Everyone has a different perspective on health, weight, beauty, and more. There are so many rules and opinions out there in the world about what we should or should not do with our bodies but most of the time body acceptance comes in the form of re-writing the rules.
If you really want to evolve into a loving space with your body, you are probably going to have to re-write a lot of social ‘rules’. That means that you have to be willing to go against the norm and blaze your own path in your health journey. There are as many ways to do this as there are rules and expectations put on us by society.
Here’s 3 ideas to help you on your way:
Smash the Scale
Your worth does not have to be defined by or limited to the numbers on the scale, measuring tape, or the size of your jeans. You are so much more valuable than any number. Those numbers are in no way correlated to how much love you deserve because the truth is that you are worthy of infinite love. You know that anxious, uncomfortable feeling that you get when you prepare to weigh yourself? You really don’t have to subject your body or your emotions to that at all.
Expand your perspective to include all of the ways in which you evolve as a being: mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually because it is all a part of your health and well-being.
Eat the Cake
What food have you been guilting yourself about? Do you ever eat something and then immediately calculate how many minutes you will have to exercise in order to burn it off? Do you ever feel ashamed when you eat a dessert in public because you think other people might be judging you? Have you ever felt compelled to explain your food choices to a friend or loved one? Do you ever deprive yourself of food as a punishment or indulge in food as a reward?
Food can be a way to nourish and honour your body. It can be a way to connect with your body’s needs. So, rather than judging the things you desire, you can learn to use them as guides on your journey towards body peace. You can enjoy food and make eating an integral part of your body acceptance experience. When you begin to connect with your body, you will be able to eat the cake, the apple, or whatever you choose and know why you made the choice. Knowing your ‘why’ will begin to free you from the judgment of self and others when it comes to food choices. That newfound freedom will help you to ‘eat to love and love what you eat!’
Move that body!
Everywhere we look there are messages about getting fit, obtaining a better body, and losing the fat. Most of the time these messages are connected to the goal of getting thinner or sexier. However, I want to remind you that a great way to honour your body is through movement that you enjoy. Fitness and exercise do not have to be about punishing or changing your body. Body movement is a great way to connect with your body in a loving way. I know that it can be challenging to disassociate body movement from the concepts of extreme fitness and weight loss, but here are some ways you can start now:
- Try new activities- explore ways to move your body that you’ve never tried before and make it fun!
- Find something you absolutely LOVE and do it often- the more you enjoy an activity, the more rewarding it will be to your mind, body, and soul
- Find a friend or loved one and invite them to join in to make it more fun
- Invest in some gear that helps you feel comfy, confident and excited to move your body
- Release the numbers- don’t obsess over calories, miles, or hours, move to have fun!
Body movement can be fun, relaxing and refreshing.
Don’t feel like you have to try to do all three at once, do one at a time because baby steps make big changes!
Lisa xx