2,725 Comments

• Joa

  My body has followed my life over the last 17 or so years, and without going into a ton of detail, it’s sufficient to say that I lost the “me” I loved, and shrunk into this shell of a person I didn’t even recognize anymore. The last several years have been outright hell, and throughout, I was fighting to find me, and for a bit, I felt like I was that girl again, and even in spite of our personal circumstances, I was losing weight, feeling confident and moving forward. Then once again the rug was pulled out from under me and everything changed. My life over the last year has felt like a wait in purgatory, and thanks to a desk job, my weight has ballooned up to the heaviest I’ve been. I am so frustrated I want to scream. Even when I eat and do the right things I don’t lose weight, and I feel like giving up all the time. But I’m loving on me, and going for a physical with tests and slowly trying to add more movement in my days. “Dance breaks” are my favorite at work. (Yes, I have “whipped and nae nae’d” down the hallway…LOL)
  So I am determined to start again and to find that girl I almost grasped two years ago. She’s in there somewhere.
  So besides my fun of hallway dance breaks, I spent some time messaging, emailing and texting some friends. I always feel guilty about taking time to do it because I’m so busy, and I need to give my family time, but I miss them. I miss talking to them, and it felt so wonderful just to give in and chat a bit. I’m looking forward to implementing more fun and dance breaks tomorrow. Maybe I’ll post a video….lol
• Jessica

  I think my bad relationship with my body started in college. Those Freshmen 15 came and just didn’t want to leave. I had been active before college but now with so much time studying I wasn’t moving much and stress was high. It was hard to find time to move. I’ve been yo-yoing ever since. I want to get off the crazy diet ride and feel strong and beautiful and enjoy this one life!!
• Kimberly

  I felt like you have described most of my life-my battle with my body, instead of a love of my body. I too went to Weight Watchers early in life-in high school prompted by my mom who was then telling me there was something wrong with me. I have struggled to “fix” me and then get on with an ideal life…I really do hear you when you say start living and then it will happen. I don’t remember the last time I had fun-probably laughing with my daughter, but I know I am stressed from work and tired that I spend more time worrying and rushing through the day. I will start to look at fun, and what foods are good to me.
  Thank you!
• Jackie Paige

  I have struggled with my weight my entire life. I have tried every diet known to man and I have spent more money than I care to talk about. Food is always there foe me no matter what.. Happy, sad, depressed, lonely..Growing up in my family food was used in all of the above instances. Today out of the blue my husband cooked dinner and I ate at the table instead of in frontc of the TV my fun thing was relaxing instead of cooking dinner.?
• Hannah Chalmers

  I’ve been struggling with my weight for years, ever since college. I lost quite a bit of weight before getting married and quickly gained it back. Since then I’ve been trying to lose it in many different ways and I can completely relate to trying without success and my only motivation being thin some day. I feel I’m weak at sticking anything out for a long time. I’ll do well at exercising and dieting for a while, treat myself for doing good, and then the next day have zero motivation to keep going until the next time I hear of a new way of getting to my ideal goal weight. I realize this has been my pattern.
  I also struggle with feeling confident when I go out, even to run errands, because I often feel embarrassed of my body and feel that others could be judging me because of my weight.
  Today I will get out of the house and take my lovely dogs on a fun walk. Their happy spirits lift my mood and getting outside calms the stress from the day. Thank you for the video Sarah Jenks.
• Joelle

  I’ve been overweight for as long as I can remember. I did a few crazy diets over the years! The most weight I ever lost was before I had my first son- who is now 5 years old – and that was in order to help me get pregnant. Since then, I had four more children – in under four years. My youngest are my 22 month old triplets. A few months ago I decided that I needed to start eating healthier. I was cooking delicious, fresh, healthy meals for my children and for my husband and I for dinner – but the rest of the day was a write-off. I had forgotten to take care of myself. In February I did the Simple Green Smoothie 21 day cleanse. I did it only because I wanted to eat more healthy and get the energy I needed to run after my five young children. I never felt better. However, cooking that way was not sustainable for me. And there were some emotional set backs since then and I realised that I really need to fix my relationship with food – and not let emotions rule my relationship with food. It is hard to take care of myself with so many young kids – but the fact is, I need to take care of myself in order to take care of my family. It’s not even an option. I need to set time aside for me to eat breakfast and lunch and healthy snacks. I need to practice mindful eating. I decided I would try out your program to see what it is all about. It’s now 11:45pm so I’ll say that tomorrow, I will have a dance party with my children. We have so much fun when we do this! All five kids really get into it and it’s so much fun! And most importantly, I love music and I love dancing!! I’d also like to try to paint pottery or do something creative but it’s so difficult to get out of the house for real “me” time. But I will make it a priority. I look forward to learning more about your program!
• Jamie

