Before and After

Then: I weighed 45 pounds more than was healthful.

Now: My body weight is in a healthful range.

Then: I struggled to carry groceries up the stairs into my apartment.

Now: I’m getting ready to run 13.1 miles.

Then: I looked at my body as “ugly” and “disgusting” and “fat” and “obese” and “gross.”

Now: I look at my body as “healthy,” “strong,” “fit,” “energetic,” and (this is the big one) “beautiful.”

Then: I drank a high-calorie, high-fat beverage from a local coffee house daily.

Now: I drink a lots and lots and lots of water.

Then: I cringed when I saw myself in the mirror or in a photograph or in a reflective store-front window.

Now: I look at my legs every night in the bathtub, and thank them for carrying me throughout the day.

Then: I ate whatever happened to be around--fast food, vending machine food, convenience store food.

Now: I have discovered I feel better when I eat lots and lots of fruits and vegetables.

Then: I felt that I would never measure up, or be good enough, because I was fat.

Now: I know that the only standard I need to measure up to is mine.

Then: I criticized myself relentlessly.

Now: I praise myself constantly.

That was then.

This is now.



Up Next: “Anticipating the Race”