Living Yoga

On Wednesday I talked about body image, how it’s all in the mind and why manipulation techniques to lose weight (ie, diet, binge exercising, surgery) will never work for long-term weight loss, beauty, health and happiness.

Here are six steps you can do now to love your body:

1)    Accept that your body is the perfect weight right now. It knows exactly what weight you should be given the food you consume, how many calories you burn, genetics, medications you’re taking, etc. Trust your body.  If those other factors don’t change, neither can your weight.

2)    Every day notice something on your body that is hot, sexy, and beautiful. Your eyebrows, your skin, your neck, your waistline, anything.  Think about it all day.  You may even notice other people checking out that body part.  Each day pick something new and repeat the process.  You’ll start to love your body.

3)    Bone up on your fashion and learn how to dress in a way that flatters those beautiful body parts and your natural shape. If I owned a gym baggy t-shirts would be prohibited.  Anybody attempting to enter in a baggy shirt would be fined.  Besides you can’t work out comfortably in overly loose clothing and it’s dangerous if you’re using equipment.

4)    Feed your body the best quality, highly nutritious and most energy producing foods. It’s not about cutting out anything, but incorporating new foods.  Notice which foods make you glow and feel energetic, and add more into your diet.  Notice how more beautiful body parts start to appear when you feed your body well.   Try many different kinds of food, think variety.

5)    Add some fun movement in your life. The way I see it, exercising and fitness should be fun because it’s all about how it makes you feel.  If a spin class doesn’t make you feel good, try pilates.  If you’re someone who loves being social, take salsa dancing classes.  If you love to feel more powerful with strength, take boxing classes.  When you’ve done all the steps above, you will naturally begin to feel like you want to move.

6)    Lastly, and this can be a tough one, surround yourself with positive, supportive people. As mentioned by Susan Jeffers in “Feel the Fear…and Do It Anyway,” sometimes when we make positive changes in our lives, loved ones find it difficult to accept it perhaps out of fear that they may lose us.  This has happened in my life many times.  However, if you make a change that’s better for you and your health, those that truly love you will come to support you.  How can they not when they see how healthy and happy you are?  If there are people that prefer the unhealthy, less happy version of you consider whether they should have a place in your life.

There you have it, no diets, no deprivation, but lots of love and acceptance.  And sexiness and hotness.  Have fun with these tips and enjoy your beautiful body!