IS THIS YOU? FOOD FOR THOUGHT - UNHEALTHY BODY IMAGE

Struggling with an unhealthy body image? February is NATIONAL EATING DISORDER AWARENESS MONTH.

Having unhealthy body image CAN lead to an eating disorder. The truth is MOST people no matter what their sex or history struggle with some form of unhealthy body image.


Here is a wonderful reflective exercise from the book 200 Ways to Love the Body You Have. by Marcia Hutchinson




So here's the question you need to ask yourself


What will YOU miss out on if you fail to love your body and treat it as it truly deserves to be treated?  What has it cost you so far?  




And here are some HONEST answers from people just like you. Do you ever feel like this?






I will miss out on the integration I could have. The joy of a body and a mind in unity with each other. The cost so far has been confusion, self-disgust and fear


I think so far I've missed out on the pride and wholeness that comes when a person's self-consciousness is minimized. I will definitely miss out on a fulfilling sex life if every 4th thought is to how I look. And ultimately, if I focus on my body in lieu of other people and the joys that each day *could* hold, I think I'll be missing out on life.


If I fail to love my body as it truly is, i will miss out on unconditional love from the one person who knows me completely. so far this has cost me more than i can calculate in terms of my level of self esteem. Confidence in my self would have empowered me to make decisions about my life that i have failed to make who knows where i would have been now.

 

I just turned 50 this year, with it brought a whole new set of problems on my acceptance of my body. I have gone back to college for a nursing degree( no small feat) and have raised 3 children, with varying degree's of success. Yet none of this matters when I get stuck on how my body SHOULD look. Never mind it has brought me much pleasure and wonder over my life time. I do have to say as I grow older I have come to at least understand how ludicrous this obsession for perfection has become. Maybe in my next 50 years I will accomplish this distorted body image problem...




Not loving my body has forced me into a life long cycle of weight loss and weight gain, so much so that I am never content with my size. If I am close to my goal weight then I become obsessed with becoming "perfect" and how being "perfect" will change my life. And if I am over my ideal weight, then I become obsessed with how disappointed I am that I am so far from being "perfect". But the most astonishing realization for me is when I look back on pictures of myself at various stages in my life, I am always aware of how good I looked "back then"...even though at the time the picture was taken I thought I was hideous. Not loving my body has been a circle of self-hatred, regret and hopelessness, which has overshadowed my ability to fully enjoy my life

I will miss out on the freedom to have plain old fun. I look back, when years ago I was so self conscience about my body-and I looked great. I could have taken off my shorts and worn a bathing suit in swim classes. I could have worn a skirt with out pantyhose, I could have had more fun building sandcastles with my daughters. But I held back, because I hated my body so much. I missed out on a lot of fun, with my friends, husband and my children while they were toddlers.I punished myself, I lost out on a lot of happiness, I only hurt myself because of my insecurities.

I miss out on a lot because I hate my body. First of all, I don't enjoy sex as

much as I could because I always think that my boyfriend hates my body as much as I do. This is not true, in fact he tells and shows me that he loves it. Apart from that I don't have as much fun as I could have. Before going out to work, a party or seeing a friend or I can become completely miserable because I think everybody will think: My God, she's fat! Even when I know that most of these people don't care about my weight.



WHAT ARE YOU MISSING OUT ON????

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

HEALTHY NUTRITION + HEALTHY BODY IMAGE = NUTRILICIOUS!

EMBRACE THE CHAOS!

One of the MOST important aspects to health in my opinion is how you deal with stress. Even the happiest and most grateful of us are occasionally challenged by this wonderful universe. So what are some ways to turn a bad day around?
I'm no expert but, all these work for me.

In fact I just had a horrible day and yet I felt at peace at the end of it and excited for a new day.
Here are some tips how to get moving on with life. You only get one on this planet!

1. Do something nice for someone else.
It's true. Do good and you'll feel good. No matter how small you can always make a difference on the way someone else's day is going. So put a litle sunshine in someone else's life when your own seems unmanageable. Make someone's day when yours doesn't go your way. It's the right thing to do. For them and for YOU.

2. Control your thoughts.
My FIRST inclination was to go over and over the details of the upsetting episode and to conduct imaginary arguments. Studies show that dwelling on negative thoughts amplifies their power in your mind. In fact, some researchers suggest that a reason that more women suffer depression than men is that women are more likely to “overthink,” while men are better at distracting themselves from negative thoughts. So don't overthink or over analyze what upset you. Just recognize it did. Understand WHY it upset you. Don't make up what ifs and wonder if you should of reacted differently. What's done is done.

