Have you ever been on a diet? How many times? If you’re like most of us the answer is probably, “I start a new one every morning!”
One study found that 86% of Americans want to lose weight. (i) Really? 86% of us are not happy with our shape?
With 66% of Americans fighting overweight issues (ii), it does make sense that many are struggling to lose those extra pounds. Of course we want to be healthy, but do we really have to look like a model?
As LDS men and women we are blessed to know that we are children of God and He loves us. That alone should be enough to make us feel good about ourselves. He wants us to be happy and I believe He also wants us to be healthy so we can accomplish all that we can during our sojourn on earth.
But to be healthy and accomplish our work we also have to stop comparing ourselves to others. Let’s take charge of our health and love the body we're in. The really cool thing about embracing your shape and unique beauty is if you feel good about yourself it will be easier to improve your health and lose weight.
Ideas to help you love your shape and size:
1. Bury the scale under your laundry pile - try to focus more on how your clothes are fitting and how you feel. If you want a true indicator of improvement try a fat percentage test or measure yourself regularly with a tape measure.
2. Lift weights in front of a mirror (it’s okay to do this in a tank top, at least if you’re in your bedroom without your teenagers laughing at you) - watch how your muscles contract and realize that you are strong and beautiful.
3. Don't compare yourself - Everyone has their own strengths. It might be easy for your friend to stay thin, but maybe she couldn't lift her 95-pound ten-year old and carry him to the doctor when he broke his arm (that was a proud moment). Try to compliment and be happy for other people instead of letting that darn jealousy take over. Looking for the best in others will help you feel better about yourself too.
4. Pray – We’ve been instructed to pray over our fields, flocks, homes, etc. I think it is also important to pray about overcoming food addictions, to pray for help in finding the time and energy to exercise and improve our health, and to pray for confidence. The Lord wants us to be happy. Turn to him and He will fulfill those needs.
5. Exercise - whenever you allow negativity to creep in, go on a walk or bike ride, turn on some music and dance, drop and do twenty pushups, try some yoga moves. Make yourself move. The endorphins will start dancing with you and you really will feel better. (iii)
6. Fake it until you make it. I know this seems, well, fake. But I promise if you put a smile on your face and pretend to love your body, you can change your attitude and eventually the smile will feel more natural than the frown.
7. Be grateful for the health you've got. Whenever I'm on a run and want to quit I tell myself, "Some people would give anything to be able to run and they can't." Focus on the blessings of being able to move, breathe, and serve your family, neighbors, and those in need with your healthy body.
8. Write down the things you love about your body. If you get a bit depressed about the dimples on your thighs (please tell me someone else has those too) focus instead on how toned your calves look or the fact that your biceps are responding to all those curls.
Focus on taking care of your body and I promise your body will love you back.
Cami Checketts is a wife, mother, author, and exercise scientist. For exercise routines, please refer to her blog – fitmommas.blogster.com. Her latest novel, The Sister Pact, will be released in July 2009.
i. Addressing Body Image in Eating Disorder Treatment
Author: Meghan Vivo
Date: 3/11/2009
An Interview with Anna Treacy, MPH, NCHES
ii. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/overwt.htm
iii. The Most Important Exercise Tip By Robin Lloyd, Special to LiveScience
http://www.livescience.com/health/060530_exercise_good.html
Link to this post - http://fitnessformom.blogspot.com/2009/05/love-body-youre-in.html
AMen sister!!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree...especially when I'm exercising...I think THANK YOU GOD for giving me my health and letting me be able to exercise.
We often see a guy that's in a wheelchair...I thin he has CP....and he's always giving us the "thumbs up" and smiling. It makes me RUN HARDER for him...knowing that I can and he can not. WE are so blessed and I try to cherish the temple GOD gave me!@
You're so great, Roxy. I love that you run for him. My heart truly breaks for those who can't enjoy their bodies in this life, can't wait to see them running in the next life!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments and your attitude,
Cami
Great suggestions (though I disagree with the scale one. I weigh myself daily, so I can snag small gains before they become big ones. At least, that's the theory.)
ReplyDeleteFor those who need more help loving their bodies just as they are, take a look at Sarah Mari'as "Love Your Body, Love Your Life." The sub-title says it all: 5 steps to end negative body obsession and start living happily and confidently." She makes the point that God is beauty and you are God -- and to say goodbye forever to any thoughts of inadequacy. There's a deeply spiritual element in her book that's very helpful and powerful.
Thanks Liz for your comment. It's extremely important to find out what works for you. I've heard the theory of weighing every day many times, but it doesn't work for me. I get too obsessive. Thanks for the link to Sarah's book. I can't wait to check that out.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a woman so perhaps I should not respond. Yet I doubt weight is a gender issue. May I suggest that weight seems to em to be a relatively minor issue. Fitness is far more important and what one accomplishes in life is considerably more important. Get too busy to eat and make one of the busy activities exercise. I will never look like an olympic athlete. But I will be healthy and fit and make music and write books.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gary. Love the insight from our male friends. I think you are completely right. I weigh a lot more than anyone would guess, but as long as I'm feeling good and fitting in my clothes like I want to, I try not to worry about the scale. But I'm still a woman so once in a while I have to weigh myself then soothe the pain with chocolate!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by,
Cami
I like the valuable information you provide in your blog. stuff right here! Good luck for the next! Diet Chart || Balanced Diet Chart || Food Supplements
ReplyDeleteA very awesome blog post. We are really grateful for your blog post. You will find a lot of approaches after visiting your post. I was exactly searching for. Thanks for such post and please keep it up. Weight Management || Causes of High Blood Pressure || Healthy Diet
ReplyDelete