I've learned to live with my nose (actually, I have no choice, but you know what I mean…) I always thought that I had this huge nose with a bump in the middle until I realized that I have the "family" nose (on my mom's side).

I'm extremely close to that (huge) side of the family and once I matured a bit, I realized it was really something to be proud of. My grandpa had the nose, my mom had the nose, some cousins had the nose–it made us unique and quite honestly, it's not that big anyway (must have been a bit of teenage angst added in…)Now that I'm old and 27…

Anyway, as you grow up you realize physical imperfections are not imperfections at all–they are what make you unique on the outside before people learn just how unique you are on the inside.

I recently learned to embrace the sides next to my stomach. When I lost weight a few years ago they disappeared and then I gained some back and they are back. I was really upset about it and VERY recently I finally realized they are me, they are womanly and sexy and if I don't embrace it I will never be happy!

love that video. you should be so proud of all your accomplishments!

i've learned to love my arms. i was always self-conscious of them, and i finally stopped comparing them to other people's. my arms have supported me as i practice yoga, they pumped me along when i ran, and i have been showing them off in sleeveless tops all summer long!

I have learned to love a muscular butt! haha. I have dieted in the past to get a "flat butt" and I did attain that. HOWEVER, it was not me! I have danced most of my life and a curvy butt is meant for me. So I love it!

i love the race history video!

I've learned to love my arms now – they're strong even if not crazy toned like Jillians.

Wow Caitlin, that video was so great and inspiring.

I would like to note that your early wake-ups are awesome from a blog reader standpoint! Yours is the first I visit eveyr morning because I know I can rely on an interesting post with a yummy and clean breakfast. So, thank you! 🙂

And sweet video, how do you find the time! Amazing.

I really enjoyed your video Caitlin! It was fun to see you get faster and stronger as a runner (3 races in 1 weekend!!!) and even rock a bike race!
I bet you are so stoked for your first running race in a while 🙂 Rock on

I am much like Janetha. I am covered in freckles and I have short legs. And they are muscular. I have been asked if I am a professional athlete before because of my quads.

And my shoulders are also the envy of every 16 year old male who wants to play football. I used to hate them (try buying a suit jacket for these things!) and now I have embraced them. I swam competitively for 15 years. My father was a football player.

My husband just hopes that if we have boys—that they get my genes that allow for me to put on muscle mass with a blink of an eye.

All of these things are just my genes. I can't change them. I used to aim to be the smallest girl in the room…I know now that that is going to be impossible and still be healthy and also I was really unhappy trying to achieve that goal. Now I try to be the healthiest me and aim to be as fit and strong as I can be.

Too bad I didn't embrace all this at 18, could have saved myself a lot of hardship!

Happiness Awaits

I love the video you put together!!!

I'm so excited that Operation Beautiful is not only going strong, but that you continue to carry on this important conversation!!

Great video! Those are some awesome accomplishments!

I've learned to embrace my huge hips. I want at least 3 children, so I'm glad to have them! 🙂

First of all, loved the race diary video .. it made me all excited for my upcoming half in September! I just love the whole act of training and running for an end goal!!

Like you, I am (still in the process of) trying to love my stomach. It is where any little fluctuations in weight show up and I am learning that it is just the way my body was made! I am more toned thanks to yoga, but it will never be "perfect" and that will just have to be ok!!

To answer your question… My physical imperfections are scars.

After I lost 200 pounds, I needed to have reconstructive surgery and they removed approximately 10-15 pounds of skin. This left me pretty scarred (on my arms from elbow to armpit and down to my breasts and a large scar running literally all the way around my middle and meeting on the back). Being a young woman, this was hard for me. I was single. The idea of someone seeing my scarred body was devastating. I looked the best I'd ever looked and yet my body was a road map, as I called it.

After my husband and I began dating, he commented one evening on my scars. (Until that time, we simply pretended like they didn't exist.) He traced a finger along my belly scar and he said, You must be so proud of these."

I said, "What do you mean?"

He said, "You have physical proof for the rest of your life of how brave you are, how hard you've worked and how far you've come."

It was such a beautiful way to view this "road map" of a body, and I've never forgotten that. Over time, I've come to really be proud of who I am, just as I am.

I love the video. You really have accomplished so much in the past three years. Way to go! I look forward to seeing what other races you compete in – Rock On!!!

t surprise when i saw this post. i had so much fun reading everyone's answers too 😀

Man… I'm choking back tears here. What a great video Caitlin. Compared to the first picture you showed of yourself "before" you look SO happy now. Seems like you're really living life to the fullest! Truly an inspiration. 🙂

I think blogger killed my comment?! Weird.

Anyway – great video, very inspiring! I wanted to ask who that song is by? Thanks!

And – I fairly new to your blog, but I really enjoy reading it.

Caitlin, this gave me goosebumps. Matt and I just watched it together. LOVE IT! This is such a great tribute to your runs, for your readers and for yourself. It's awesome!