inspiration – Sturdy Woman

Lipedema Before and After: Measuring Progress on Your Journey

Have you started a new lipedema treatment or lipedema diet and you are wondering if it’s working? This week I share my complicated relationship with the scale and recommend things other than weighing that Sturdy Women can do to track non-scale victories on their journey. As usual you can read or watch, but this week I recommend watching because at the end of the video I do something I never thought I’d do. I share my lipedema before and after pictures.

Has the scale ever given made you feel good about something, Sturdy Woman? Or are you like me, and scales have most reliably made you feel like a failure even when you’re trying really hard? I hadn’t weight myself for nearly six to nine months before starting keto and I didn’t weigh myself at all until three or four months into my journey. I didn’t even own a scale! Like many of you, I believed it was impossible to lose weight with lipedema and I didn’t want to feel like a failure if it “didn’t work”. I knew there were non-scale benefits to keto and I didn’t want a lack of weight loss to discourage me from pursuing those.

What did I do instead? I took pictures about once a month and also used a measuring tape to track changes, particularly in my lipedema legs. Get yourself a cute little notebook and take notes. How do you feel? What does your skin look like? Is your energy level or sleep changing? These things matter! If you don’t have anyone you trust to help you take photos, there are many low-cost options on Amazon. Here’s a tripod and BlueTooth remote option similar to what I use. It might be emotional a first, but looking at your body (and being kind to it while you do that) will go a long way toward learning to befriend her.

If you are on keto, I highly recommend tracking your blood sugar and ketone levels. Make sure you’re in ketosis before you say it isn’t working! Remember that your body is going to want to do some healing before it starts letting go of weight. Don’t rush it. In addition to letting you know if you’re in ketosis, a meter is going to help you learn how different foods affect you and what different blood sugar or ketone levels feel like. For example, when my blood sugar is elevated I feel hungry, cranky, and tired. A quick walk usually snaps me out of it. My favorite meter is the Keto Mojo GK+ which can measure levels of both, syncs to your phone, and only costs about $50 USD. I’ve been using mine regularly for more than two years.

One final thought on weight and BMI… before you get lost chasing a number, you should know that BMI was originally developed with data from white men and was designed to be used for populations not individuals. You can read more about that here and here and by searching on Google Scholar.

If you just have to weigh yourself, no problem. You do you. Give yourself a gift, though, and before you start any new conservative treatment for lipedema, collect multiple data points so you can also track the fantastic non-scale victories you are going to achieve.

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Mental Health and Lipedema, Challenges and Strategies

Are you struggling with lipedema and depression? Are your lipedema legs or lipedema arms hurting your body image and self-confidence? You are not alone! Many women with lipedema and lymphedema struggle with these issues both before and after a diagnosis. After years of wondering “why are my legs so big” and “why can’t I lose weight” we suddenly have a diagnosis, but that validation often comes with the sting of being told there is little you can do. Be strong, Sturdy Woman.

I’ve heard from many women recently, asking for strategies to help overcome the negative thoughts and hopelessness they feel related to lipedema. This week I want to share some of the struggles I faced, both before and after my diagnosis, and describe some of the strategies I used over the past three years to start reshaping my relationship with myself and my body.

Links included below the video.

Rebekah discusses mental health challenges related to lipedema and suggests strategies that have helped her improve her relationship with her body, mind, and spirit.