  I have struggled to love my body my whole life. I thought I was fat when I was skinny, now I’d do anything to be that “fat”. Nothing had worked and this sounds great. Today I’m going to watch a funny tv show by myself for fun. Tomorrow I think I’ll have a glass of wine and paint. Thanks for the inspiration Sarah!
• Robin

  It actually took me a very long time to “like” and feel confident in my body. For the longest time I felt my body didn’t look “perfect” or even “good enough”. This was most evident to me whenever a change would take place (like going through puberty, going through a pregnancy or when I had sustained an injury). It was a source of discomfort, anxiety, frustration, and sometimes it was depressing. Just when I would finally get used to relating to my body one way and was able to accept it and find my comfort in it, a change would occur and then I felt like I had to relearn my body all over again and try to find that place of acceptance and comfort. I have always loved being active and there were times when I have been very fit and really loved my body because of how strong it is and what it allowed me to do. However, whenever I sustained an injury, I felt tentative about doing my favorite activities for fear of making things worse. I would become depressed and frustrated with not being able to move like I wanted to while waiting to heal. I always end up binging on unhealthy food, and ruminating about what is going on in my body. I know there is definitely an emotional component to all of this.

  Today for fun I am going to take a “me” moment and read a People magazine from cover to cover. I usually am so busy I don’t take time to just relax.
• Zoraida

  I started this video in the morning before getting out of bed and I finished it as I’m getting ready for bed.

  I took a few minutes to eat my lunch in peace today no tech no reading ,listening to podcast, just my food and I.

  I wonder how often I’m multi-tasking while eating and never really enjoying my food and only eating because I have to.

  I plan to implant this technique.No distractions just me and my food. We’re going to sit and talk.
• Melissa

  I am learning to love my body more every day. I’ve been on a path of self love and authenticity in the past year and it is completely transforming my life. I am excited to add more fun, more awareness, and more ease to my life. I am choosing to love myself and my life right now, right here, in this body as it is. It’s been a long time coming, but I feel like I’m finally on my path.

  For fun today, I called a friend for a nice chat and I went on a first date. Both things were lovely!
• Sarah

  I totally forgot to comment about what my fun project was for today. I decided today was the day to go back to shake your booty dance class 🙂 I cried afterwards because it was so perfect. What a great reminder to do things that make your soul sing
• Mary

  Hi Sarah!

  Thank you for the inspirational video.

  I have struggled with body image for as long as I can remember. It doesn’t matter if I am at my fittest weight or heaviest weight, the only thing I see are my flaws. I just once want to be happy with how I look, no matter the number on the scale. I want to feel beautiful, it is one thing I have never felt.

  For fun today, my husband and I got together with friends to celebrate his birthday.
• Sonia

  Looking forward to eating without distraction and adding some fun into my day everyday.
• Barb

  My relationship with my body is a rather negative one. I have had issues with my weight since I can remember, which is strange to say seen as when I look back at some of the pictures of when I was younger I don’t see myself as “huge” I looked average but compared to some of my friends I was fat… Yes that’s a word others as well as myself used to describe me. I argue with myself on a regular basis on not labelling how I look but lately I cannot seem to get away from doing so. My boyfriend and kids tell me I am beautiful but all I see is a person that is overwhelmed … I have let weight creep on and seem to always find a lot of time to help others but I do not seem to find me on the list to help out, well until now. I have started reaching for my creative side and letting it come out to play. I do not expect everyone or anyone to like my creations but it does feel good to doodle, paint and even sew a trial version of an idea. I also really enjoy getting in the dirt in the garden, something so rewarding when you see the plant busting thru the soil. I am serious most of the time but sometimes you just have to sing and dance around without a care in the world … It’s so freeing
• Samanth

