In an article for New York Times Magazine, Oprah Winfrey says, ” I can’t accept myself if I’m over 200 lbs…”. She goes on to say that it’s because she realizes that at that weight it’s hard on her heart and can lead to diabetes. These things are true and important, but what she has gotten wrong is if we don’t accept ourselves right now, in the body we are in, we will never truly love and accept ourselves no matter our weight.
I am currently over 200 lbs, something I have struggled with for many years, and it is something I’m working to change. It’s only in the recent past, though, that I have come to realize that what has kept me from the body I truly desire is how I feel about myself and how I treat myself.
If I can’t learn to love myself right now– every last lumpy inch of myself, how can I expect to get where I want to be?
By loving and accepting myself no matter my size, I have the ability to treat my body the way it truly deserves to be treated. I will feed my body healthy food: foods that taste delicious with fresh ingredients, spices and textures that make my mouth happy. I will move my body the way that will not only help me lose the weight but will feed my soul. I will practice self-care and mindfulness every day to elevate my inside and outside.
If Oprah cannot accept herself at 200lbs, what happens if she does gain the weight back? Will she have compassion for herself, realize our bodies change have ups and downs then continue on? Or will she see herself as being a failure again when it comes to her weight, beat herself up over it and not be able to have compassion for herself? I’m guessing it’s the latter.
It is time to work on accepting ourselves right now. This means you can finally care for yourself from a deeper place of love and understanding, not just from a need to fit into someone else’s definition of perfection.