and so it continues...

For most of my life I have struggled with body image issues.

Even when I was thin, I still felt fat.

As an adult, the struggle has been physical

(I've gained weight, I've lost weight)

as well as, an emotional one.

It's like riding a rollercoaster...the ups, the downs, the twists, and turns.

it really does damage not only your body, but your mind as well.

When you struggle with your weight, you will literally try almost anything.

If someone tells you that they lost weight standing on their head

three times a week for a month and lost twenty pounds

you think to yourself - well, if it worked for them

maybe it will work for me too.  

So you try it.

and of course you fail.

and when you fail, it damages your psyche.

You doubt yourself

You blame yourself

You shame yourself

And the next thing you know another new fad, or pill, or quick fix comes along

and there you go again - the cycle continues.

In a way I suppose, it's almost like an addiction.

(and I'm not talking about just a food addiction here)

The constant yo-yo doesn't just deal with the loss and gain of weight

but, with the loss and gain of yourself.

You all know what I mean.

It's brutal

no joke.

Through it all, you think you are alone in this battle.

Like you are the only one who struggles

and that no one really understands your story or what you are going through.

But you are not alone.

We are all in this together.

And while each of us has a different story to tell

we all need someone to share it with.

Someone who really gets it

Someone who has been in the trenches

Because even when we think we've won the war

we still need to fight the battle every day.

Every Single Day.

What's our motivation for basically torturing ourselves?

health

special occasion

self-image

whatever it is - it's much better to have someone in your corner

rather than face it alone, don't you think?

Everyone has a story

what's your's?