Guess what?

I KNOW!!!

And I am OK with that!

Now time for some cold, hard, tough-love TRUTHS!

I don’t take unsolicited criticism about my personal life OR my weight very well.  Actually I don’t think I am the exception to the rule here, I think that is pretty much just the way that it is!  If I don’t specifically ask for your opinion, I probably don’t want it.   I have had a rough couple of years, as many of you know.  And I have worked my booty off to hold everything together and am currently working on getting both my nutrition and my fitness back on track.  I share my struggles openly, not because I am asking for advice, but so that others see that they are not alone, and that there is HOPE!  I LOVE the accountability and support that I have gotten from many people in my life.  And I know you can feel it coming, so here it is……

BUT…….  There are also people in my life who think they can “fix” my problems by pointing out that I am NOT PERFECT!  Criticism is NOT a motivator for me!  And if ANYONE EVER touches my fat again to point out that I have some to lose…..I don’t care how close I am to them, they are freaking going down!  That is NOT acceptable behavior from ANYONE in my eyes!

And even though you didn’t ask for it, here is a little history on WHY this upsets me so much.  Between the ages of about 5 and 10 years old, EVERY time I went to my pediatrician, he would poke me in the belly, touching my fat, and saying in his thick Indian accent, “Brenda a little too fat!  Brenda need to be on diet!”  From that day on, I find it an EXCEPTIONAL insult when people touch my muffin top, belly rolls, or God forbid, my BACK FAT or BUTT!!!!  Sure, these days there is less of it, but it really is still no less offensive.  It isn’t “cute”, it isn’t “funny”, and it was recently one of the many poor judgment qualities that caused me to release someone from my life.  I have been made to feel bad for being me for too much of my life.  I am now 44 years old, I am a big girl, and I respect ME!!!  I don’t deserve for anyone to make me feel bad about being me!   And NO ONE has that power UNLESS I give it to them!  And guess what I am NOT going to do? 😉

If you want to help me, please focus on what good I have done, and not on my flaws.  Trust me that the little voice in my head does a better job than you could ever dream of doing.  And YES, I do actively work on improving my mindset EVERY day!

I am aware that things about me are not perfect.  I have never claimed to be.  I am not a doll, I am a real live girl! LOL! One with setbacks and struggles and yes, a muffin top!  But you know what?  I am OK with where I am in my life!  I work hard.  I am fit.  I eat right.  And I have some wonderful people in my life who know to just be there for me while I work through things!  I know they are there if I need help or if I need to have a meltdown, and I appreciate them greatly!

And one other thought before I sign off…

So when someone is pointing out all your faults and everything you are doing wrong, remember that that says WAY MORE about them and their current situation than it does you and yours!

#BeYOU!  #BePROUD!  #BeGENUINE!  #BeSTRONG #LoveYOURSELF #AndLAUGHEveryDay