Getting real with the body image...

Had an interesting training session the other day. My trainer had me do side-to-side shuffles across the room. I do a lot of forward movement, so she thinks the side to side is pretty important.  It's hard, and the hips want to complain, but kind of fun once the rhythm is established.

I started, and right away she stopped me with "Wait! Why do you take such huge strides? How big do you think you are?" Then she pointed out,"Look, you have little legs, and little feet, and a compact body. You move like you think you are 5'10" (I'm just barely 5'4"). Take steps in line with how much space you take up."

Wow, 'little'? that's a new adjective! Let's pause and consider that!


<pause>


Okay...back...

And no, I don't KNOW how big I am. I DO NOT know how much space I take up. I spent the last 30 years or more avoiding mirrors and cameras just so I wouldn't have to look at the reflection, so no, I have no idea how big my strides are or how big they should be and I sure don't know  what I truly look like.

We spent time working on my gait and putting it in line with my height and leg length. 50 years old, and I have to be re-taught  how to walk! There's some internal smiling at that.

But I wonder if I'm alone. Have other people who have lost weight gone through the same process? I can't imagine this is unique to me. How do you adjust? Do you adjust? 

Will there ever be a time I can look into a mirror and see ME? Honestly just see me? 

I don't know. 

Thoughts to take with me today: Mirrors don't crack when I look into them. It's all good :)