3. Connect with someone important to me.
 I called my boyfriend. He is a wonderful listener. Supportive and encourages me to grow as a person. Sometimes all you need is someone to listen. Make sure you choose someone who is not judgemental or going to make you feel worse. Hardly makes sense right?

4. Do something you've been putting off.
Crossing things off a to-do list is empowering. Especially to anyone who is mildly OCD like me LOL. I took the time to clear my desk – not just physically removing piles of papers, but also doing the tasks that the papers represented. It can be the smallest thing. Just do something you've been putting off. Something TOTALLY not related to what's going on. You will feel better and have a sense of accomplishment. How can a day be considered bad when you've accomplished something? It simply can't.

5.  Do something silly
Play with kids, goof off with a co-worker, play a practical fun lighthearted joke on a friend. LAUGH. Make someone else laugh. A good, hard belly laugh is the BEST therapy for whatever ails you emotionally.

6. Act the way you think you should feel.
 Research shows that although we think that we act because of the way we feel, in fact, we often feel  because of the way we act. So slow down. Calm down. You can't be rational and make valuable decisions when you are enraged or upset or pre-occupied. Fake it til you make it. Eventually, you WILL CALM down!

7. Ask for help. 
You know the person I said to connect with? The supportive, kind, compassionate non-judgemental one? Ask them for help. Ask them what they think you should do. You don't have to listen but, you'd be surprised how someone you respect can influence they way you think. Bet you never thought of the options they suggest! There's a reason you chose THEM to go to for comfort and strength. Listen to what they have to say! If you chose them, they know you better than anyone.

8. Go to sleep early.
Everything is better in the morning. Every day is a new day. A new chance. Embrace the next day.

9. What did you learn?
MOST importantly did you learn from this?
What did you learn about the experience? About yourself?

10. SMILE
Like the song goes "Smile even when you aren't smiling inside" - smiles are contagious. Fake it til you make it!!!

Once in a while the Universe shakes the ground beneath us. It's not always a bad thing. In fact it could be the BEST thing that's ever happened to you.

EMPOWER yourself EMBRACE THE CHAOS

THAT'S NUTRILICIOUS!!!

TOP 10 WEIGHT LOSS LIES

1. CRASH DIETS


Or any other gimmick that claims you can lose weight really quickly. Sure, you might lose the weight but, you will gain it back just as fast if not more when you resume normal eating habits again. Slow and steady ALWAYS wins the race when it comes to weight loss. These are the people who keep it off for good! It took you a while to gain the weight...it'll take a while to take it off.





2. FAT IS BAD FOR YOU.


We have it embedded in our brains that fat is evil. There are bad fats no doubt but, you actually need to eat GOOD fat in order to lose weight. The good fat in almonds, walnuts in moderation (a serving is actually ONLY 10 of them when trying to lose weight), olive oil, flaxseed oil (great on salad) and avocado are very beneficial when trying to shed pounds. Aim for and don’t exceed 3 servings per day.





3. CARBOHYDRATES MAKE YOU GAIN WEIGHT


Much like fat, carbohydrates have gotten such a bad rap especially in the last decade. I bet you know someone who has done Atkins, South Beach, Dr. Bernstein or Dr. Poon where carbohydrates are either greatly restricted or not allowed at all. I bet you also watched them shed pounds very quickly only to gain all the weight back and then some. ANY weight loss plan that removes one of the major building blocks (PROTEIN, CARBS OR FAT) is not only extremely unhealthy but, also unrealistic. Nobody can eat like that for long term. Key here is to distinguish between unhealthy carbohydrates, such as white sugar and complex carbohydrates, such as vegetables and whole grains, which provide vital vitamins, and fiber to aid digestion. Tip: Eat your carb at lunch when your metabolism is at its peak and have a protein/vegetable combo for dinner when trying to lose weight.





