Change you thinking!

Happy Sunday!

 

The more I talk to people about their fitness goals and weight loss the more I find women (and to a lesser degree men) who actually HATE their bodies. They don't just dislike their little Buddha bellies or their hips they hate the whole thing. And it breaks my heart!

 

You body is the only one you have it moves you through your day, hugs your kids, kisses your significant other, creates beautiful things whether that's art, delicious meals for your family, even your kids. People generally identify themselves with their bodies, so, if you don't love your body, on some level you are not loving you. This leads to feeling badly about yourself and negative self talk which makes you more unhappy. Negative self-talk can be a real energy drain. If you love and accept your body, you won't feel so critical of yourself and you'll have more energy to boot!

 

When you accept and love your body, you tend to want to nourish it more with healthier foods, proper rest, and exercise. Thus, the celebration of your body becomes a celebration of healthy living and life and you are less inclined to choose unhealthy foods and habits. 

 

When you silence self critical thoughts about your body, you will feel an immediate shift from a more anxious, dissatisfied state that comes when you expect perfection from yourself, to one of of calm acceptance. This wave of acceptance will flow over to other areas of your life to reduce stress and build confidence.

 

And when we feel wonderful about our bodies, we naturally hold ourselves more upright, which improves posture and blood circulation to rejuvenate the blood flow to to our internal organs. This allows us to feel more energetic as we move through our days.

 

While you may fantasize about having a model-thin body or wear a bikini like a movie star, recognize that there is really nothing special about looking like a carbon copy of everyone else. You have so many distinctive features such as your hair, your eyes, your fingers, your toes and your arms. A positive body image is defined by how you love and appreciate how each of the unique parts makeup the whole of you.

 

 

 

 

 

How to start: invite your inner critic to change jobs and become your inner cheerleader. Start catching yourself when you think something negative and immediately turn it around. Next time you find you find yourself saying less than flattering things about your body I want you to stop yourself and think of what you would do if someone was saying these things to your best friend or significant other. Would you agree with them? No you would probably slap them and so you should! No more negative self talk people, that's all I'm asking today.

 

Stay Healthy!

Andrea :)