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Sarah King: New world, new me

Anyone else a little nervous about entering fully back into society? Nervous that maybe you forgot how to small talk? Nervous about dressing professionally again? Nervous that everyone will notice the belly you've acquired while socially distancing? I know I am!

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Sarah King of MIX Mornings
By
Sarah King
, Mix 101.5 WRAL-FM

Anyone else a little nervous about entering fully back into society? Nervous that maybe you forgot how to small talk? Nervous about dressing professionally again? Nervous that everyone will notice the belly you’ve acquired while socially distancing? I know I am!

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. My biggest stressor is that I’ve grown a bit of a belly last year. With that belly and the idea that I can’t hide the fact that it's there is making me feel vulnerable. Turns out, my coping strategy is cooking and drinking wine with my husband. Making and eating Rice Krispie Treats with my 5-year-old. Having those close trusted friends, my COVID Pod Squad, over to share a glass (or three) of wine just to have something to do on the weekends.

This pandemic has been a lot. For some of us, working out and following strict diets gave some sense of control. Something to focus on during this scary time. I was not one of those people. Nature and food helped me get through 2020. I found comfort going outside with my family, discovering nature and introducing it to my son. I also enjoyed many new and old recipes with my family.

You know, they call it comfort food for a reason. It makes us feel better. So I am not sure why I feel so insecure about the evidence that my coping mechanisms have left on me. It was those meals, conversations, toasts, games, and thankfully love that got me through this terrible time. I am really trying to wear my new belly as a badge of survival. I am not trying to desperately exercise it off. I find comradery when I see a formerly svelte person in a softer shade of themselves.

The society we live in sees fat as failure—as a weakness. In this case, I vehemently disagree. Cooking is my strength. Sharing wine and laughter are the muscles I had to flex to fight off the panic and boredom of the last year.

So before you feel badly about buying one size up in jeans or swearing to yourself you are going to hit the gym five times a week to shed these COVID pounds as quickly as you can, give yourself some grace. Trust that with new freedom, things will slowly change. Maybe your “new normal” will look different in ways you weren’t expecting.

Sarah is the mom of one and part of MIX Mornings with Kyle, Bryan, and Sarah.

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