http://singleinmy30s.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/love-yourself.jpg
After the holiday season (and one too many shortbread cookies), we start to feel the bulge; pants too tight, bloated belly. We begin to be really hard on our body by self-loathing every part of our physical being. With these feelings of self-hate, we notice ourselves getting depressed, disgusted, and even more unhappy! As a result of this self-defeating slump, we consciously make the resolution to be different in the coming year. We are willing to go to any extreme to get the body we want; drastic diets, hours at the gym, or lots of money spent on weight-loss books, pills, dvd’s, etc.
But where does this leave you? Feeling better about yourself? Probably not. Any thinner? Maybe but not for long. Broke? Yes.
I encourage you this year, whatever your New Year’s resolution, to take some time to appreciate your body and love it just the way it is RIGHT NOW. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to want to lose weight or make more trips to the gym; these are all excellent ways to keep yourself healthy. The point I am trying to make is that in order to really make a change, we must first LOVE who we are!!
Treating your body well with healthy eating and exercise is one thing, but killing yourself at the gym or starving your body or poking and prodding every imperfection that YOU see, is another.
As part of your New Year’s resolution, I want you to make a pact with yourself to stop the negativity! “I’m so fat,” “I hate my arms,” “why can’t my thighs be smaller,” are comments that need to stop! And stop saying these comments aloud to others because YOUR negativity breeds their negativity!!
Turn those negatives in to SOMETHING positive!! God gave us one body to take care of, do the best that you can to love it for all it has and will do for you!
“Release yourself from the power you are giving your mirror and those around you — take control of who you are and how you feel!” Denise Austin
[...] hating and just accept yourself!! If you haven’t yet read my post about accepting yourself in the New Year, PLEASE do so [...]
Damn girl, I needed this today! You are so right, we DO need to value and appreciate our bodies RIGHT now. Not what we WISH they were or HOPED they were, but right now. We’re always going to be a work in progress and that’s ok, right??
Love, love, love this post. You’re absolutely right. I defo plan on embracing my body this year, regardless of my shape and size
Thanks for writing such an uplifting and inspiring post xxx
I like your point about spreading the negative feelings with our comments to others. It’s so true. Once I complain about some body party or diet issue, then everyone else pipes up about their struggles. I’m going to take a new road and when someone says something negative, I’ll find something positive!
This is a great post! I always believe that negativity doesn’t inspire change and that if you want to acheive a goal such as weight loss, you first need to learn to like your body and be kind to yuorself. Once you start to do things that do your body good – exercise, eat well – then the weight issue will follow.
Thanks so much for this post! I LOVE the graphic at the top about loving youself, so I printed it and put it in a 4×6 frame on my desk and on the counter in my bathroom. Hoepfully it will be a good reminder for me everyday!
Amen! It’s so true what you’ve said here. I am totally guilty of feeling bad about myself after the holidays. This post is a great reminder not to be so negative
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I love this post! I am the worst for calling myself fat or making other negative comments about myself. I really want to work on this before I have kids. I don’t want to teach my son or daughter to think negatively of themselves.
Fantastic. I’ve fallen victim to the self loathing lately and it does absolutely nothing for me. Instead of motivating me to make changes, it only reinforces the negative cycle. I love the quote
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This is such a great post!!! Begin to concentrate on the things you like about your body and often times the ones you aren’t fond of disappear!
GREAT post-holiday post! I am so broke, haha…I just finished my post for tomorrow, all about embracing your imperfections to maintain a healthy lifestyle!!!
Oh, and if you didn’t see my reply earlier to your comment, I love you for thinking I am super human, but I am far, far from doing things perfectly
xxoo
Amen Sister!! I love this post!
I love this post! It holds true for all aspects of life, not just health! I am all about the positive this year. I am going to focus on all the happy things in our lives!
LOVE that pictures…ok both of them but especially the first one!!
Amen. If you think positively and surround yourself with positive people, then there are no limits. Plus, negative self-talk is just wasted time and energy. Use that energy for something worthwhile!
You couldn’t have said it better. What a great, empowering post. This is definitely somthing I want to work on in the coming year.
So many people need to hear this message! I was at the gym today, and I saw so many people huffing and puffing while looking miserable. I wanted to ask them why they were there. Was it to achieve that perfect body or was it to celebrate the amazing things our bodies can do by keeping them in the best working condition? Thank you for always sharing such positive messages. The model with the shirt was stellar! I hope you are having a blessed day!
Amen! This is what I needed to hear today, as I stood naked in front of the mirror, noticing I’ve gained weight in places I’d rather it not go. “Why can’t my arms “bulk” up instead of my stomach?!” This mentality needs to STOP and it’s stopping NOW! I am grateful for the body God gave me, and if he designed me to carry a little extra fat in my belly, so be it. If we eat healthy, exercise moderately, and stay in touch with ourselves emotionally, we should let go of that which we can’t control!
LOVE the shirt!
I loved this! Even though I haven’t lost a pound in the past few months, I feel so much better about my body when I treat it right. When I eat like crap and don’t exercise, that’s when I start the negative self talk.
Awesome post! I definitely need this reminder sometimes.
What a great message! We get so wrapped up in our busy lives and pleasing everyone else that we often forget to treat ourselves the way we treat others! Funny how that works! Thank you for the reminder!
I agree! I mean, I know I gained a couple pounds from the holidays, but what is it hurting? I just let it all balance itself out. The negativity doesn’t really ever help matters…
I love that shirt
And yay for positivity! I’m constantly more amazing at what my body can do for me instead of what it looks like.
Completely agree! Not to mention that none of these goals are overnight changes. Instead, they need to be worked toward over time. Though I do have lofty eating habit/weight/fitness goals for 2011, I’m in no way getting ahead of myself to think that come February they will be achieved. I have 7 months til my vacation in Aruba, after all
GAH! I totally agree, but it is soooo freakin’ hard! I was just feeling all of these things today and cannot move past them. I only wish I could love my body and stop comparing and wishing for something better. Sigh..
Agreed! And I think this is SUCH a good way to start my first day back to work. Thanks Erin!
I LOVE this post!!! That quote is terrific.
Yes! I love everything about this! The pictures… the post! NO MORE NEGATIVITY! whoo!
Haha! I like that shirt the model has on.
And you know what? I realize that any time I have achieved a goal it came when I was already happy with myself and where I was…just wanting to see what else I could do and believing I could. I never really thought of that perspective. Starting out already content with who you are makes a big difference.