I'm going to tell you about my past. Around 6 years ago I decided to lose weight. I proceeded to lose 99 pounds over a 2 year period and I kept it off for an additional year. I did it by changing my entire life and my way of thinking about food.
I found out after the third year that I had made 2 major mistakes from the start.
ONE~ I never took the time to acknowledge why I was eating the way I was. As a result, when a challenge came my way that I couldn't handle I started putting the weight back on. One day in my boyfriends apartment I realized I couldn't wear a pair of my favorite jeans. I remember how I felt, I gave up. I thought, well that's it, I've started gaining it back.
The challenge didn't go away, it loomed over me for months and months, and the weight piled back on. I gained it all back. In just 7 or 8 months I put on 140 pounds. I've been devastated for the past 4 years. I weigh more than I ever have and I'm so unhappy.
TWO~Even after losing 99 pounds I still looked in the mirror and hated what I saw.
I don't want to live another year like this. The difference this time is that I am also working self-acceptance and self-compassion into the mix.
So that's me trying to gain self-acceptance while losing weight. I don't see it as a contradiction but as me using every tool I can to be happy.