Join the Ranks of the Encouraging

Morning. Frozen out here in NYC, omg. I just took intenSati at Equinox Fitness and it warmed me up body, mind and spirit. Definitely a great start to the day.

It's really easy to get discouraged on the topic of weight.

Easy, because it's familiar.

Discouraged, because of how ingrained the habit is to find comfort in food, stress relief in food, pleasure in food, energy in food, joy in food and play out some of my self sabotaging vis a vis overeating. It's been a long time and releasing it all is a day at a time journey, some days more challenging than others.

There is also the truth that bodies differ and some settle at a certain weight. It may be a little higher than the thin ideal and that can be challenging to accept.

What does it takes to be loving to yourself with respect to body image? What does it take to join the ranks of the encouraging?

For one thing, recognize that hating on your fat is completely learned and can, therefore, be unlearned. I'm not saying you need to sit and accept it without looking to lose weight. If you're overweight and healthier eating habits are a goal of yours, great, but at least in the meantime you could act as if you see no reason to judge, shame, hate on or over-scrutinize your body.

What I'm finding incredibly useful at this point is to just focus on other things -- helping others, new ideas, creative projects, etc. -- and think less about my body.

"We are visitors on this planet. We are here for ninety or one hundred years at the very most. During that period, we must try to do something good, something useful, with our lives. If you contribute to other people's happiness, you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life." H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama

Personally, I am very motivated to work out but less motivated to change the way I eat. The former comes much more easily to me (witnessed - I walked to a 6:30 am aerobics class in 13 degree weather) and the latter takes work. It takes attention. A willingness to be uncomfortable. Ask for help. Surrender my will. Feel fear. Accept that I will not be perfect but I'm making progress. All that good stuff...

All this to say, join the ranks of the encouraging. Don't try to make changes alone and be willing to arrive at your desired outcome.
Do it gently, do it patiently, do it lovingly, but do do it. :)



Best,
Lindsay