My Weight Loss Injection Journey: Leggings Legs, Thigh Rub, and More

There’s a ridiculous new trend called “leggings legs” where there’s supposed to be an ideal body type to wear leggings. I’m guessing some incredibly young, thin, privileged person came up with this obnoxious idea that an entire aspect of fashion is meant only for them and for people like them. Let’s just set the record straight: Many women have thigh rub. Our thighs touch, and we will not be shamed out of wearing our most comfortable leggings whether anyone likes it or not.

I’ve been on this weight loss journey since the end of last year, and today, I had a new thought. I follow thiswomanlifts on Instagram and stumbled across a video about spending years trying to make herself smaller when now she’s only trying to get stronger. It resonated with me because it’s something I’ve been thinking about as I try to shrink myself down to a lesser size.

Women have spent our lives being told to shrink ourselves down.

Be small. Don’t make a fuss. Don’t ask for anything or need anything or be anything that makes men uncomfortable. Take up less space. Move over for men. Don’t be an angry woman. Don’t cry. Live up to an impossible standard.

Does it matter if I drop a clothing size or change the number on the scale? Surely, this isn’t how we’re meant to live — always focused on a number that’s been made more important than it really is. I find myself wanting to be stronger, have more endurance, and feel more powerful. What if that isn’t consistent with weight loss?

What if getting stronger causes gains — with strength and weight?

Maybe I’m just making the best of the fact that I can’t even lose weight with weight loss injections, but I think there’s something to be said for aging with strength instead of focusing on weight. I keep coming across more social media accounts talking about the importance of low impact exercise, higher protein, and more weight training for women — particularly as we age. It flies in the face of all the influencers shouting that I should be doing high impact cardio and restricting my calories.

I am halfway through the weight loss injection trial. I was going to give it 10 weeks, and that’s still true. But at three pounds down, I’m not sure it’s been worth the cost. I will say that it’s been useful in helping me work through my weight loss reasoning and making peace with my body as it is, not as I’ve wanted it to be.

At the halfway point in my journey, I decide to make a change.

I’ve decided to spend the remaining weeks focused on protein intake and weights, as well as low-impact cardio. I want to work on getting stronger and see how that feels. I’m going to give myself a break from stepping on the scale and feeling weighed down by disappointment and inadequacy.

I’m not ever going to have whatever leggings legs are. I have my legs, which have always been strong. I was a runner, and I still have an athletic build with muscular legs. I have hips and curves, and even when the curves are in places that annoy me, I am grateful for my health — particularly as I’ve spent the last several years managing a chronic illness. I’ve decided to love every bit of me — even the thigh rub. I’m going to get stronger, and I’ve decided that it’s so much better than getting smaller.