Rewarding Your Weight Loss with Ink
Posted on 8/09/2016 by dsjohndrow
Although they've been around for a long time, tattoos are pretty popular these days. For us weight-losers a tattoo is pretty enticing now that we don't have to cover ourselves in XXXL t-shirts and stretch pants. It could be a celebration.
At 57 I got my first one celebrating my marathon running and recovery from heart disease.
It's pretty cool when a 20-something gets righteous ink! I often marvel at the art form, although I do think it's a little funny when middle-aged parents get tattoos with their kids to be cool. You know, the kids get a lion and the parent gets a lamb; there is something fundamentally wrong with that.
The only issue I have with tattoos is that they don't rub off. I have made some bad decisions - most of them haven't been permanent.
In case you are feeling the need to make a statement and beautify your body to celebrate your success, I have done a little research. Here is what I have decided NOT to get.
The Last Supper Trampstamp: This would be located across the lower back and Judas would be situated over your butt crack. If someone dropped a price of bread - yeah, that's where it would fall.
Cats: Cats are OK and the Egyptians had Siamese cat tattoos. I would just skip the litter box pose.
Forehead Tats: If they include words, just remember the horror you'll feel every time you look in the mirror and it is backwards!
The Donut Man: Getting a donut man with glazed pink frosting could be a trigger to a food binge. May I suggest the winged celery stick tat is a better idea.
Words, Any Words: There is no back-space for tattoos. I have also noticed that tattoo artists are not often grammarians. Do your research.
Buttock Penguins: The Arctic birds facing each other might seem cute in the mirror, but every time you do a squat they'll look more like kissing birds. It is better that the right doesn't know what the left is doing. And if you gain the weight back, it will look like a cave dwelling bat.
Belly Tattoos: These are bad for MFP-ers. Plateaus are bad enough, but imagine gaining back the weight? Your cute little hummingbird ends up look like a buzzard, or that nice little morning glory is as big as a sunflower. You get the idea. If you must have one there, I suggest a 6-pack.
SO's Name: They maybe significant now, but what if you have to cover it up in a few years? The good news is that if it was a long name, you can have it made into a snake.
Dates: For men I suggest your anniversary date. Try it on the back of your eyelids.
Neck Tat: The only way to cover this is to become a man or woman of the cloth. Unless that's in your plans, may I suggest something a little more discreet.
If tattoos are not your thing, may I suggest body piercing? You can take a run down the lure aisle at Bass Pro Shops and save a few bucks.
Tell me, if you were going to get a tattoo in celebration of your weight loss, where and what would it be?
Yes I am that much of a nerd.
That made me laugh out loud.
I have a tattoo but I don't love it and learned my lesson to not get permanent things on my body.
It sounds super busy and like a mishmash of unrelated things, but I can see it in my mind's eye, and it totally works. It'll take a hella long time tho -- multiple sessions -- and it will be *really* expensive. Gotta save my pennies! ;-)
That said, I have an idea for a PRACTICAL tattoo that has me wavering on the concept...
Honestly though I do love it! It's from a show that has a cult follow so it's like carrying a secret member card on me at all times.
I have two tattoos and love them. I am planning a third...
A couple of years ago I lost my mother :( I found a card where she wrote, in penmanship, "Lotts of Love". She always spoke about her penmanship, remembering how when she was in school she was the best at it and received many awards. She was angry because her penmanship got worse as she got older. Anyway, I am getting it replicated in black ink on the back of my shoulder :)
If I have loved myself enough to get where I want to be, why put an unknown substance into my skin? Not my idea of a celebration.
I will be rewarding myself by starting to wear my grandmother's diamond stud earrings. And there will be a big glass of champagne on that day as well.
And I don't like needles. It was a very big deal to me to get my ears pierced, because I have fainted while being given shots. I also don't like pain and never get drunk enough to not realize someone is using a needle on me.