It’s been a full week since I tossed the scale and this is what I’ve realized; I’ve never felt better. Suddenly my jeans fit like they always have, I’m giving myself more compliments, and the negative talk is fading away. I’m also making more of an effort to have fun with friends instead of obsess about the way I look or how many minutes I need to work out; and that’s after only one week!!
I guess the greatest lesson I’ve learned is that the number on the scale can really mess with your mind and make you feel unworthy of love, life, or happiness. In my case, I always felt that my life would start once I got to a perfect size or weight; but that’s wrong. Life is happening RIGHT NOW and I need to embrace it, we ALL do! If we wait to start living until we reach our perfect, unrealistic size, we will NEVER start living.
Don't think she's not watching you.
Last week I was watching Oprah’s final episode and she said something that really resonated with me. She said,“YOU ALONE ARE ENOUGH.” Those four little words hit me hard and I knew that I had to share them with each and every one of you. YOU ALONE ARE ENOUGH.
You don’t have to be a certain weight, or size, or own expensive things to be happy and feel loved; you just have to embrace life as it is today. Live deeply in each moment and stop always anticipating what’s coming next. LIVE for RIGHT NOW!!
Live with purpose and give of yourself. You will feel unbelievably whole.
What has your body done for you?
Today, I want everyone to repeat after me, “YOU ALONE ARE ENOUGH.”
Remember this the next time you are poking and prodding at what you see in the mirror; YOU ALONE ARE ENOUGH.
Remember this the next time life doesn’t go your way and you feel like you’ll never live up to “their” expectations; YOU ALONE ARE ENOUGH!
Remember this the next time some friend or significant other makes you feel poorly; YOU ALONE ARE ENOUGH (don’t ever let someone make you feel worth-less!).
I hope that my honesty this past week has helped each of you in SOME way; whether that is giving you the strength to help someone you love or to help YOU love yourself. Most of us deal with body image issues at one point or another and I just want everyone to know that life is too short to waste moments hating our bodies, our minds, and our souls. YOU ALONE ARE ENOUGH!
QUESTION: How do you feel about yourself today?
Great post! I’m recently thinking that “happy weight” is just a mindset now too. When I’m eating on plan and exercising I feel amazing about myself regardless of the scale
Such an important reminder, difficult to take in though. I am glad ditching the scale has been so helpful. I find some people can still assess/criticize without the scale. You seem to be in a great place and are “passing it on”. Good work.
I have been watching Oprah since I was a kid and seeing her last episode was so hard. She I loved this message too, you can’t go through life alone. Human beings by nature need to be touched and communicate with other humans (I read that somewhere). Anyways, I’m so glad you are enjoying not using a scale! I have actually never owned one! My mom had one when I was growing up but rarely ever used it and I think that is why I don’t rely on it today. It’s really more about how you feel, how your clothes fit and being healthy, not about a stupid number. Have a great weekend!
[...] Erin @ The Healthy Apron – “You Alone Are Enough” [...]
WOW! What an amazing post. Very inspirational. Thanks!
Erin, I ADORE your posts. Thank you, Thank you!!!!! Have a great day.
Congrats to you! I love the caption under the little girl on the scale. As the mother of a 9 1/2 year old, I am so cognizant of making comments to her about eating healthy to have a strong, HEALTHY body, as opposed to being a certain weight. I don’t own a scale, so she has never seen me weigh myself. I hope she will always feel that “she alone is enough!”
I can’t believe how fast your feelings have changed, that is amazing! I’m so happy for you!
What an awesome uplifting post! I love picture showing all the things the body can do! Its so true, and I need to stop letting the number dictate my mood.
I feel pretty good today. I have a binging episode on Tuesday and it really made things clear to me. I need to be less strict on how I eat and if I want to indulge in something I shouldn’t hold back. This post was great! Thanks
Great message! I’m glad you’re feeling great after ditching the scale. Feeling strong and beautiful really is what it’s all about
Something about that statement stood out to me hugely too. I have been feeling all sorts of driven and motivated with goals and having big dreams lately…but not shooting them down that I can’t reach for the stars. Learning to love myself more certainly helps that. Love the positivity in this post!
I’m so glad giving up the scale is a positive experience for you!!
Well, Oprah isn’t well-loved for nothing. It’s something everyone should repeat to ourselves the moment we wake up to the moment we fall asleep. We don’t always have to try to please others…we’re enough in ourselves, and although we should always try to self-improve, we don’t need to change into something we weren’t meant to be.
I love this I love this. Seriously every girl in the world should read this.
I feel great about myself today thank you
This is such a wonderful post. I absolutely need to ditch the scale! It doesn’t do anything for me.
I’m so glad you’re feeling great!!
While I’m not really an Oprah fan, I do love that thought. Thank you for this inspiring post!
AWESOME POST!! everyone needs to read this!!! i FEEL FAB about myself!!!! and im celebrating with pb!
fantastic!! keep up the great work!! if you are ever interested in writing a guest post for Guiltless let me know!
Love it!! You and Oprah are so right…We alone are enough!
Scales do not dictate who we are or our happiness.
what a great mantra. that is worthy of being posted up on a mirror (or on my fridge – that’s where i put up all my motivational quotes).
i have the oprah on pvr but have not yet watched – i am going to, though.
thanks for the update on how you’re doing post-scale ditching. glad it’s been such a success!
I love this and I love how good you feel after just a week without a scale!!!
I ditched the scale too and I’ve never felt better. I’m not going to let some pesky number dictate how I’m living my life. It was the best decision I ever made
Love this. I cried when I watched Oprah’s last episode – not just because I’m sad that it’s her last but also because her words make so much sense! “You alone are enough.” – so, so true.
loved this post! so inspirational!
GREAT post!! Not using the scale really helps me, too.
If I could give you a hug, a standing ovation, I would. THANK YOU!!! As a recovering anorexic, I need to print this out & post it on my mirrors, scale and refrigerator. THANK YOU!!!
Kim
YOU ARE SO RIGHT!!!! This def. fits for the SOL series! Done and Done!
Amen to that! And congrats Erin – I’m so glad you’re feeling better!
I find that ditching the scale is such a positive thing to do also! I obsess to much when I weigh myself. The trick is to just let go and enjoy life
. Your body will find its happy balance!
This is beautiful and so, so essential to living a good, happy life. Feeling like I’m enough is something that I’ve just come to believe in the past few years. I might always struggle, but I’ll recommit everyday
This saying is great – it’s would be great to use as a mantra when feeling down or in yoga class. I love the progress you’ve made only over a week!
you always have the best inspriing messages in your posts!! love it!! Can’t wait to incorporate this into my day. Thank you!!
After reading this I feel GREAT about my body!!
LOVE it. You alone are enough – what a great outlook. Such a great perspective you’ve uncovered! Lovely.
I got your comment and now read this so it’s obvious we are much in the same boat! I love reading about others who share the same feelings about what a healthy lifestyle really is, since it’s so different for everyone!
I can often forget this because I tend to measure myself in terms of others standards. I will think of this mantra and try to resteer my thinking…
You are fabulous Erin! This is a great post! I was at my parents’ this weekend and I resisted the urge to step on the scale! I indulged and I enjoyed it and now I’m back on track
I’ve heard Oprah say that before and absolutely love it. I feel great about myself today
So glad you’re feeling great after making this change, good for you!