Do you love your body? Chances are, you don’t. I didn’t – for years in fact, I found my body to be repulsive. When I gained so much weight during my pregnancy, I literally felt like a land whale walking. I hated the way I looked. I hated the way I felt. I experienced depression and the worse I felt about myself, the less inclined I was to do anything about it.
It’s a vicious circle and for those of us who are looking to lose significant weight and sustain that weight loss, we need to love our bodies. Loving your body is the only way to break this cycle.
I know that may sound hard, but you can love your body without liking it. You can love your body the same way you can care for and love an abused animal or an abused child. For make no mistake, your body has been abused. You have abused it. The environment has abused it. It shows the signs of abuse and if you haven’t loved your body, it’s likely reflecting that lack of love as well.
When you care for an abused animal or person, the first thing you have to show them is unquestioning love. You have to care what happens to them. You have to show patience, love and understanding in light of their limitations. You have to applaud even the most minute of improvements.
You do the same for your own body. When your weight is at a level you don’t care for, you don’t hate your body for it. You love it. You give it encouragement. You support it mentally, physically and emotionally. You applaud every exercise routine you complete. You locate the diet that will support your body and your mind through the transition it needs to take.
When you slip, you don’t strike it. You don’t yell at it. You don’t make threatening gestures. You comfort. You support. You understand. Then you get right back to it.
Loving your body means you need to listen to it. You need to rest when it demands rest. You need to give it water when it says that it is thirsty. You need to distinguish between your personal emotional demands and what your body is asking for. Instead of reaching for the bread because you are upset – ask if that is what your body wants or is that what you are using as an emotional pacifier?
Your body is capable of being a very good friend to you if you listen to it. It can tell you what it needs. You just need to listen to it and love it enough to believe what it is telling you. Is this easy? Nope. Can you do it?
Absolutely.