Elizabeth Taylor and me

Conversation from work today:

Chinese analyst: "You know who you remind me of?"
Me: "No, who?"
Chinese analyst: "An actress from the 1960s"
Me: "Oh, you mean Marilyn Munroe?
Chinese analyst: "No, just the general look of actresses from the 1960s.  Maybe Elizabeth Taylor"
Me: "Elizabeth Taylor in the 60s.  Um.  I'll take that as a compliment"
Chinese analyst: "No, it's not a compliment.  You just look like the actresses from the 1960s".
Me:  "Well, noone has ever said that before"

We actually have between our team quite a few laughs, and the discourse on whether I looked like Elizabeth Taylor was expanded on some more.  We also discussed whether the EA really looked like Cate Blanchett.  I concluded in part the statement was a "cultural" thing.  I probably do look like an actress from the 60s to my colleague given the age and cultural differences, the way some people look to me like they are out of knitting patterns.

It got me thinking about the image thing.  All very well saying I want "hot legs" and definition in the arms etc.  It's still though a little hard for me to translate that into what it actually means.  It means changing physically quite significantly.  What will I look like when I am no longer a XXL and a size 14?  Will I still look like Elizabeth Taylor to the Chinese analyst? The image thing is easy to laugh about, but actually creating change is also about changing the physical image.  My own theory if I am honest is carrying extra weight has been a sort of way of creating a barrier.  I've done that for over half my life.  It's a significant thing to say hey, I'm ready to remove the barriers and the road blocks.  Part of the process is being able to say I'm accepting the change that is ahead.

Todays word:  acceptance.

Good work out today with the PT. He was a bit grumpy in a PT way, but it makes for a good workout.  I could definitely feel my legs today.  But that's a good sign.