Find a Therapist You Trust Really. Do this. I’ve been with mine for more than four years. That’s right, I started working on my body image issues and internalized fat bias an entire year before I learned about lipedema. That was huge in helping me embrace lifestyle changes as medicine rather than punishment. Early in life, I had been the queen of using insults and shame to motivate myself to restrict and over-exercise. Doing some rewiring ahead of my diagnosis set me up to accept that my body is me. She’s a friend who needs love and support, not an enemy to be conquered. The silver lining of COVID is that it is much easier to connect with therapists virtually, so you can more easily squeeze it into a busy schedule and even sit on your own couch!
Movement For me this is walking, but this could be anything that helps you process stress and literally move it out of your body. Go to the pool, dance, or use your vibration plate. These are my favorite wide shoes for walking. Amazon says I’ve bought them 8 times in the past year and a half!
Music While you are moving, put on some upbeat music to put some pep in your step. I literally have a Love Your Lipedema Life playlist. After my diagnosis, I started filling it with anything that made me feel good, whether that was body-positive lyrics or just a great beat. I posted a portion of it on the Sturdy Woman YouTube channel if you want to borrow it. I also did a weekly series on my favorite songs a few years back. Whatever gives you good vibes, collect as much as you can and blast it into your ears as much as possible. This will go a long way toward chasing away the negative voices.
Quotes and Affirmations When collecting happy things, don’t stop with music! Fill your space with positive messages and quotes. Tape them on your wall, your bathroom mirror, or anywhere else you might need a boost. I keep a book of affirmations called You’re Doing A Freaking Great Job on my desk and, yes, I sometimes flip through it during stressful work meetings. Managing a chronic illness can seem like a full-time job but, Sturdy Woman, you are doing a freaking great job! Find a way to remind yourself of that everywhere you look.
Meditation Yes, I already hear some of you groaning, but I was that person too! I thought I just “wasn’t a meditation person” but my therapist was pretty persistent and I trusted her so I finally gave in. To motivate myself I bought a year-long subscription to an app. There are a lot of good free meditation apps, but I knew spending money would trick me into doing it – I wouldn’t want to have wasted money! So I bought Headspace and started trying to meditate for even five minutes a night while pumping. Wow, it was hard at first! No, really. I’m not being dramatic. I wanted to crawl out of my skin, but after a few weeks, I started to see the benefits. My favorite sessions are in the self-compassion course so check those out if you decide to try it.

That’s my list, but what’s on yours? What mental health challenges have you faced related to your lipedema? What has helped you repair your relationship with your body? I’d love to hear from you below in the comments so we can learn from each other.

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Angel By The Wings | Music Monday

I missed last week because I was traveling for work – something that until recently seemed impossible.

In 2018 I flew to a new city to start a new job. My weight was climbing toward 300 pounds, I was swollen for no apparent reason, and I was crushingly exhausted all the time. Now I know it’s lipedema, but that day, when I sat down and for the first time couldn’t buckle the seat belt… I wanted to melt into a puddle and disappear through the cracks in the floor. Overwhelmed by shame, I covered my lap with my coat and pretended to be asleep when the flight attendant came through the cabin to check. The world was no longer for me. I didn’t fly again for three years.

When I flew in December 2021 – even though I’d lost nearly 100 pounds – I bought two seats just for the peace of mind. The woman at the ticket counter pursed her lips. “You don’t look like you qualify,” she said finally. I took a deep breath of confidence and told her I have a fat disorder. Like most people, she was lost for words and quickly printed my boarding passes. I fit in the seat, but it was snug.

My office booked the ticket for my trip last week, so I was at the whim of the travel agents. I ended up in a middle seat on a sold-out flight. Even though I knew I’d fit, I still held my breath as I dropped into the seat and reached for the belt. Click. No thigh overflow onto neighboring seats. Keto works. Fasting works. Compression and stress management work.

Two years ago, this moment and this trip felt impossible. I was counting calories, exercising regularly, and getting worse. I thought it was my fault.

This Music Monday, Sturdy Readers, I bring you Sia’s “Angel By the Wings”. It’s a little more mellow than usual but I encourage you to take a few quiet minutes to close your eyes and be reminded “you can do anything.” It’s a gorgeous way to start the week.

Oh so, your wounds they show
I know you have never felt so alone
But hold on, head up, be strong
….
You can, you can do anything
Sia “Angel By The Wings”

Use the comment section to let me and other Sturdy Readers know what you’ve accomplished in the face of chronic illness.

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Good as Hell | Music Monday

Happy Tuesday! This should have gone out yesterday, but I messed up the calendar. Oops!

How do you date when you have lipedema and follow a strict keto way of eating? Confidently. At least that’s how I’ve approached it.

My strategy has been as follows. I put several full-length pictures on my profile and said I was looking for someone who loves my curves as much as I do. I’m not about to show up for a date and deal with body shame – I have better things to do! It’s important to discuss lipedema and everything that means, but I don’t lead with that. I try to let someone get to know me first. Besides, lipedema is not the most important or interesting thing about me!

After a few misses, I also learned a dinner date is not a great first date on strict keto… unless you happen to already know the other person has the same lifestyle! Personally, I felt a little uncomfortable special ordering a big piece of meat within a few minutes of meeting someone and not quite ready to explain what I was doing and why. With spring almost in full swing, a sunny walk outside, a coffee date, or something artsy are all safer alternatives. The best date I’ve had so far was at an interactive art installation. After exploring everything we lay on the floor in the middle of the gallery, letting flowers project on our faces and asking each other questions. On the next date I told him… everything.

