Let's talk body dysmorphia. It isn't always what you think.
When most people hear the term body dysmorphia, they think of someone who believes they’re overweight when they’re actually very thin. That’s the image media and pop culture have fed us for decades — often linking it directly with conditions like anorexia or other eating disorders. But body dysmorphia is much more complex than that. I know, because I live with it — and my experience is very different.
For me, body dysmorphia doesn’t mean seeing myself as too large. In fact, it’s often the opposite.
I look in the mirror and don’t fully grasp the reality of my size. I don’t see myself as big as I actually am and when I see a picture of me, I don't even recognize the person in it, because it's NOT how I see myself. For years, I've chalked it up to a bad picture angle or an unflattering outfit, refusing to face the reality that this is actually how everyone else sees me! I avoid being in pictures as much as possible, not because I don't like myself because I truly do LOVE myself, but because the person in the picture isn't me.....despite her being what everyone else sees on a daily basis. To ME, she isn't me. 
The selfie camera on my phone is deceiving! It thins the face, irons out the wrinkles, make me think that this is actually Me.....but it's not. It's the me "I" see, but not the me everyone else sees.Body dysmorphia isn't about being "too big" or "too small" — it’s about a distorted self-image, regardless of the direction.
In my case, it means underestimating my size. It means buying clothes that don’t fit, bumping into things because I don’t realize how much space I actually take up. It means being out of touch with my body’s actual needs, because I’m not seeing it clearly.
This version of body dysmorphia often goes unrecognized. There’s a kind of invisibility in not fitting the expected narrative. And that can make it harder to ask for help, harder to find support, and harder to accept your own experience as valid.
Instead, others view us as lazy or having food addictions. It comes with all sorts of baggage that others put on us, that we can't fully understand because we don't see the reality of our situation. Even when we see the numbers on the scale, it doesn't fully make sense to our brain OR we look at the number and think "oh, it's not that bad". I remember when I was pregnant with one of my kids and the doctor said "You hit a magic number." I was instantly going through all the important numbers of how many weeks pregnant was I? Was I in the 3rd trimester? Had I hit the middle point and it would all be smooth sailing now? NOPE! He went on to say "You hit 200 pounds!" WHAT? He then proceeded to tell me how I needed to slow down on the weight gain and change my diet. I didn't see 200 pounds when I looked in the mirror (and still don't) but those words have somewhat haunted me. I felt pretty. I felt pregnant. I felt like a superwoman!! But the scale said differently....or at least that's the way he made me feel. And those words have been in my mind ever since!
The internal conflict is real: how can you work on health, self-acceptance, or body positivity when your brain won’t let you see the truth? How can you become healthier when you don't see the unhealthy in you? When you are blinded to the reality of the situation your body is in? I look at other girls my size and think "wow, they've put on a few pounds" but I don't see that in myself, even though I have.
It’s taken me a long time to understand that this version of body dysmorphia is just as real and just as worthy of understanding. That I don’t have to wait until I see myself "right" to take care of myself. That I can still work on my health, my self-esteem, and my relationship with my body, even if my perception isn't always accurate.
Body dysmorphia doesn't come in one shape or size. It doesn't only affect people trying to get smaller. It affects people like me, too — who are struggling to see the full picture, in every sense of the word. If you’re living in this in-between place — where your body and your brain can’t quite agree — you’re not alone. And your experience deserves to be recognized, talked about, and supported.
I SEE YOU!!!! 
Ever have that moment where you suddenly think to yourself, “This doesn’t feel like normal tired.”
You’ve been sleeping great, maybe even 8 hours, but it’s not helping. By mid-afternoon, it feels like you’re moving through wet cement. You're dragging. You're exhausted. By mid-afternoon, it feels like you’re moving through wet cement. You're dragging. You're exhausted. You’re showing up. You’re pushing through. But inside? You’re barely holding it together. Something feels "off". Something feels WRONG. Maybe it’s just getting older. Maybe I’m just overwhelmed. Maybe this is just how life will feel from now on. Maybe this is just my new normal. But something in you knows better. |  |
And if you’re honest with yourself, you’ve probably whispered:
“I just want to feel like myself again.” You're tired of being tired. You're tired of dragging through your day. You're just TIRED!
But then comes the doubt.
Here’s what I want you to hear:
Your body isn’t broken. It's not even fighting against you. It’s signaling. It's begging you to listen. It's demanding your attention.
Whether it’s your hormones, blood sugar, or stress response — it’s all communication. It's all trying to tell you something. Symptoms aren't the enemy. They are the warning signs. They are the flashing red lights that light up on the dashboard of your body!
And once you know how to listen and respond, things start to shift.
That’s where I come in — to help you make sense of the messages and get your energy back, for real this time!!
Chickens come in all sizes and produce everything from small blue or green eggs to large brown and white ones, and everything in between. And who can pass up baby chicks at Tractor Supply??? SO CUTE!
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When deciding what breeds to buy you need to first decide what your goals are. Are you wanting them just for fun and the experience? Will you be showing them at a fair? Will you be providing eggs for your family and maybe some neighbors?
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You also need to take into consideration the climate you are in. Some chickens are better suited for the cold temps, like what we have here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where I'm at.
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Some of my favorite breeds for egg production are Rhode Island Reds and Isa Browns, and Plymouth Rocks. These all typically lay large brown eggs and will give you a good amount of eggs per year. Typically they will lay an egg daily for you during the warmer weather, usually 200-300 a year!) I also love white Leghorns and Cinnamon Queens, which give me some white eggs. Most of the white eggs from the store are from leghorns. In my flock I have a combination of all of these, as well as a couple Jersey Giants (and an AMAZING Jersey Giant rooster) and Australorps.
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Silkies are adorable little birds, often with feathered feet, speckled decorated feathers or big poofy heads. If you are looking for the cute factor, this is what you are wanting! They will give you eggs, but they will be smaller than those up above as they are a much smaller bird. This is a good breed if you are in city limits or have a smaller backyard as you can typically fit 2 of them in the same space as one of the bigger breeds. They usually will give you colored eggs which are always fun.
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No matter which breed you pick, chickens are a lot of fun and not very much work. If you have kids, they will LOVE having chickens and you will love the fresh eggs!
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For more information on breeds, click below.
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For those raising chickens currently, what breeds do you have?
