 2023. At checkout I put my bookmarks off to the side out of the way while she rang up my ribbon and journal. She turned and asked if I’d paid for the bookmarks yet. I caught a breath and beamed back, “I made those!” And she said she thought they were one of theirs. I snapped this when she turned away to remember this moment. :) :) maybe someday I’ll be in #hobbylobby but for now wish me luck Saturday!!
I want to serve you. My email friends got a head s I want to serve you. My email friends got a head start on you, and I'd like your feedback as well. For Black Friday I'm going to be offering a Pre-sale of a brand new course, which will release in January. I have 6 options i'd love you to tell me which. Comment the number of which you're interested! 
1: Watercolor Essentials course
2: Modern Brush lettering course
3: Mindful watercolor meditation practice course
4: Lettering and Word Design course
5: Self-exploration and creativity workbook
6: Year-long seasonal watercolor project ebook
7: I want anything you’ll offer

Tell me so I can figure out which one to create. There's almost a 3-way tie in my email poll!
Something sweet for a 5 year old… hope she loves Something sweet for a 5 year old… hope she loves it! Only one more “sleep” until her big day!! #birthdaycake #watercolorcake
Load More Follow on Instagram
· Copyright © 2023 · Women Create Weekly ·