Self Image & Respect

Self Image & Respect
M

Mike Church

Registrant
I thought I would share something with everyone. It happened last night at the Fitness Club I joined on January 3 last.

I remeber telling everyone that the only thing that was truly my creation when I was a teenager was the body that I had created and that I was very proud of it. I think that it played a prominant part in my abuse and subsequent life on the street. I was not particularly handsome but I had the body that the kind of clients I serviced wanted to control.

All my life since that period I have fluctuated between being overweight or skinny; suffered continuously from binge eating and puking. Joined AA when I was 36 and so on and so on.

Well I screwed up my courage and joined this club. Terrified of being in the Showers after a workout. Clothes off amongst men meant only one thing. But nothing happened and I relaxed about it.

Anyway last night I was really being pushed by the trainer and we were working on my upper body. There was one machine that I wasd using that totally amazed him at the weight I was moving. After that particluar session was over he told me to strip off my tee shirt and look in the mirrow. I was scared to death but snapped into the hotwired situation of being forced to undress. Then he said; "Look at yourself in the Mirror". I guess that I have never really looked hard at myself or if I did I manufactured what I saw. Jonathon (the trainer) said "What you have accomplished in 2 1/2 months is truly amazing. Another guy came over and asked me how old I was. I told him and he was totally surprised.

The I really looked at the image and I could acutally see that young hard body of so long ago starting to reappear. A more mature one but one that I can start to feel good about again. It is now my mission in to get this body of mine in as defined a shape as is possible for a 62year old

What I am trying to say is that my intitial hot wired response of taking off my shirt as a prelude to something else that I dreaded became a revelation to me at something that I had accomplished.

What a profound effect it has had on me. I am actually proud of something I am doing that is totally for me. Wow.Wow.Wow.

When I got home Nicole (my wife) noticed that I was on a high so I told her what had happened. Shh said that I had good reason to be proud becuase she herself had noticed the change in my body but had not mentioned it for fear of triggering something in me. I grabbed her and hugged her.

I think the key to many of us is to find something that is truly unique to each of us and go at it in a purely selfish way. That is to say. I am doing this for me and me alone. I dont care what it is. It should be something creative that you have a bent towards.

I have read some beautiful poetry here and some profound writings. And I can tell they come from the heart. Every one of us is creative in some manner and we should pursue it together with healing.

Every time I get in a downward spiral I just work all the harder at the club. I did not know what I was doing. But I think I do now.

Subconsciously I was saying to myself. Screw it I am gonna get this done and it is for me. I have read somewhere that about 90% of what we do and how we react comes from the subconscious. I gotta believe it because of all the triggers and flashbacks and depressions I get into. And it has paid off for me.

I believe that from now on, no matter what has happened to me in the past, I will be able to suceed because I am suceeding in recreating the one thing that was totally mine. ME.ME.ME. and I am going to let ME feel good about myself.
 
Mike my body image has always been poor, I always felt fat a a child even though I really wasn't. I ended up anorexic at 20 and went down to 130 lbs and wanted to keep going. I think what you are doing will inspire others here too, at 40 I have gained weight not too much, but I want to feel better about myself at any weight.

Thank you for your post

Michael Joweph
 
why i may not remember that which makes me truly happy, yet, i applaud you for haveing found yours, and i thankyou for sharing it mike keep it up , you'll show those young'ens


woz
 
Wow indeed!!! Thanks for sharing that Mike. It's a beautiful statement of healing and growing. It's bringing tears to my eyes to see another man facing and dealing with inner fears and self-image problems.

Maybe I can too someday.

jer
 
Mike, I have to thank you. Some where, a few weeks ago, you posted about the way you were afraid to allow yourself to look too attractive, that you had therefore neglected your body, but were going to start working out again. This hit a very familiar note for me. I recognized that I had done a very similar thing. In these past 12 years of marriage, I had deliberately allowed myself to balloon up to 232 lbs. I am proud to say that I am now at 206 after 5 weeks of eating more carefully, and I am starting to feel much, much better about my physical self. My goal is 185. Thanks for inspiring me. Peace, Andrew
 
Mike,
That was a really great story. I think it is so hard to overcome self-image problems. I have a scar on my right shoulder from when I was a kid. To most people they don't even notice it. But to me it is a manifestation of how I feel inside. It drives me crazy and I hate it.
Thanks for the story.
Mike
 
Mikechurch - Thanks for sharing such a great experience!!! I can feel the exhileration in your ttelling of that experience!!! It reminds me of how we lost control over our bodies and some of us blamed our bodies for the abuse. It sounds like you and your body are building a friendship - a relationship that's positive. AND that y-o-u are in control of your own body!! Keep going MIKE!!!
:) :) :)
Howard
 
Mike
you're feeling proud becuase you're doing it for YOU- AND NOBODY ELSE !

Great stuff :D

Dave
 
Sleepy: Dont let the scar on your shoulder bother you. It is there for everyone to see and only you know how you got it. Think of it this way. This is the only scar I want to carry. The one I and others can see. The rest can all go in the garbage where they belong.
 
Sleepy,

That's some great advice from Mike. Let me encourage you to take it to heart.

It's good advice for me, too. I think I will take it to heart as well. Thanks, Mike.

Sincerely, Jess.
 
Know what you mean about body swings. Since my last bout with prostitution in 95 I havent exercised or seen a dentist. now I have to get my teeth fixed and take antibiotics. I'm toning up with Isometrics but the more fit I get the more I hate myself.

Edwin
 
Edwin: Dont feel that way. That is their brainwashing and fucking attempt to keep you down. Do it for yourself bro. And hang on tight. It is amazing was a little self respect can do. It is like an infectious disease
 
Ed'
just do it for YOURSELF, feel good about it. Look upon it as getting what they denied you.

You deserve to feel good.

Dave
 
Mike,
That was a great bit of advice. I really appreciate it! So into the garbage they all go!
mike
 
Mike,your post really has inspired me,as I too have begun an exercise program again.I did a half-marathon in October,and finished with a good race time,considering my age. I haven't run much since disclosing my abuse,but I am going to run even longer distances,and more often.Good stuff for venting emotions and anger etc. Thanks again for your words of hope!
 
Now you're making me feel guilty for eating so many donuts :eek: :eek: :eek:

Dave
 
Originally posted by Lloydy:
Now you're making me feel guilty for eating so many donuts :eek: :eek: :eek:

Dave
Click to expand...
MMMmmm.... Donuts :D
 
Dave: I really miss donuts but when I read tha amount of calories in them I damned near fainted. But I will admit they do taste great. Especially sour cream donuts
 
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