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The song that comes to mind most frequently lately is Lizzo’s “Good as Hell”. My wish for you, Sturdy Readers, is that you can channel some of her confidence for your own relationships. You deserve only good things and the moment someone makes you feel bad about your body or your lifestyle… do your hair toss, check your nails, and walk your fine ass our the door. Being alone but feeling good is always better than being with someone who makes you feel like anything less than a diamond.

Onederland (Free)

This week I hit a huge milestone that I never imagined I’d see when I started keto in October 2020. I am officially in onederland. That’s right, a few days ago I stepped on the scale and was out of the 200s – and solidly there at that. I finished a big work project a few days ago and had a huge whoosh when my body let go of all the stress. I’m a lipedema woman so, generally, weight doesn’t mean a lot to me, but this felt like a big deal.

The last time I remember a scale reading less than 200 pounds was before I left for Liberia in 2011 (more about that here). That’s 11 years. For a long time, my body has felt like an enemy, something uncooperative, unpredictable, and unattractive. Now that I understand what she is struggling with, I know how to support my body and I appreciate how damn hard she works every day. Even at my lowest weight in 2010, I look back and can see the puffiness in my face and legs. The one I was fighting the most ended up being the one who needed the most help and compassion. I was sick and had no idea.

What’s gotten me here? I give most of the credit to keto and fasting. I do less than 20g total carbs each day and I periodically alternate day fast (read more about that in my Fasting February series). No cheating ever. Not one day. Not one bite. Nothing. The longer I have been keto the easier it has gotten – I can even watch The Great British Baking Show without crying. Yes, I gave up a lot of foods, but I have gained so much. Finally free from the endless up and down cycle of carbs and hunger, I no longer feel cravings or an emotional connection to food. So what if I have lipedema? I am free.

That’s the inspiration for today’s Music Monday pick, Free by Rudimental. Yes, lipedema turned my life upside down, but lipedema also gave me back an even better life. In one word it gave me my freedom. The sky is the limit. I’m flying.

Whoa, c’est la vie
maybe something’s wrong with me
But, whoa, at least I’m free
Rudimental “Free”

Sturdy Reader, what’s holding you down? What do you worry is ‘wrong’ with you? Could you dare to put it down? Take a bold step with me today and, like the guy in the video, jump off the cliff and fly.

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Be the Lightning | Music Monday

It doesn’t matter what other people think about your body. It matters how you think about it, talk to it, and feel inside it.

This is the second time I’ve lost more than 100 pounds. The first time was from a place of anger, self-hatred, and body shaming. Even at my smallest I was miserable, agonizing over everything I didn’t have and everything I thought I wasn’t. I exercised too much, ate too little, and drove myself to an eating disorder. After undiagnosed lipedema made each of those pounds come back, I had a reckoning with myself. I didn’t want to wake up every day the rest of my life hating myself and feeling like a failure. No one deserves that.

With the help of a good mental health therapist and a lot of body positive books, I did things differently the second time. I threw out my scale, cut out everything and everyone who made me feel “less than”, and focused on myself. What if I stopped trying to lose weight? After a year of this work, I started realizing my worth and beauty had nothing to do with size. That’s when the universe dropped the word “lipedema” in my lap. I started to support my lymphatic system and started shedding pounds like magic, even after nothing else had worked. For the first time I feel awake, alive, and bursting with light.

I’m smaller now, but I might get bigger again later. I’m at peace with that because I’m so in love with the person my body carries around, no matter its size.

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Today’s Music Monday pick is “Rise” by the Lost Frequencies. It has me dancing, running, and celebrating everything that has happened since my lipedema diagnosis. It’s been an uphill battle but, wow, the view is amazing. Sturdy readers, join me and be the lightning.

Ain’t no way I’m stopping now
Gonna make my way right through the clouds
I’ll rise
I’m going to break my teeth and bear the pain
Gonna climb this mountain once again
I’ll rise
I’m feeling stronger than I’ve been
I’ll weather the storm, weather the rain
I am the lightning
Lost Frequencies “Rise”

Brighter Days | Music Monday

Turbulence continues to rock the world and 2022 isn’t the fresh start many of us hoped for. Added stress from persistent and escalating world events is the last thing those of us with chronic illness need to add to our lives. Stress increases my inflammation and swelling so – as much as I care – I’ve unplugged from the news for the past month. Work is tough, my personal life is tough, and the last thing I want to think about is global doom.

