One Twenty Five

I remember the day so well. I had only had my blog (this blog!) for a mere three months and it was the day I created an email account for it. I really didn’t think anyone would email me, but just-in-case people had questions (no comments back then, I was way too un-tech savvy for that), I figured I’d add one.

I was sitting in my corner cubicle when my phone vibrated and then there is was:

From: “[Redacted], Emily”
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 10:45:50 -0400
To: onetwentyfive.tumblr@gmail.com
Subject: Thank you!

And it read,

Hi E,  

 I just wanted to say thank you! I do realize that we’re complete strangers but I stumbled upon your blog last week (I wish I could remember how!) and I’ve been hooked ever since.  What you’re doing is awesome and even though I assume that your motivation for blogging about your weight loss journey is probably for your own motivation/accountability, I doubt that you have any idea how great it is for all the people who follow it.  

 I too have struggled with weight and body image since the 3^rd grade.  There was this girl, [Redacted], who was the Blaire Waldorf of my elementary school and played queen bee to the rest of the 3^rd grade girls. [Redacted] was pretty, petite, and seemingly had everything.  The first 8 ½ years of my life were great because I had no idea that I was, perhaps, a bit pudgier than the other girls…until the first warm day of the spring when we all wore shorts to school for the first time that season.  [Redacted] told me I had “Thunder Thighs”.  Enter a severe body image complex for the following 17 ½ years (I’m 26 – you probably could have figured that out being in finance and all).    

What I take away from your blog everyday is something that I’ve never found in a magazine (Fitness, Shape, etc.), book (Body for Life, Skinny Bitch, etc.), or TV show (Biggest Loser, Celebrity Fit Club, etc.).  What I get is pure motivation and inspiration because you’re a real person with a real job and you’re faced with real life situations and obstacles every single day.  You’ve made a choice to better your health and self image and the positive self-promotion you extend to yourself on a daily basis is refreshing.  You have the right attitude about this and I have no doubt that you will achieve your goals. 

With all that being said – I’m going to start my own blog.  I already have one but I haven’t shared it with ANYONE yet. I’m not ready to let the people closest to me see me in such a vulnerable state yet.  How did you get started and who did you tell when you went public with it?  I want people to read my blog but I don’t want to broadcast that I’m doing it.

Needless to say, I’m a fan.  I hope this email doesn’t seem creepy! I don’t typically email strangers about their personal business.  I just thought you should know that you’re making an impression on people you’ve never event met because well, I think that’s awesome.  Add this email to your post of “I’ve got nothing to do today, but smile”.

Thanks again,

Emily

Without a doubt that email changed my life. It was the first time I realized I wasn’t alone. That I, Liz, lover of all things food, yet desperately wants to lose weight, was just like every other girl out there, trying to lose weight one day at a time while still living life.

So, Miss Emily, this post is simply to say thank you.  I stumbled across your email the other day and smiled at how that little email brought us together as friends.  Thank you so much for introducing me to the red velvet cupcake at Billys, for the Diane von Furstenberg dress that has graced the interwebs in my after photo, for the delicious New Years Day brunch, introducing me to the Erin Condren Planners (I want one soooo badly), for being a great friend despite being a city away, for leading a New York City life I get to drool over, and for showing me I’m not alone in this battle of weight loss, body image issues and life. xo Liz

Ps. A little birdie told me Miss. Emily is going to be doing a DVF(!!) sale through her blog soon! Follow! Follow! Plus, her life is just that awesome.

Fall 2009

Summer 2010

Summer 2010

Winter 2012 NY Day! (between Emily and I is the lovely Miss Theodora!)