That has taken a LOT of getting used to. My husband and I travelled around Europe for five months about 7½ months after my surgery. I was about 59 kgs when we left.
Travelling means you spend a lot of time together. Our normal routine Monday to Friday means we probably spend at most three or four hours awake together each day. However for five months we were together all day, virtually every day. I’m amazed our marriage survived! But that is another story. What it did mean was that my husband got to observe me.
Something we both noticed was that I couldn’t walk past a mirror without looking at myself, even if only a quick glance while passing.
The fact is, I didn’t believe I was the size I was. Every time I looked in the mirror I expected to see the fat me. Instead I saw a skinny person, every single time I was surprised.
I even posed for a photo recently with a very slim and much younger niece. The first time I looked at the picture I expected to see myself enormous by comparison with my niece. Of course, I wasn’t. We are the same weight after all. I’m a size or two larger, but she is some inches taller than I.
So, looking at myself has become something of a pastime. I like to think, or at least I hope, I’m not a narcissist. But I look at the photo on the home screen of my tablet, and it’s me, a selfie taken while walking in the Lakes District in England. I’m wearing a singlet and hiking pants. I have a backpack on, and an apple in my hand, and I’m looking into the distance. (see below)
I look healthy, strong, in control. Exactly how I want to look!
Maybe I am a narcissist after all!
Hi Jan, thanks for sharing your journey. I was looking through A and S’s wedding album the other day and after getting used to your current fitness and spending so much time with you hiking and training recently it was a shock to see the photos of how much extra weight we both carried at the time. I’m glad you’re doing so well and really enjoy our conversations and the life experiences you share while hiking, looking forward to another soon!
Hey Mark, I looked at the wedding photos recently too and I was a bit blown away! I’m in training for the Overland Track at the moment so I’m training with a pack. Did a walk yesterday and my legs and shoulders are a bit tired today. Let’s go for a walk soon. Maybe a walk and picnic with the family?