To keep stress at bay, I stick to my self-care routine as much as possible. In addition to standard lipedema protocols such as compression, exercise, and keto, I also meditate every day. I use Headspace and I’ve been repeating the 10-day self-compassion series nonstop for the past six months. It walks through offering love and compassion to yourself, to someone you love, and someone you are having difficulties with. There is no doubt that it shifts something in my energy – within a few weeks my usually standoffish cat started curling up under my arm as soon as I started. I never thought I’d be the kind of person who meditates, but I started two years ago around the same time I got my FlexiTouch pump. Pumping and meditation were a great pair. Meditation made me want to crawl out of my skin and my pump kept me from being able to escape!

The other way I combat stress is with music and I usually find myself scrolling through songs either before or after I meditate. That’s how I found today’s pick, Brighter Days by Emeli Sandé. It’s the perfect, uplifting song for stressful days and is sure to set the mood for a good week.

We’ve seen it all
The tears have fallen
And every step is on the edge
And we’re so confused
We don’t understand
It feels like this night won’t end
But there’s gonna be brighter days
Brighter Days
I’ll keep you lifted when you’re losing faith
There’s gonna be brighter days
Brighter days
Though it seems distant, know the world will change
Emelie Sandé “Better Days”

How does stress impact your health and well being, Sturdy readers? How do you keep it under control and stay present for your one beautiful life? Drop me a note in the comments and let me know what works for you. I’ll try it out!

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Love My Life | Music Monday

In 2011, I joined the Peace Corps and moved to Liberia, West Africa. Peace Corps is a government program that sends Americans overseas on two-year assignments to live and work in communities around the world. (Life Magnanimous is my blog about that part of my life.) I was searching for adventure, but also trying to make meaning of my one precious trip on this planet. In 2004 my younger brother died suddenly after being hit by a car. He was 18 and I was just two years older. While most 20-somethings were applying to graduate school and starting careers, I was trying to make up for lost time… time I’d spent playing it safe and following all the rules.

My own mortality was a constant shadow in the corner whispering live, live, live NOW. I responded by losing 130 pounds, quitting my job, ending an engagement, and moving to Liberia. I’d never been out of the country so it was ballsy and brave and as close as I could get to jumping off a cliff without really doing it.

Nothing about Liberia made sense, but everything felt right, most of all the song blaring out the window of every taxi and from the radio on every porch. Demarco’s Love My Life was a constant celebration of life and reminder to squeeze it for every last drop – I did then and I still do today. Even now, I play Love My Life regularly to remind myself to be present and grateful for what I have, which is the daily opportunity to make different choices and show up for myself.

This is underscored by the video. It starts with a man in a hospital bed battling for his life. When Love My Life comes on the radio, he gets up and, still wearing his hospital gown, walks back in time through the day. He finally climbs the stairs to his bedroom and sees himself sitting on the bed contemplating suicide. As if visited by his own shadow of mortality, he puts down the bottle of pills and hugs his wife instead.

As lipedema women, we often focus on the past – when things were better – or the future – when we think things will be worse. The truth, however, is that all we have for certain is the present. What can you do today that your future self will be grateful for? What small thing can you do to celebrate your one precious life and feel more alive? It could be pressing play on Love My Life and dancing with yourself, going for a walk in the sun, or putting on your favorite outfit while working from home. You don’t have to move halfway around the world to love your life or to live it to the fullest. Each day is a fresh opportunity to unlock the magic that’s inside you. Sturdy readers, today is your day.

None of us know what tomorrow may bring
Because the future is hours away
So I’m going to live my life today
Demarco, “Love My Life”

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Higher | Music Monday

We’re two months into 2022, Sturdy Readers. Are you making progress toward your goals? Are you making time and space for your beautiful self to unfold? I hope your answers were, Yes! but even if they weren’t, today I have a song that is sure to get you moving forward. I found it last summer while I was going through a rough patch, and it felt like a gift from the universe. Bishop Briggs will have you tapping your feet, moving your lymph around, and dreaming bigger than ever before. In my case, it had me running up and down stairs. Literally. I played this song on repeat while I ran around the amphitheater in the park. Two years and 100 pounds ago, before I knew the word lipedema, I struggled to do one flight at any speed.

In just over three minutes, the video for Higher sums up my lipedema journey. It grabs me early on at, “I will go screaming out my pain into the night” and that’s when we realize Bishop is at the bottom of a hill. The beat picks up as she starts running up it and, like me on the stairs, she puts her head down and pumps her arms harder as she digs deeper. Bring it on, lipedema I say to myself in those moments.

