Comfort Zone Breakouts

Not adding any fluff to this post.  No time to drag it out, but wanted to get this post written while I had a minute.

Body Image has ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS been an issue for me.  Even now after maintaining my goal weight for four years, it's still an issue with me.

And as a runner, I see many other women/girls out there running, of all ages, and admire all those that are running on these hot days clad in what I call "shortie shorts" and a sports bra.  For me, that was just not in the cards....or so I thought.   It had always been longer running shorts and running shirts with some sort of sleeve.

Slowly, I started to change.  First came the sleeves.  These summer runs are hot, humid.  I decided I didn't care about showing the flabby arms while I ran.  So in came the sleeveless, tank type running shirts.  Oh, my gosh, so much better!

Then I went shopping one day last year for some new running shorts and came across a pair of "shortie" compression shorts.  Me?  I don't think so, but tried them on anyway.  Not so bad.  I still was not convinced that I could wear them out in public but I bouth them, and eventually, I got up the nerve to wear them out running.  I was still self-conscious about it.  I may have lost 75 pounds, but the top of my legs still have a lot of "jiggle" hanging around.  Then I realized that no one was really analyzing that while I ran past them, and if they were, that's their problem.  These shorts are comfortable and cooler!

Now, the last remaining barrier, the sports bra.  Of course, I have sports bras, but would never wear it without an additional running shirt over it.  But why?  There are certainly plenty of women out there with similar body shapes as mine who are.  Why do I have such a problem with it?  Body image.  It's been a problem since I was a child.  Again, even though I have lost the weight, I still have not lost that feeling that I needed to hide my flaws.  But everyone has flaws.

Yesterday, I took a baby step in right direction.  It was not a big step, but one in the right direction.  I had just returned from a run and had already taken off the top shirt, trying to cool off before hitting the showers.  But I wanted to check out the garden before I did that.  I headed right out the back door, belly in the sunlight, and had not a care that all the neighbors would see me out there.    WHO IS THIS PERSON?!!

Will I take another step in that same direction and actually free myself of that fear, go for a run with my belly showing?  Absolutely, although maybe some tummy toning work first.   Might be a reason to get me back to the gym and add it into a strength training routine.

A new goal has been set.