Tuesday, May 18, 2010

MORE RAMBLING AND REFLECTIONS

Just a couple of things that I didn't have time to write about yesterday...

1.  John and I went to Target Friday morning and may have encountered quite possibly the most fantastic thing ...ever.  We were walking down one of the main aisles when this little old women came around the corner riding one of those motorized carts.  In the basket of the cart, she had stacked (on an angle, mind you) 2 of those ginormous Rubbermaid tubs.  Since they sat so much higher than she, her head was craned out around the tubs, so she could see where she was going.  Ever seen Ace Venture Pet Detective?  Yeah, like that.  As if that wasn't funny enough, just as she was whizzing past us, she ran the tubs into a rack.  I kindly stopped to make sure they didn't fall and offer a hand.  She had it all under control and just sped on her way.  Now, for the record, we were not making fun of the old lady - really, the best part was that she was quite amused with her self, giggling along the way.  So, we just kept walking along, almost in tears laughing, when we heard her run into something else behind us.  She had bumped the tubs into an end cap and knocked a couple of bottles of soda on the ground.  Holy crap, it was funny.  I know about 10 people (including myself) who would've done the same thing, laughing all the while just like she was.  As it turns out, I'm not so sure she needed the riding cart after all.  When we left, we saw her and a friend loading those big ole' tubs in to the back of their car.  By far, the most awesome thing we've ever seen in Target.


2.  On a much more serious note, I've been wanting to reflect a bit on the Dress Your Best Week challenge that the girls from Academichic orchestrated last week.  I think A, E and S all deserve a HUGE virtual standing ovation for such a monumental blogger project.  How cool was it to reading all of those bloggers proclaiming their love for their bodies?  Where else would you ever get to experience that?  It's so easy to be self-depricating when it comes to writing about yourself and your clothes.  But who does that inspire?  Weren't you so much more moved by the outpouring of self-confidence last week?  I think we should all take the spirit of last week's challenge and apply it everyday by not only dressing our best, but continuing to voice the things we love about ourselves.  Self-acceptance and positive body talk are pretty powerful tools that will surely resonate in everything you do.

If you've been reading my blog for a long time, then you know a little of my back story when it comes to my body.  Two years ago, I reached my all time highest weight and found myself completely out of control when it came to food, my body and my health.  I finally got to the point where I desperately needed guidance and sought help from the most reputable and realistic weight loss company out there.  I had been struggling with my weight for years, and though I've never been big on trash talking my body, I think I had to really accept and love it at its worst in order to make it its best.  Embracing my curves and shape, no matter what my size was probably the number one step in changing it.  Think about it.  How much time and care are you likely to put into something you hate versus something you love?

I now realize the work and constant vigilance that accompanies a healthy and loved body.  Gaining control over my weight and health has impacted my life in ways I could have never imagined.  Weight is one of the most challenging  personal battles one could ever face, since it invades us on so many levels and requires so much inner strength to really conquer it.  I'm certainly nowhere near perfect when it comes to weight maintenance, but I'm also nowhere near giving up.  Ever.

After taking on a healthier lifestyle and finally getting back to the body that I know as my own and love dearly, I decided to work for the weight loss company that helped me conquer my own issues with weight.  In addition to all the extra design work and stuff I do, six days a week, I facilitate group discussions that focus on helping others find the inner strength, desire and resolution to take on a healthier version of themselves.  It is no easy task, and my heart breaks a little every day for those who just can't get past the negativity and self-loathing.  It's tragic, really.

I think as bloggers, we have more influence on our readers and fellow bloggers than we could ever imagine.  Whether we're conscious of it or not, we're not just writing about style, we're writing about lifestyles.  I remember being in college and hearing one of my incredibly fit and tiny aunts insist that she couldn't wear certain shirts because of her "huge" arms. Immediately, I thought, "Crap!  You mean, now I have to think about the size of my arms?!  In addition to that of my thighs and butt?!"  Obviously, I got over it, but it's taken a lot of time to get there.  The point is, body negativity spreads like wild fire, igniting insecurities in every woman along the way.  Just imagine how we could influence the futures of women of all ages just by embracing who we are and not being afraid, ashamed, embarrassed or too self-conscious to say it.  I applaud everyone who participated in DYBW and sincerely thank the girls at Academichic for getting the ball rolling.  Now, let's run with it!

