Perspective!

Pictures are amazing. I regret all the time never pursuing the photography classes I could have taken during my brief stint in community college... I love photos. And I love how much of a tool they've become during this whole health and fitness thing I've been doing.

For the last several days I've been "feeling" fat. I've had to consciously tell myself over and over "Fat is not a feeling, it's a part of your body, a necessary part of your body that allows your brain and reproductive organs to function - among other things."

I'm still having a hard time believing myself. I spoke the other day about recently becoming fixated on the aesthetic value of diet/exercise vs the health benefits - and I've been seriously down on my body because of it.

But, then today, as I was perusing through some photos on Facebook to participate in that internet pastime of "Throwback Thursday", I came across this photo:

(In case you're wondering, I had just smashed a spider than no one else in the room (including the 8 men) was willing to kill -- hence the face of "ick" and the holding of a shoe.)

This is not a flattering photo. In fact, "not flattering" is probably an understatement. But it is an accurate photo of what I looked like. This was April of 2010. This is right around the time I started to realize my body didn't look the way it used to and that I wasn't treating it very well. I honestly feel like I look pregnant in this photo. And, coincidentally, I was 10 lbs heavier than I had been on my first child's due date when this photo was taken.

But this photo helped me realize something: I've come a loooong way. Here is an equally unflattering photo from this morning:

(No, that's not my bellybutton poking out - just the waist of my jeans being obnoxious.)

As you can see, I still (when I'm not standing up straight) look a little pregnant - BUT this is a massive improvement. I mean, I think so anyway... I guess you guys don't have to think so. ;)

What's even more amazing is that the scale-weight different between these photos is only 20 pounds. I feel like it looks like a lot more than that, but maybe I'm just bias.

On a positive note, I will say: My hair looks fricken fabulous in that older photo. Shiny and brilliant!

I still have some I want to do and possibly need to do for health reasons, but overall sometimes I need to take the time and step back and realize my body aesthetic is just fine. It's pretty close to where I want it. And, hopefully, another 4 years from now I can look back and say, "Look how far I've come!" again.