‘I gained 13 pounds over Christmas break. That’s a big gain on my petite frame in 2 weeks.’: Mom realizes how her weight gain benefited her entire family, ‘I can assure you – I feel lighter’

“I gained 13 pounds over the Christmas break.

In fourteen days, I went from weighing 142 pounds to 155 pounds.

That’s a big gain on my 5′ 4” frame in two weeks.

Noticeable to you? Perhaps, but probably not.

Recognized by me? No doubt.

Some of it water weight? I suppose.

But I gained more than weight over the holidays, and the more significant gain benefited not only me, but my spouse and kids too.

This extended vacation and the self-inflicted, highly encouraged by my family lackadaisical and go-with-the-eating-flow attitude I held on to all break long, opened my eyes to the surprisingly heavy emotional weight of my actual, physical weight on my happiness, and how unbeneficial and ridiculous that is.

So, no, I’m not going to dwell on the pounds I gained, when instead I can focus on what else I procured during this time like perspective, appreciation, peace, growth, connection, patience, understanding, love and gratitude.

And those gains are the ones that deserve recognition as they speak to my mental and emotional growth as a typically appearance-centric, self-conscious, approval-seeking woman in my thirties.

I may have arrived home a bit heavier, but I can assure you – I feel lighter.

I gained some pounds, sure, but I shed the disdain I feel over them.

I didn’t lose any weight, but I did rid myself of the idiotic belief that I needed to in the first place.

While I’m not saying that you need to go on an eating and drinking frenzy to have fun, I am absolutely maintaining that if you do, you shouldn’t feel a damn ounce of guilt over it.

My weight is up.

That’s a fact.

But, so are my spirits.

And that’s a more important one.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Nicole Merritt of Jthreenme, where the post originally appeared. You can follow her on Facebook, her website or podcast. Do you have a similar experience? We’d like to hear your important journey. Submit your own story here. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

Read more stories from this mama:

‘To all the men with daughters, you need to love your WIFE as you want your DAUGHTER to be loved.’

‘The last thing I wanted to do was hug her.’: Overwhelmed mom ‘swallows her pride’ to embrace daughter during meltdown

‘You’re too young to get married,’ they said. I was 22, fresh out of college. This man was 8 years my senior. ‘What do you see in him? It will never work.’

‘My 7-year-old daughter asked me to snuggle. ‘I can’t. Someone has to clean up dinner, and APPARENTLY that someone is me,’ I told her, quite matter of factly.’

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