Ok so I lost a lot of weight in the past year, about 30 pounds. Whoa. I know. I didn't even try. I just got two babies plunked in my house and ended up wasting away from the stress of it. So...maybe not a weight loss plan I would recommend (minus the whole allowing babies in need to be plunked in your house...please do that part). I'm not here to brag about losing weight. It happened. Go me, whatever.
But here's the thing...what I discovered is that losing weight is weird. Or rather, you get weird attention, and lots of it. And I don't like weird attention because I myself get weird and don't know how to handle it. I also inherited my mother's habit of deflecting compliments at all costs instead of just accepting them, so that throws the self minimization into the mix when people are just trying to be nice to you.
Anyway.
Losing weight is weird because you have to buy new clothes. And then you wear said new clothes because, well, you bought them, and, well, your old clothes don't fit anymore. And then you get lots of oohs and aahs and side glances and comments and it makes you come kinda sorta almost close to wishing you hadn't lost the weight so people would leave you alone and can a girl buy a new outfit for goodness sake??
Also.
Losing weight is weird because people tell you you are getting too skinny. I don't understand this one. I've gotten it a lot. "Girrrrrl, you're getting too skinny!" To which I usually reply "Oh, hehe, um, naaaw..." But really I want to throw my hand on my hip and say "Girrrrrl, do you realize I have been this size and weight for approximately eight years out of the past decade?" Too skinny or returning to my comfy norm? I'm a size 10, which, last time I checked, was not exactly in the proverbial "too skinny" realm. If you truly think I'm bordering on anorexia, hit me up. Otherwise, not your call.
And.
Losing weight is weird because you wonder how many people thought you were super fat before. I mean, let's be honest, I was a self proclaimed frumpasaurus for the duration of 2013. Then suddenly I drop some pounds and the attention and compliments start flooding in, making me wonder is it really that noticeable and what did people think before and goodness gracious I'm still the same person and leave me alone! Even my husband, who I believe in my bones will love me no matter what I look like, gives me a lot more "Damn you're sexy" sweet nothings now (for the record, there were a lot of those even before, so now there is, like, a lot a lot).
Ladies. Be your own version of skinny. Maybe that's a size 0 or a size 16. Are you healthy and comfy in your body? Don't try to get rid of any of it because you think the world says you should. Did you lose some pounds and now you're dealing with the weird aftermath? Join the club. But hey pretty thing, own it. Whether you're the same as you've been for a decade, new high, new low, it's you. Maybe it has changed or will change, but it's you right now. So buy new clothes that fit your body well, regardless of your size. Smile and say a simple "thank you" to the compliments, because you will get them if you are looking fresh and confident, regardless of your size. Heck, even go so far as to take hotel mirror selfies with your friend's bachelorette streamers in the background, regardless of your size.
Y'all are gorgeous.
Sincerely,
Anna