It’s quite the week for memes, huh? First I took part in the #My7Links project (which, by the way, has exploded on the blog scene!) and now, in a project that Amber Naslund started and has now been contributed to by Ryan from No More Bacon and Roni from Roni’s Weigh.
But I really, really love this — because it allows bloggers to share more information about not just who they are, but what makes them tick…something that can get lost in the chaos of social media.
So here’s what I wish you knew about me.
I am not — I repeat — NOT at my happy weight.
In fact, I’ll go as far as to say that I’m at an unhappy weight. For all I talk about having self-confidence at any size, and prove that I’m certainly healthier than I was (“Proof in Pictures“), I have hit a dreaded number on the scale.
It’s a number I’ve had as the absolute limit of where I can be and still feel OK…and it’s based on my BMI, which now classifies me as overweight. It is that BMI that drove me to Weight Watchers years ago (and drove me back out: “My Dysfunctional Relationship With Weight Watchers“). And it’s a number that, if I were to go back on WW, would require me to lose a substantial amount of weight to get back to my Lifetime goal.
I’m not looking for pity — I know that I am much, much healthier than I was before committing to a healthy lifestyle, and the fact that I can work out 6 days a week, roll out of bed and compete in triathlons, etc. says a lot about my fitness. But my fat jeans are now my everyday jeans and my old jeans are headed to Goodwill. It sucks, and I hate how it makes me feel.
I have a freakish memory for song lyrics, especially for jams from the mid-’90s.
It makes me wonder:
a) Why I’ve never been a phone-a-friend on any game shows
b) What important information I may not be retaining because of this skill
I love my family very, very much — but I’m glad that Lucas and I moved away for long enough that we’ll always feel that we “made it” on our own.
I came from a small family — me, mom, dad and brother — so it was probably less traumatic for us. But when we left New York for my job in 2004, I took Lucas from an extended and close-knit family, all of whom live near by. I love every single one of them and consider them MY family…but if we were there as newlyweds, I don’t know that we would have gotten as close as a couple as we are now.
It scares me that people think of me as a role model in healthy living and/or social media because I so often doubt myself and consider myself a hack at best.
No more to say…it’s just something I stress over on a near-daily basis.
I have very seriously considered moving to England or Europe if/when I have young children, just because I want my kids to have adorable accents.
And I need to move out of Florida if I decide to raise kids in the States because, so help me Gaia, if they have Southern accents, I will lose my mind.
I have a lot of superstitions and quirks.
I put my left shoe on first. ALWAYS. I kiss each dog before I go to work, and if I don’t, I feel edgy for the rest of the day. I toss salt over my shoulder. I check my alarm at least three times before going to sleep. There are more, but I can’t share how truly weird I am for fear that you will never read my blog again.
About Katy
Love the post Katy! I totally relate with the growing together as a couple by moving away. I think there can be a lot of truth to that. The kids with English accents made me laugh.
Now, it’s time to spill your guts on the stuff you mentioned at the end. How weird ARE YOU Katy?
And I forgot to mention, you’re totally not a hack. Not in the slightest. Much Respect. Fist bump. All that
You are bloody gorgeous! I would give my right arm to be at “overweight” for my height.
What should you know about me? I am not nearly as unhappy as I’ve come across in my blog as of late. It’s just been a few months of not good things happening, and its been hard to recover from losing my mum. But now things are looking up, and I hope that only more good can come out of it.
The hacks are the ones who *do* think they know everything about social media, not you. It’s such a fast-changing field that it’s impossible to know everything, but you do an amazing job of keeping up.
I TOTALLY hear you about #1. I just got married, at the highest weight I’ve been in a long time. I am so, so much emotionally healthier than I was even 4 months ago, so I’m trying to keep that up but at the same time, as you said, not fitting into clothes kinda sucks.
P.S. I think most people who work in social media feel like a hack at some point…and as I’m typing this, Theodora took the words right out of my mouth (fingers?) so I’ll just ditto what she said
I hate the BMI Scale. What does it know? It doesn’t know the quality of food you eat, just the bottom line. I eat my healthiest now than ever, but weigh more. It’s just how it is for now, but I feel most healthy.
