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Key points
- Have your cake and eat it too.
- Maintain a good relationship with your body by treating yourself every day.
- Maintain a good relationship with your body by listening to it.
- Maintain a good relationship with your body by not judging it.
You're on Instragram and see one of those many celebrities showing off a picture of their bikini body four weeks after giving birth. I don't know about you, but I was still wearing maternity clothes at four weeks. Then again, I did neither counted calories nor worked out at that point.
Forty-two percent of Americans are considered obese or overweight. Although healthy curves seems to have made a comeback in the recent years, replacing the skinny waif, yet 91% of women claim to be unsatisfied with their body.
Weight loss is a $71.1 billion industry with people spending money on diets, surgeries, experts, cleanses, diets, gadgets, and apps. Thus, why is positive body image is lower than ever?
Something is obviously not working. This current all-time high level of body dissatisfaction indicates that money is clearly being wasted on interventions and programs that are not sustainable. It's time that we strengthen our relationship with food.
What does it mean to have a good relationship with your body?
Imagine never being on a diet, but eating your favorite foods and making dietary choices that work for your body while practicing self-discipline.
Maintain a good relationship with your body by being nice to it with what you eat.
There are foods that do and do not agree with our bodies. You should learn this on your own before a physician has to restrict you. Which foods tend to trigger various unpleasant bodily symptoms (e.g., stomach pains, headaches, skin irritation, change in energy, etc.)? Stay away from anything that does not feel good physically. It might taste good going down, but evaluate if it is worth the consequence of discomfort.
Maintain a good relationship with your body by treating yourself every day.
A little decadence per day helps to keep the binges and bad choices away. For those with a sweet tooth, enjoying two cookies per day is certainly different than downing the entire package in one sitting. Consuming a serving that is relative to your body every day will keep the temptation of eating the entire dessert table feel more like an act of self-torture than a treat.
Maintain a good relationship with your body by moving it.
The Center for Disease Control recommends 30 minutes per day of aerobic activity for adults and 60 minutes for children and teens. The good old fashioned formula of calories consumed in and burned off. A little cardio goes a long way, even if is taking the stairs, parking far away, and carrying your own stuff to help maintain a steady metabolism so you can enjoy more foods you love. Even a simple fitness tracker will log steps, active minutes, miles, and calories burned.
Maintain a good relationship with your body by listening to it.
When your body wants a big drippy burger and fries chased down with a milkshake, there is no reason to hold back. However, your body will need to balance it with something lighter and greener for the next meal. When people deprive themselves of foods they really love, they are not being nice to themselves. When they do not allow themselves to enjoy, they over-do it to make up for the self-deprivation. Our bodies need that decadence. Deprivation only leads to resentment, binges, poor food choices, and eating disorders.
Maintain a good relationship with your body without judging it.
It is sad when people trash and bash themselves when they skip a workout or eat something they love. The only one who is shaming you is you, since it’s not that deep for anyone else. Learn from the toxic relationship you once had with your body and move on.
Food is meant to be enjoyed, as well as serve a function. Having this healthy relationship with food does not require you to hire a guru, because you need to love, understand, and become the master of your own body so you can enjoy your favorites. Remember, it is never too late to make a fresh start. How can you develop a good relationship with your body?
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