The new year -- a time for fresh starts and resolutions (and more episodes of Grey's Anatomy -- I swear, I've been in withdrawal from that show). I've been doing a lot of thinking about the example that I set for my daughter. Navigating the minefield that is girls' body image and self confidence is tough, and since my daughter's birth I vowed that she would not have to go through the same crap I did (a grandmother who would greet me in my thinner times with "you are so much more beautiful when you lose weight," a size 4 mother complaining that she needs to lose weight). Instead of focusing on weight, I've been trying to focus on eating healthy, staying active, and nurturing self-confidence. It is not easy.
A large part of that is my running. My daughter sees me as a runner, and has said that she wants to run with me some day. This makes me so happy to see a positive effect; now I just have to sustain it for another 20 or so years.
My first marathon, run a couple of months after my daughter turned 1, was for me, to prove that I could do it. This year's marathon -- when she will be 4 -- will be for her. OK, maybe just a little for me, too.
seeMOMMYrun.com is a free service that help moms find other walking or running moms in their areas. The site helps the 'everyday athlete' in all of us stay motivated, set goals, and reach them.
1 comment:
Best of luck to you. All of these weight issues...well, I was relieved to have a boy (this round), because I felt like weight would be my biggest obstacle in raising a daughter. As it stands, my husband has in his head that he was a "fat kid" (I have yet to see evidence of this) and my stocky little 20 month old gets lots of comments from, I suppose, well meaning people that infuriate me.
My advice is keep lots of Runner's World around and steer clear of Vogue. I have fought hard to not be bullimic/anorexic, which is hard when you are still carrying around extra pounds. Reading women's magazines always sends me into a tail spin. It is always a struggle to remember that the thinnest people are not always the healthiest, or the happiest.
I wish you success!
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