  My body relationship has been a constant struggle–a constant sorce of shame, guilt, blame, dispair and humiliation. I rode and trained horses professionally until my son was born 7 years ago. I reached my goal weight of 148 lbs for about a minuet and when my whole life disn’t fall into place in a second, I went right back to the Buffett, and this was the ultimate demise of my life with horses, which had been my entire identity. For the next season of raising young children I had little concept of where I was or what I was doing besides keeping the boys safe and happy. I was weighing in at 245 pretty over weight for 5’6″. I dieted and didn’t diet. But it was lent this year when I got serious about listening to and talking to God and I am 32 lbs lighter as a result It’s 11:30 so I’ll have some fun Tomorow! I think water games with my boys! Thanks for your work on this project I am excited to put names and concepts to what’s going on in my life!!!
• Regina

  My relationship with my body has always been one of disconnect. I am 52 years old, in menopause and weigh 217 lbs. which is the heaviest I have ever weighed.I went on my first diet when I was 11 and have lived a life of dieting and bingeing. I am disgusted by how I look and fear for my health.
  My fun thing to do tomorrow is stop by my best gals fair trade/local goods store for a visit and check out her new stuff!
• Mary-Margaret

  My relationship with my body is abusive and I’m the abuser. I was always teased b/c I was the “big girl” (tall and big boned until high school where I was teased so much that all I did after school was eat). Someone from my hometown sent me an unsigned card in the mail that had a naked fat woman on the front that said something about if we were paid by the pound how rich I would be. That was the summer after my freshman year of college. I went to WW during my sophomore year of college and lost 50 lbs. in a little under a year. I looked great and felt great and started getting lots of “love” from the college boys if you know what I mean. This went on and on minus a couple of years with a boyfriend until I met my now husband. He and I went to the gym and had a very physical attraction and, honestly, probably got married mostly b/c of that. Since then I have gained and lost weight over and over for the last twenty years. I honestly still feel like my husband pays more attention to me when I’m thin and that takes me back to all of the college boys who gladly used me and makes me feel guilty and dirty. The last time I lost 35 lbs was for my 40th birthday. I wanted to wear cute jeans and dance a lot and I did, but I also started flirting a lot online with a former boyfriend and came terribly close to having a physical affair. I am in constant search of attention which I equate with love. Then I slowly gained it back and here I am, shoving food in my mouth to keep my body from being a weapon I use against myself.
  Ugh. That was hard to “type out loud”.
  On a different note, I did a couple of fun things today. I went to the bookstore and picked up The Year of Yes by Shonda Rimes b/c I’ve joined a book club. I went to lunch with friends and I ran barefooted in the cold, cold rain.
• liz ann

  Hello Sarah, this is goto_girl on instagram:)
  It is 11pm est, and I just got around to really sitting down to watch this video. I wanted to really be able to focus with no distraction, and well working 2 jobs and being a busy hair stylist I get distracted really easily!! I’m so excited to be a part of the live more challenge for the 2nd time around! As far as my body image issues, Well there is a whole slew of them! I see so much hurt, and pain in myself, hurt because I fill a void of not good enough, loniness, boredom, and many emotions with food .. But I smile. I smile for my friends, I smile for my family, I hear you have such a beautiful smile on the regular, such a pretty girl. You just need to loose weight. I say I’ve become numb to it at times, but really I haven’t. Overall I just can’t wait to really open up more and grow with this challenge with all these lovely ladies,,and with you! I really hope to make some positive changes. I can feel it. As far as today’s fun activity I went on a trail run, and sat under my favorite tree and talked to a old man and his dog. I also ate lunch with my phone away. I can’t wait for more distraction-less meals. 🙂
• Ola

