If you read my installment in the last issue of this magazine, you'll know that I just had a baby. Let me just say that she is gorgeous and wonderful and awe-inspiring and all those fabulous things (yes, I still have the happy hormones happening!). Babies are very special. The only thing is, they do change the way you look at your body. I mean, weeks after the birth, my body hasn't bounced back to its former glory quite as quickly as the numerous celebrities whose post-baby bodies I've been keeping my eye on. I mean, seriously, where do their flabby bellies go? How can they tuck themselves back into their pre-baby clothes like that?
Luckily, I've been here before, three years ago when I had my first baby. So I kind of know what to expect, and I do know that I'm more than capable of getting back to my former fit self. But it has got me thinking about the way we view our bodies, and our fluctuating state of body image. I know that there are many readers out there like me, who, at this very moment, have made up their minds to get back into shape - whether you have just had a baby or have recently put on weight for other reasons. And, although your determination is there to make this work, you may be avoiding the mirror at all costs because you just don't feel good about yourself right now. Your focus is on the end product, the new slim you, but it's also highly important to appreciate who you are on your journey, so that the end result is even sweeter.
2. Keep off the scalesOkay, I’m not saying stay off the scales for good – it’s great to get a starting point so you know how much you weigh and how much you want to get rid of – but there’s no point weighing yourself every single day. Weight fluctuates for many different reasons, and seeing the scales go up instead of down can have a devastating effect on your self esteem. I find it really rewarding to stay away from the scales and then hop on them when I know I’ve been really good with my food and exercise, and see how much I’ve lost! Sometimes, when you stay away from the scales, it’s easier to imagine that you’ve actually lost some weight and, therefore, start feeling better about yourself. How many times have you thought you’d be a certain weight, and felt really good about that, only to hop on the scales and find that you were dreaming? Nothing helps your self esteem plummet quite as quickly as that! If you can start thinking of yourself as slim, not only will you immediately feel great, but you will also most likely start acting like a slim person, and that will inevitably lead to weight-loss.
3. Dress upThere is no excuse for spending the next few months in track pants and old T-shirts just because they’re comfy. Take yourself on a shopping trip and buy something that makes you feel really great. Bright colours work wonders. Don’t worry about the size of the outfit – if it’s bigger than you’d like to admit to (even to yourself), just cut out the label. And, tempting though it is, don’t buy too many clothes or spend too much money. You won’t be this weight for long, and soon enough you’ll need to buy smaller clothes!
4. Buy positive magazinesNote to self: One of the worst things you can do for your self-esteem and body image is to compare yourself with unrealistic images of celebrities shedding weight in unrealistic timeframes. Remember, they have personal trainers, dietitians, plastic surgeons, not to mention air-brushing on their photographs. It’s much better to choose magazines with real-life weight loss stories to inspire you, and with great ideas on how to shed your own weight safely. Rather than leave you depressed because of ridiculous expectations, a positive magazine will leave you feeling uplifted and motivated into action. But you already subscribe to that point of view. After all, you’re reading this magazine!
5. See the beauty in othersHave a look around you, at your friends and family, at the neighbours, work colleagues, and even people you pass in the street. Consciously find something beautiful in every single person you see. It’s not as easy as it sounds, because we delete so much information that’s readily available to us at any one moment, but if you consciously search for something, it’s likely that you’ll find it. And looking for something beautiful does not necessarily mean looking for something that’s aesthetically pleasing – beauty comes in many different forms, so look deeper than that. Once you start appreciating the beauty in others, you’re more likely to be able to start finding the beauty in yourself.
6. Be realisticSorry to be the one to say it, but it’s just not realistic that you’re going to lose five kilos in one week. However, it is very realistic to say that you could be five kilos lighter in five weeks’ time. Quick fixes generally only fix for a short amount of time. So be realistic and be patient. Long-term weight-loss happens over a longer period of time, and is the result of creating a whole new set of healthy habits, and these changes don’t happen overnight. They need to be repeated over and over again in order to become ingrained in your psyche. The other really wonderful thing about being realistic is that you can learn to love your body every step of the way on your weight-loss journey, as each day is bringing you closer to the way you really want to look. Celebrate who you are, even if you’re a bigger version of who you want to be. Celebrate the fact that you’re making positive changes that are going to have an incredible impact long term.
7. Find an exercise and eating plan you can stick toIf you’re anything like the majority of the population, you’ve tried most of the diets out there and had varying degrees of success. And how many gyms have you joined, only to find that your membership lasts longer than you do? It’s all good and well to start an exercise and eating plan, but you also need to feel confident that you’ll be able to sustain it. So, research the best plans for you. There are so many different options out there, surely there’ll be something that suits you perfectly.
8. Get supportUnless you are the sole inhabitant of an island, chances are that there are people around you who you could call upon to help you feel good about yourself and support you in your wellbeing endeavours. Grab a friend and go for a walk a couple of times a week, go to group fitness classes at the gym, attend weight-loss meetings, or ask a family member if they can call you once a week to check on your progress and your state of mind. Find someone who makes you feel good about yourself – I personally have a friend who builds up my self-esteem beautifully whenever I need it, so not only do I get to hang out with a wonderful friend, but I go home feeling on top of the world afterwards. If you feel all alone in your journey, you are much less likely to stick to your goals than if you are able to share your journey with someone else.
There is so much emphasis placed on how we look these days, I think it’s easy to forget that looks are just one small aspect of who we are. The fact is, when people know you, they don’t generally think of you as being any particular way physically. They don’t see your dimply thighs or your tuck-shop arms – they just think of you as you! And, my guess is that they think of you as beautiful anyway. So, perhaps it’s time for you to start thinking of yourself in a similar way. Sure, at the moment you are not where you want to be physically – you may even have a fair way to go - but there is so much more to you than your looks. Start focusing on all your wonderfully positive attributes. Remember, who you are is not based on what size your jeans are.
Browse more weight loss tips>>
{nomultithumb}
]]>View the Original article
No comments:
Post a Comment