Perception

When I was in high school, a girl on the basketball team with me was anorexic. I was somewhat familiar with anorexia but couldn't understand why someone so skin and bones as this girl was would think she was fat. A friend tried to explain to several of us that when this girl looked in the mirror she saw herself as _____ (a really heavy set girl at our school who was probably 300 lbs). I could not understand how someone could look in the mirror and see someone or something so different. Then about 8-9 yrs ago or so, I was shopping for some clothes. I remember that day well. As I was trying on several articles of clothing and not having any luck with them fitting, I looked in the mirror and said, "I am really fat." I did not like what I saw at all! I finally understood what that girl back in highschool was seeing in the mirror - although I was no where as skinny as she was nor have ever been that thin.

Well this weekend I was at the same store (not exact location though) shopping for clothes. I don't want to buy a lot because I am still in the process of losing more weight, but need just a few items to feel like I can wear something that doesn't look too big on me. I was picking out some smaller sizes to try to see how close they were to fitting and they fit prety well. But the more important thing was that I looked in the mirror and saw how I looked in these smaller clothes - sizes that I have NEVER worn except in child sizes when I was a kid - I told myself that I looked good and thin. It was a great feeling! That image (or perception) in the mirror has changed! I liked what I saw. I was hesitating to even go to that store because the last couple of times that I have been there I have not found anything that I was impressed with or that would fit. But I decdied to go and I'm glad I did. My checkbook may not be though :( It has been a lot of work and self control to lose 25 lbs but it has been worth it. And thanks to Dan for his help and patience in getting me there.

Twenty five pounds may not be a lot to some, but for me it is. You look at those on "Biggest Loser". They don't have to lose a lot of weight before you can tell that their perception of who and what they are has changed. Any amount of change helps that image or perception to change. Then we get a little self-confience boost to help us reallize that we can do anything if we set our minds to it.