  I’ve been a size 14 or larger since I was 14 years old. I’ve always been nagged by my father about my weight, my hair, and even my make up. Now at almost 35, I’m finding that I need to be healthier for ME and not anyone else. That’s a foreign concept to me because I feel selfish in wanting to take care of me first. My heart literally aches when I do something for me and I feel guilty. I know I shouldn’t, but I do….. My something fun today was going to get my hair cut and having a lunch date with my 10 year old son. I know that may not sound fun, but for me it was. I spent a little money on myself, which I never do, and I got to hear my son tell me that do far this summer he’s had lots of fun with me. ☺
• amy

  i started struggling with my weight in my late 20s(now 41). up until that point, I had always had a life plan – go to college, go to physical therapy school. I am just now coming to realize that since that time, I have not had a plan, not had a purpose, never really defined who I am, wha my values are etc. so several years after finishing school was when I started exercising less, eating less healthy, and struggling with depression. I have always loved sugar (my mom caught me sneaking into the brown sugar at age 4) so that is always my go to in times of stress or anxiety. it has only been compounded by the fatigue that came with 2 kids, therefore more consumption of dr. pepper and more difficulty resisting sugar cravings. I now weigh about 50 pounds more than I did in grad school. I constantly berate myself for my weight and appearance, yet still reach for the sugar. I think there is a part of me that believes I can’t make the changes I need to to lose weight, so I use that to justify never starting. Fun? what is that? perhaps getting my music reinstalled on my new phone and singing along on my drive to work. I am an excellent car dancer.
• Jessica

  I have never really felt good about my body, or comfortable in it. I’ve never even felt like I’ve looked good in any style of clothes, so my every day wear is typically jeans and a baggy t-shirt. I dread special events where I need to dress up, because I feel fat in absolutely everything nice. I’m 41 and have tried pretty much everything under the sun to lose weight or at least keep it under control; I’ve pretty given in to the fact that I’m just meant to be fat. I’m really looking forward to this program, to help me learn to have more fun and to help me love my body even if it’s just a little.
  Having fun, for myself, is something I’m already working on, but not very good at, I always feel like I have too much to get done. This program gives me specific things I can do, so it’s a no brainer.
  My fun things for today were to dance around to music in my living room, and go on a walk with my family after dinner.
• Christine

  I have a poor relationship with my body. I also know that no matter what I weigh, I still feel like I am too heavy. I grew up being told that I was heavy. When I look back at pictures of myself, I was not heavy at all. I was average. I always felt like I was being compared to my younger sister, who is very petite and thin. I have lost weight and gained weight many times over my life of 52 years so far. I have two children and at this stage now, I am starting to experience “the change”. I am divorced after 22 years of marriage, but I am in a very healthy and loving relationship at this time. I work crazy hours and sometimes 12-14 hours a day and find it very hard to have time for myself. I really want to love myself. I want to look in the mirror and be happy with what I see, no matter what it is. I am writing this at 11:15pm because I JUST got the opportunity to watch the video…wee what I mean? I do have plans to have fun tomorrow and I am going to a concert to see a band that I have wanted to see for almost 15 years! I am very excited about it. I am hoping this challenge teaches me how to take time out to love and appreciate me! I can see that will happen as time progresses and it makes me very happy and very optimistic about continuing. Sarah, thank you for sharing all of this with us. I have been all the places you have been and it takes a courageous person to share that with the world. Thank you for your bravery and willingness to help the rest of us. xoxoxo
• Annie

  My struggle is that in my 20s I was really thin and borderline anorexic and I was miserable with myself but I felt sexy. Now in my thirties I feel happier but I’m ashamed of my body and I don’t feel sexy. I guess I just want to be happy and feel sexy.

  When I was a kid, I would roll down the steep hills by my grandmas house so that’s what I did for fun.

  I noticed how quiet the house was when I was eating but I’m willing to continue eating with no distractions and to be mindful.
• Joanne

  Thank you for your first video – i have also not listened to my body for what seems like forever. Doing the first 3 days of my journey with you has been wonderful – simply doing something for me has made me feel good about myself.
  I am going to take my puppy for a walk on the beach and appreciate a magical sunset and think about all the wonderful people who enrich my life and how lucky i actually am to have what i do.
• Maureen

  I’ve struggled with weight my entire life. 6 years ago I lost 70 pounds with lots of exercise and diet, but have gained back about 25. My biggest problem is that I’m an emotional eater and I’ve found lots of reasons to neglect my health and well being this past year. I think really I’m my own worst enemy. I’d love to just be happy with myself as is, and I guess that’s part of this challenge huh?
  For fun…spent the day out shopping by myself, (and bought some slightly bigger pants that fit…I’ve been hanging onto the smaller sizes that I have to now lay down in to do up)!!!! Here’s to embracing our current selves!!
• Donna G

