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Body Love Week: Identity Crisis

Body Love Week: Identity Crisis

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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9 Comments

  1. Lauren @ Sassy Molassy

    What a great series of posts. I know that I still “feel” like the fat girl even though that was several years and pounds ago. It’s a feeling and belief about yourself that’s really hard to shake. And I seem to live in fear that I’ll wake up and be that big girl again when truly I know that my healthy lifestyle and love for exercise won’t let that happen.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Thanks for the comment, Lauren. I agree. When we’ve “talked” to ourselves a certain way for so long it’s hard to shake it. I sometimes still have that fear too–that I’ll wake up one day and be big again.

  2. Lori

    I find myself in a weird place. I am not really a weight loss blogger. I don’t quite fit in with the healthy living bloggers as I am a fair amount older than they seem to be. I am not really a food blogger per se because I don’t post a lot of recipes.

    I guess I just consider myself a wobbly maintainer. I struggle with still feeling like the fat girl, though – even after all this time. When you spend near 25 years being overweight, it is a feeling that doesn’t really go away.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I agree, Lori. I’m older than most HL bloggers, too. I think my blog is different too because I’m not trying to lose weight. Maybe it would appeal to more people if I was losing. But, alas, this is me–also a wobbly maintainer.

      I think you are right about always feeling a little like the fat girl. I spent 10 years being overweight or obese between the ages of 16-26 before I started to lose the weight. Those are pretty formative years, too. It’s hard to silence that voice. One day I can feel SO great about myself, the next day (or even a moment later) I can feel like I’m still “That Girl.”

  3. Jodi @ Jodi, Fat or Not

    I’m loving this series too! I’m in a bit of an identity crisis working my way down from being the “fat girl.” I don’t really know how to not identify as fat..because it’s all that I’ve ever been and all that people have ever seen me as. It’s such a weird place to be in. When I meet people now, they have no idea what I used to look like and that is even more bizarre. I’m really loving being the “getting healthy girl” however…trying not to think too far in the future and just take this process day by day.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I appreciate your comment, Jodi. I’m really glad you enjoyed this series. It was pretty popular so I hope to do it again.

      I am in that weird place too. Like you, I am now meeting people who never knew me at 250 pounds and are shocked to find out about it. It’s kind of a weird feeling. Almost like it’s not me.

  4. Dr. J

    I’m new to your blog so I don’t have much to say today. I’m glad you were able to be successful in your weight loss and maintenance. I just want to say at this point that by accomplished small and large challenges as you have you build your confidence and self-esteem. It seems that you have found your path and I wish you well on keeping on!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Thank you for checking out my site, Dr. J. Yes–losing the weight and keeping it off increased my self-esteem and confidence in amazing ways. I now feel like I can do *anything*!

  5. cibdylu

    Initially I had some shifts in how I saw myself, it comes with the territory. It wasn’t an identity crisis probably because I’ve never found my weight as one of the most salient parts of my identity. My ethnicity, gender, and profession are much greater parts of how I identify myself. I didn’t deny that I was overweight, but I kinda ignored it. My weight and past weight loss don’t define me, they’re just one more experience.

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