Higher, your love has set me free
Now nothing’s out of reach
Higher, I’m stronger now I’m free
I’m who I want to be
This ain’t no give or take
I’ve learned from my mistakes
I’m so much stronger now
Bishop Briggs, “Higher”

Proving she’s a true boss, Bishop is neither out of breath nor sweaty when she finally gets to the top. She’s confident and in touch with her power – and you can be too, Sturdy Reader.

Your power is you. The love that will set you free is your love. The strength that will carry you up the hill that is a diagnosis is in those lipedema legs. Think of it like the beautiful scene in Kung Fu Panda when Po realizes the secret ingredient is… nothing. You are your own secret self-care and self-love weapon. Vibration plates, pumps, and bio-hacks will help your symptoms but only if you do them. Your body can only be free, strong, and beautiful when you love it.

Press play on Higher and make a decision here and now to set yourself free to climb higher. Free from body shame. Free from blame or judgement. Free to feel beautiful. Only you can climb this hill, Sturdy Readers, but you already have everything you need, especially with Higher playing in the background.

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How Pear Shapes Wear Black | Fashion Friday

Many lipedema women say their favorite color is black. It hides lumps, bumps, and imperfections in our legs and is generally believed to be universally slimming. Wonderful! you might think. That must boost their confidence! you might think. Then why do so many black outfits for pear-shaped, lipedema women scream, “please don’t notice me!” Today, in Sturdy Woman’s first Fashion Friday, we’re going to talk about how to style a compression-friendly black outfit that makes you feel so good you want to be seen. Can you tell this outfit literally made me dance? (Suggested background music for reading this post.)

The key to dressing your pear, whether in black or any other color, is to balance your proportions. Most of us are bottom-heavy, meaning our upper bodies are smaller than our lower bodies. You’re going to look and feel your best when your top and bottom look proportional, or similar in size. (Spoiler, almost no one has a perfectly proportional body – this is not just a lipedema thing!) Pattern and color are great tools for either adding something extra to our small parts or de-emphasizing the larger ones.

Notice what I’ve done in my outfit this week. I’ve paired a black skinny jean with a bold printed blazer. This draws attention away from my heavier lower body and toward my upper body. I am not hiding my luscious hips and neither should you! I’m just adding attention up top to balance my figure.

Speaking of not hiding, yes, lipedema ladies can wear skinny jeans and, yes, I am wearing compression under them (see it peeping out at my feet?). These are Torrid’s Lux Skinny Jeans and I love that they are all-day-comfortable but professional enough that I could wear them to the office. Don’t let the name fool you – skinny jeans are for every body. As pears we’re often told to look for wide legs, flares, or bootcuts but slimmer, taped cuts are actually more slimming and help elongate the leg. Tan France, Queer Eye’s stylist, agrees!

In my outfit I’ve taken elongation one step further with a pointed toe shoe, which also helps create the illusion of a long leg. Even though my swelling has drastically improved, I still wear wide shoes and Torrid is my go-to store for cute wide shoes. Be prepared to try a few sizes, though, because they are really inconsistent and I can wear anything from an 8 to a 9.5 depending on the style. These pointed ballet flats run big so I’m wearing an 8.5.

Now, I know you are wondering about that amazing blazer and where it came from. Meet my latest obsession ThredUp. ThredUp sells used clothing and you can get remarkable pieces – many new with tags – for amazing prices. For less than $500 I replaced my entire wardrobe, which was necessary after losing 100lbs, and I have higher quality clothes than I’ve ever been able to afford. Since ThredUp sells used clothes you probably won’t find this identical blazer on there, but you will find something else awesome that fits your personality and style. How much do you think I paid for this beauty? It was priced at $7.99 and, after applying a promo code I found online, I paid $2.66. Yes, you read that right!

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Finally, I am a sucker for accessories and, even though I work from home and no one really sees them, I put some on every day. They make me feel good and that influences the entire day! For this outfit’s simple color story, I used my black tourmaline and copper ring from Pure Impressions. It’s a small, woman-owned business that reminds all its customers they are “made of magic.” I think of that every time I look at my gorgeous ring.

The most important thing to remember about your style, Sturdy Readers, is to wear what makes you feel fantastic. Don’t wear it just because it fits. Don’t wear it because everyone else has it, or because an article (even this one!) told you to. Your unique, gorgeous, magic spirit will shine through strongest when you feel good in your clothes. A great outfit can also do wonders to repair your relationship with your body.

I’d love to see how you are dressing your pear to balance your proportions and feel like the star you are! Drop me a note in the comments or send me an email at rebekah@sturdywoman.com.