  My daily struggles with my body start in the morning – not putting effort into getting ready for the day. Afterall, when one can drop off a child at school in one’s PJs, why not! The other is the late night ice-cream and powdered donut binges – ee gads! I always eat junk to fill the void and get comfort. For a substitute, I try to brew herbal tea and grab a cozy blanket, but cookies or donuts seem to join in always!.
  Tomorrow morning, I’m going to eat breakfast at my new mosaic table outdoors – with nature and without distractions. I may get my daughter to join me. Then, for fun, I’m playing tennis with my dear friend Lisa. Both active and full of belly laughs!
  Thank you so much Sarah!
• Amy

  I have not had a great relationship with my body. As a child, I was definitely overweight. Probably even into the obese category. I had a mom that would tell me that there wasn’t really anything I could do – that I was big boned and this is just how it was going to be. I believed her. I believed her for a very long time. Two years ago, I was really getting into a groove of eating healthy and exercising – but doing it my way. The weight dropped off. I hit a weight that I did not ever remember being. When I told my mom, her response was that I was being unhealthy. That I had pushed it too far and had lost too much weight. Looking in the mirror, while I liked what I saw, I began to notice that she was wrong. Being “big boned” had been my excuse for not trying to change. I “couldn’t.” I was big boned. Why bother. Unfortunately, I love food. I love drinks. I did not love doing things in moderation all the time. I gained all the weight back, and then some. And that’s where I currently am. Today for fun, I got my hair cut. I absolutely enjoy every aspect of getting a new do. And, it is something that will continue to make me feel good even after the cut is done.
• Timi

  I have disliked my body for just about as long as I can remember. even when I briefly was at what I always thought would be the magic number that would change everything… even then I thought, “just 5 or 10 more pounds.” I think since 4th grade, I have been overweight and consumed with thoughts of someday being thin. I eat terrible and I don’t move nearly as much as I should and I really don’t know what it is in my life that I am avoiding. I have a wonderful husband, a part-time job that I really like and 2 beautiful children.

  I recently (3 weeks ago) started jogging and doing the couch to 5k program. that has really got me thinking about the fact that my inner voice is so negative! I found myself thinking, “you’re not going to be a real runner. you’ll probably quit like you always do.” and then I think, “you won’t lose 50 pounds! you can’t even lose 5, how would you ever lose 50?” “you didn’t lose it before having kids, what makes you think you would do it now when you have way less time and energy?” anyway, now that I am realizing that these thoughts play in my head, I am trying to change the way I talk to myself. it’s a hard process… it’s been a long time that I have doubted myself, so it’s not going to change overnight. there is so much more I could say and as I’m writing this, I am thinking, “why don’t you write more? it’s kind of cathartic!” so who knows, maybe I will start writing for fun.

  I just was able to watch the video now, at 10:45pm, so I’m going to have to plan my fun activity for tomorrow. I do feel very blessed that my 2 kids bring me a lot of fun! they are some of the funniest little people I know! but 2 nights from now there is a Trivia Night at a local bar/restaurant that I have always wanted to go to with my husband. my friends from work have gone and loved it. so I think that will be my plan for adding some fun to my Thursday night. as for tomorrow, I think I will take the kids for a long walk and go to the playground. maybe we’ll have a picnic too.

  Timi
• Karmen

  My relationship with my body is on a functional level. It’s the vessel that I use to get the things done for other people that I need to get done. I don’t give it the love & respect it deserves for the expectations that I place on it. 1 fun thing that I am going to do today is go for a walk on the sea wall, enjoy the sights, take in the ocean smells & meet some new people ?
• Meghan Leahy

  Uggg I cannot tell you how many times I have returned to WW thinking it would be “different” this time.

  And I have dug food out of the trash, too.

  I needed the kick in the pants to eat without distraction…I cannot even remember the last time I did this. I am completely committed to this. It is okay if I eat with my kids, right?

  Thanks…

  Meghan