If you are so inclined, you can see my before picture here.

20 comments:

  1. You have no idea how much I appreciate your words more than ever now...and I so appreciate you posting your "before" picture.

    I'm a visual learner and I need to see results and I clearly see yours. Thank you so much for that.

    I never really got hung up on being a size specific anything. I just have gotten to the point where you were when you started WW. I just wanted to be healthier.

    It's coming off so far (9lbs so far...mostly in my face) but I hope to be a before/after like you)

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  2. Very very cool to hear your thoughts on the issues of self-confidence and body appreciation. This is one of your best posts ever.

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  3. You are very right- DYBW was so inspiring.. it makes me want to dress my best EVERY DAY and never have negative self-talk! And you are right- the moment we become happy with who we are, no matter what our size, is when we finally can start our path to being healthy. (at least such was the case with me)

    I am pretty sure that we may have both met our weight loss goals through the same company from what I'm gathering through your post, and I have to agree wholeheartedly! I am not a leader (i don't really have the time for it) but I commend you for doing it and inspiring others every day.

    I also totally agree that we need to give the gals at Academichic a standing Ovation! This was a great project and I'm so happy I was able to be a part of it! :)

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  4. Lady, I think that it's totally awesome what you are doing! To help people achieve something that you've already achieved, it's just amazing! Good for you! You look frickin' awesome!! You're body is totally rockin', and I think that what you said about bloggers having alot of influence is dead on! Thanks for putting this out there and always keepin it real!

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  5. This is such a great post! Thankyou for the honesty about your body image issues, I've just been re-battling a bunch I thought I had dealt with that came back with a vengeance this Spring...I love what you said about never giving up!

    Also the Target story made me giggle, what a great mental picture, lol.

    I love your blog, Kyla, you are consistently my favourite style blogger! xx

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  6. I can't think of a better way to say what you've said, Kyla-- it's been so wonderful hearing the stories of all of the bloggers participating in DYBW, it truly has changed the way I see not only myself but everyone else in my life. I love what you've said here, it is such an excellent reflection on an excellent week!

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  7. I completely agree with your thoughts, on both the speed demon old lady and the body issues! People will never see themselves as the rest of the world sees them for both good and bad. You amazing to be doing such great work, and your before photo shocked me a bit. You look so amazing now, and frankly you looked amazing than as well :) Thank you for being a great love your body representative!

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  8. Love your attitude and spirit. I have gone throught the same thing recently. I was the heaviest I had ever been in my life and now I have made a lifestyle change! My last post was inspired by your blog! xoxo

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  9. First off, I just wanted to say that I've only recently found your blog, and I have loved breezing on through the pictures. Wonderful sense of style!

    Secondly, thank you for this incredibly insightful post! I've been through my own journey of body hatred, weight problems, and eating disorder, and I have been consciously trying to avoid all talk of body shape, size, weight, fitness, etc. on my blog, for fear that those who think like I used to would use it to judge themselves. But totally avoiding it altogether isn't feeling right, since it's an important part of who I am, and I see now that as long as I'm honest, open, and positive about my body and journey, hopefully others will take my writing in the way it is intended, and may feel positive about themselves as well.

    Looking forward to catching up on your past entries! :o)

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  10. You are my hero and inspiration. I love how you shared your before and after with us. Wow, so awesome that you can love yourself like that.