Sometimes (often) as a blogger, I feel like I am a fraud by writing about things I am not an expert at. I feel that one you wrote about. I always say that I’m writing about what works for me or things I try, and I don’t want to be preachy.
Great post! Really loved it.
I could have written this post about me, just sub in some alternate details. I don’t feel at my happy weight right now either, even though I’m arguably my strongest and most fit. It’s frustrating because pants are tighter and I know that I could be even stronger and fitter a few pounds lighter….working on addressing this now.
As for song lyrics, I’d love to sing along with you some time. My husband swears I’m a human juke box.
I also am glad Geoff and I live away from family and I fear that I’m a fraud even though I’m very successful at my career…I worry it was dumb luck and that I could never repeat the success.
I’ve never considered moving to Europe, though!
Good post – I always love the less perfected side of people. Trying to get to the point where I can be as open on my blog…trying.
Hilarious “So help me Gaia” loved it.
Great, honest post. Feels good to read something very real. I hope this catches on.
Great post. I agree on the accents, except i want my kids to have Australian accents. Hah.
And I feel the same way as a “healthy living blogger”…often times like a hypocrite.
Thanks for being so open and honest.
Weird will make me read more. MOAR!
Your commenting is all different now. Change is scary!
I love this post, Katy. I’m definitely not at my happy weight either, and it can be frustrating! Thank you for your honesty.
As far as social media stuff goes, I always, always refer to your site for help. It always makes sense, and I find it incredibly useful. You’re not a hack at all!
I feel the same way regarding my weight. I’m right on the cusp of normal/overweight BMI and I’d prefer to be solidly in the normal category. I think it’s harder when you’re over 30. At least, that’s what I tell myself!
I’m not at my happy weight either. And I don’t know how to get back there. I workout SO MUCH. I know it’s obviously due to eating habits but what can I say, I just love food!!! And I’m also hungry a lot due to aforementioned working out.
I also love mine and my fiances family but I’m SO SO SO glad we live 650 miles away from them. All the drama that goes on in both of our families would not be good for our stress levels if we were nearby. Much better to be removed from it!
Katy I think that I know very few women who are happy with their weight but I can tell you that you are beautiful and should not obsess over it because it will take away from your life and happiness. Take it from someone who has dieted all her life.
I also wanted you to know yes I think of you as a role model and a mentor. I appreciate everything you share and think it is very valuable especially where blogging is concerned. This is especially true for those of us who are a bit older and do not understand everything the internet has to offer.
I wish people were more real like you are in this post! I feel like a lot of bloggers have this false air of confidence that can really confuse younger readers or readers that are struggling with eating disorders. It’s like… we get it, you love your life… now, be honest! So thanks for doing what others won’t
Oh & ditto on the music memory… people try to test me by changing the station. Haters, please… I got this!
It only makes me think more of you that you are so willing to show your fears. Way to go!
“It scares me that people think of me as a role model in healthy living…” is something I struggle with too. People comment about hoe healthy I eat or how good I am about exercising, but I see SO much room for improvement.
I love this post so much except for one point — you can never leave me, er, I mean Florida. DON”T EVER LEAVE ME! We’ll have language classes to make sure your future children don’t have an accent. E is 3 1/2 and no signs of an accent from her yet either. Besides, Florida isn’t really the South (don’t tell me husband. He hates when I say that but it’s true!) so I think you’re safe anyway. I’ll just start saying wicked awesome a lot and that will help.
And ditto on the moving away part. I think that’s been so crucial to our marriage. It’s been tough sometimes to not have my mom’s house to run to, but it probably made us stronger because we had to stick it out during rough spots.
So after reading this I KNOW we would get along great in real life. Especially #2!! I’m like a human jukebox. Even songs I dislike, I probably know the words too. And if it’s from a decade or two ago? You bet your a$$ I still know almost every word!
(I’m also totally with you on numbers 1 & 3 right now too.)