Written by Jenn Hand, Holistic Nutritionist, Board Certified Health Coach, NBC-HWC
Yep, I also used to think that everything would be better if I was skinnier.
It was like being thin was the be-all, end-all solution to every single problem I had.
Here is what I thought would happen when I finally achieved “skinniness”:
- I would be able to handle my emotions and not get worked up over things.
- I would be more relaxed and go with the flow.
- I would love my job and not feel anxious going to work.
- I would not feel like a lost, wanderlust-ing soul wanting to quit my job and travel all the time.
- I would know my purpose in life.
- I would get more attention from guys.
- I would have an awesome relationship.
- I would rock a bikini on the beach and strut down to the water, sans coverup.
- I would be happy every day.
- I would feel confident in everything I wore.
And the list goes on.
But then, a crazy thing happened. I did get skinny.
Those dresses that I used to fit into? Squeezed into them with room. Those super small jeans I was dying to wear? Buttoned them up with no problem. I bought tiny shorts, smaller pants, and itty-bitty dresses. And guess what?
Nothing changed. Nada. Zip. Zilch.
Yes, I wore a smaller size. And sure, I could fit into clothes I hadn’t in years.
But…
I still looked in the mirror and hated my stomach.
I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life.
I still had emotions to deal with.
I still wondered why I didn’t feel passionate with my job.
I still didn’t accept myself and feel comfortable in my body.
That was a wakeup call for me. I realized that the “thing” I had longed to achieve for years really wasn’t what I thought.
I know what you’re thinking.
It’s different for me. Seriously, if I JUST lost this weight, then I would XYZ (be happy, accept my body, love life, etc)
But really, truly, and seriously:
Life does not get better when you get skinnier.
It sounds preposterous, I know. But hear me out….
When we “just want to lose 15 more pounds”, that statement becomes the scapegoat. It becomes the easy target for everything else we don’t want to deal with. It becomes how we bundle everything that we don’t want to face in our lives.
We think it’s the weight that makes us miserable.
We convince ourselves that losing weight will give us a magical new life without any of the problems we had before. But when we arrive there, as the same person with the same problems, disappointment settles in.
Can you think of a time in your life when you reached your ideal weight or close to it?
Maybe you lost weight for a wedding, a reunion, or a special event.
Ask yourself honestly: did losing weight make you truly happy?
If the answer is yes, why did you gain it back? If it was no, why do you think it will make you happy now?
This is a tricky question, because you can easily answer “of course, it did!” But really think about it. I’ve had clients say “I want to get back to the weight I was at when I got married”. And then I have them pull out photos and really feel what they felt at that time. I tell them to dig deep and go behind the smiling, seemingly happy façade.
The truth starts to come out…
“Well, actually I was barely eating anything, I was so concerned about fitting into my dress, I was running like 10 miles a day, and I felt so much pressure trying to maintain my weight loss that I wanted to just give it all up. So, no, I was not happy. I was actually miserable”.
Yes, it is true that losing weight can feel good. When you don’t have extra weight, you can be more active, fit into smaller clothes, and move around easier.
But you are still you. With or without extra weight.
You are still the same person-with the same personality quirks, the same life problems, the same relationship hang ups, and the same insecurities. These do not magically go away when you lose weight.
I spent years thinking everything would be different when I was thin.
I’d lose weight, still not feel happy, then eat and gain it back, and then think losing weight would make me happy again. A vicious cycle until I realized that truth. Yes, being thinner can feel great for the first few weeks. But then “life” settles back in and you still have the same things to deal with as before.
It is not, in fact, the be-all, end-all solution I thought it was.
I want you to try this experiment: Instead of waiting to be skinnier to be happy and thinking your life would be better, I want you to close your eyes and tune into the happiness that is already within you in this moment. You don’t need to be thinner to enjoy a sunset, to bask in the warmth of summer nights, to have a good laugh with your best friend, and to take a peaceful walk in nature. See if you can tap into your happiness now. Not 20 pounds from now.
Try this exercise and share your thoughts.
Can you find that feeling inside of you? Where everything already IS better? Regardless of where you are on your “get skinny” journey?
Comment below 🙂
More Articles:
⚪ How to Get Off the Diet Roller Coaster
⚪ 35 Ways to Stop a Binge with Tips from a Holistic Nutritionist
⚪ If You’re Not Dieting, How Will You Lose Weight?
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Jenn Hand has been helping women like you become normal eaters since 2015.
She’s worked with thousands of women, helping them to balance their bodies, end bingeing, stop obsessing over food, and start feeling amazing again. As a board-certified health coach and holistic nutritionist, Jenn knows how to support you in making real positive changes that last.
Her articles have been published on Mind Body Green, Tiny Buddha, Thrive Global and other local and global media platforms. She’s the author of How to Be a Normal Eater and the creator of The Normal Eater’s Club program. Listen to Jenn’s advice and tips on the Cake Doesn’t Count Podcast, or read more of her articles for free on the Food Freedom Blog.
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Hi Jenn,
Thank you for this wonderful article.
I have always thought I would be more likable if I was skinnier. I lost a lot of weight in college (mostly by eating a lot less) but I was not happy either. That was last year. Between then and now I gained 20 or more pounds. I was mad at first and still wish I was skinnier. Then I would not get so anxious when a woman talks about how she needs to lose weight (it makes me think that she probably thinks I am fat now). The biggest compliment with women is “you look skinnier than you were last time! how did you do it?”
I still believe that if I was skinnier it would be easier for me to find a partner though. Also, I have a lot of pretty close I had when I was skinnier and just can’t fit into now! The worst is looking at those “skinny jeans”…
Anyway, thanks again for your insight.
Best regards,
Valerie
Thanks for your comment, Valerie! I think the key is in the first part of your response… “I lost a lot of weight in college, but I was not happy either”. Realizing this is key because it gently forces you to explore how ELSE you can begin to love/like yourself without depending on a certain size or weight. It’s hard because our society says otherwise! But definitely worth exploring… 🙂 XO
I feel that if I were thin, I would be happier in that aspect of my life (body image). Its true I will still have insecurities because there is ALWAYS going to be someone hotter or sexier. Its true will still have issues with my emotional eating. But I still feel that despite that, I will feel better about the way I look.I will feel a sense of achievement and power because I got through it. You always need to do things like this for you and you only. Do not use external factors as motivation.i have tried it and it lasts only temporary.plus you shouldnt change for other people.
Yes! External factors are never lasting ways to motivate yourself. It’s an inside thing…and making sure you’re doing it for and from YOU 🙂
Hi! Thanks for writing a very lovely article. I myself have struggled with body image issues and flucatuating weight for many years. It has worsened now in college, and I can’t help that I am a stress/emotional eater. Well long story short, at the age of 21 I’ve tried almost every diet in the book, and lose the weight (never reach goal weight of 130lbs at 5’8″), but always gain it back. I’m usually between 160-170lbs :/ Anyhow, I constantly think about losing weight everyday and how to reach 130lbs, but always fail. Just a vicious chain of diets, depression, stress eating and then weight gain only because I think finally being skinny in that “ittie-bittie” bikini will make magically make everything in my life better. It doesn’t help I am not fond of my natural body type, and being naturally muscular/bigger than your average feminine woman. Still struggling today, but I want to live, be positive and to find things that make me happy other than food and being “thin” to please myself and others.
What a wonderful insight to realize the cycle doesn’t work! Because it can be sooo tempting when we aren’t feeling at ease in our bodies. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post…keep it handy when you get back in the “wanting to be thinner” place. Because that place is so ingrained in our minds and it takes practice to not go down that path! XO