    I sort of participated in the DYB week... but I was a real downer on myself. I'd be one of those women full of self loathing that you talked about. I need to lose a serious amount of weight and it's so difficult. It depresses me a lot of times. I can't find hardly anything that I like about my physical body, except maybe my toes when they are polished. Reading all of the comments on DYB and the parts women love about themself almost made me feel worse in a way because they all touted areas that I've never had and wish I could have: slender necks, flat stomachs, clavicle bones, etc. I'm sorry.. I don't mean to be negative. Just sayin' that I need help, I guess. Maybe you could email me and tell me where you went to lose weight? Thanks, girl.

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  11. 1. Holy crap that target story is hiarious.

    2. I envy you and being able to love yourself, I mean if I had your abs I think I'd love myself too, I have a hard time with all that.

    3. Do you mind changing the link on your blogger of the month to link to www.misketch.com? I shut my blog down, so now it will go to nowhere...lol. Or you don't have to link it to anything, just leave it up there for fun.

    4. Your write up on body image is amazing.

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  12. Kyla, you are wonderful and inspiring! I second (or 100th) your commendation of the chics for starting up DYBW! It was fun and so much easier than I expected it to be. Something switched in my brain and I want to keep that positivity going. I know that some people have had negative, competitive, nasty experiences in the blog community, but for me the positives have really been transformative! Thanks for keeping it real.

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  13. My favorite of your "ramblings" yet. You are a gifted writer and a very thoughtful and pensive person. Weight is such a personal battle. I know I struggle with it all the time, but I also agree that we must be role models. Thanks for the post...very inspiring.

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  14. LOL at your Target story! So the lady wasn't handicapped at all? Just riding around for the fun of it? Oh I want to do that :DDD

    Love your write up on body image. Since finding you almost a year ago (and reading, oh, only every post you've ever posted) you have been one of the biggest influences in my life body-wise. I dunno if that sounds lame but it's true. You and pretty much you alone have change my attitude about my body. So hey, thanks.

    Haha enough from me. Are they holding a body appreciation week every year? I'd love to take part :D

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  15. Just started reading your blog, and already you're kind of my personal heroine. Keep doing you, and thanks for the awesome inspiration, fashion-wise and body love-wise.

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  16. Hi Kyla!

    First of all, we are style/humor/husband twins. We really are. Secondly, I simply had to get a google account so that I could reply to this great post. I have been to hell and back with my weight. I've done the most extreme things, abused my body...stuff you don't really go into in a comment to a blog belonging to a person (however awesome) that you don't know. In anycase, thank you for your blog. You are by far, my favorite blogger in the history of blogging. Really. When I first clicked on your blog, I thought "Woah! It's another leggy Cuban girl! Woot woot!" I don't think you're Cuban, but you GO for strutting your stuff! Let's be friends! Get it, girl!

    xo,

    M

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  17. Hi Kyla!

    First of all, we are style/humor/husband twins. We really are. Secondly, I simply had to get a google account so that I could reply to this great post. I have been to hell and back with my weight. I've done the most extreme things, abused my body...stuff you don't really go into in a comment to a blog belonging to a person (however awesome) that you don't know. In anycase, thank you for your blog. You are by far, my favorite blogger in the history of blogging. Really. When I first clicked on your blog, I thought "Woah! It's another leggy Cuban girl! Woot woot!" I don't think you're Cuban, but you GO for strutting your stuff! Let's be friends! Get it, girl!

    xo,

    M

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  18. hear, hear! I am totally with you in keeping the self love flowing, kyla! It is contagious and powerful, and loving your body is one of the best things you can do!

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  19. Oh I missed this post - just spotted the link on your twitter.
    Firstly, I want to be friends with that little old lady, she sounds awesome!
    And secondly, good on you for being unhappy and doing something about it! Your posts now are always so body positive, which is great and very inspiring. Plus that is so awesome that you are helping other people reach thier goals too!

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  20. I loved the Dress Your Best week too, it was awesome and I can't wait to do it again.

    As someone who also struggles with weight and body image, I can't tell you how much I admire you and other bloggers for posting about their weightloss journeys. For one, it takes a lot of courage. And it's so inspiring to me. So thank you :)

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