4. STARVING WILL SHED POUNDS QUICKER


Starving deprives the body of and is EXTREMELY dangerous. When you starve yourself you lose muscle mass, not fat. Not eating also slows down your metabolism and slows down weight loss. 4-6 small meals a day will not only rev up your metabolism but, will also provide your body with a steady source of energy and nutrients. I have too many stories of clients I know that have starved themselves on calorie restricted diets so many times that now they either have health problems or are heavier than ever and cannot lose weight no matter what they do. When you don’t eat and you should, your body tries to hang on to all its stored fat cells because it has no idea when you are going to eat again and prepares for starvation.





5. THE MORE POUNDS LOST, THE BETTER THE DIET


NO! The scale lies. The best way to measure your success is to take your measurements and monitor them every two weeks. Take the widest part of your chest, the smallest part of your waist – usually at the belly button and the widest part of your hips. Record these numbers and use these to track your success. The scale does NOT always tell the whole story. It is also imperative to go by how you feel in your clothes. Jeans NEVER lie.





6. SALADS ARE HEALTHY.


Bacon, cheeses, fried chicken, oily dressings, croutons etc all of these add so many unwanted calories and bad fat, bad carbs to salads. In fact MOST salads at fast food places have more calories and fat then the fries or some of their combos. A salad should be plentiful in greens and as many vegetable toppings as you want. The more colorful the salad in terms of veggies, the better. (And no, yellow cheese IS NOT A VEGETABLE)





7. "DIET" SODAS AND OTHER DIET PRODUCTS HELP TO LOSE WEIGHT.


There isn’t a single study that shows diet sodas help you lose weight. There are many however, that show aspartame is a neuro toxin (poison for your brain) in fact aspartame has been proven to cross the placenta and to the baby in pregnant woman. Rats died of brain cancer in early aspartame studies. For more on the dangers of sweetners like aspartame, watch the movie SWEET MISERY on you tube. It documents countless cases of MS sufferers, brain cancer patients and other reprecussions of this nasty chemical. Furthermore, in terms of dieting, chemical sweetners trick your body. It gets sweet stuff and just craves more of it. It doesn’t care that it’s not real sugar. How many people do you know drink diet soda and are overweight? Think about it.





8. VEGETARIANS ARE SKINNY.


There are good vegetarians who eat healthy, nutritious meals, tons of vegetables, whole grains, and fruit and ensure they get all the protein they need from non-animal sources and there are vegetarians who eat bread, pasta, doughnuts, chips and pizza every day. Big difference…literally.


And the RIGHT types of protein are essential to a successful weight loss program!





9. DIET PILLS MUST WORK


There are less than a handful of supplements I would actually advise a client take to help lose weight. The rest are all a big scam. And the few I recommend go hand in hand with an excellent diet, some exercise …. There is NO QUICK FIX. Remember, if it’s too good to be true…it probably is!





10. YOU HAVE TO JOIN A GYM.


Actually, the most recent research indicates 30 to 60 minutes per day of moderate physical activity is all it takes to balance healthy food intake. It doesn’t have to be strenuous at all. Walking is the easiest exercise ever and one of the most effective. It’s simple…you have to move it to lose it. Like the NIKE ad says…JUST DO IT. Take it from someone who used to exercise 2 hours a day, 5 days a week, ate what she wanted and just got bigger….it’s 80% NUTRITION and 20% physical activity that results in weight loss.

Think of food as fuel and energy not as a “treat”. Enjoy ALL your meals, don’t rush. Sit at the table and chew your food. Taste it!! Enjoy it! Don’t wait to be the dress size or weight that you want. LOVE yourself NOW and set a goal to be healthier not skinnier. Cuz THAT’S Nutrilicious!!!!

MOJO MAGIC

Most women and guys (even though they don't talk about it) have body image issues. Some want to be bigger in some areas, some smaller, some curvier, some wish they had the six pack abs they did in high school. Whatever the case, Body Image is a really rampant and serious issue in our society! It's difficult to feel good about oneself when the media, people around us and OURSELVES (we are our WORST critics) put pressure on us to look a way that is just not attainable or feasable for most people.

So I thought since it's NATIONAL EATING DISORDER AWARENESS MONTH and body image is directly related to eating disorders AND Valentine's day is fast approaching, I thought I'd write a fun article on some tips to help people feel good about their bodies. Feel SEXIER. And why the hell not?

Here are some tips that DON'T include exercise or food because by now you hopefully know that both help you feel good. And when you feel good you look good!

1. DRESS THE PART

This doesn't mean you have to wear a short skirt with kick ass boots (although NOTHING wrong with that!) but, I find that when most people feel the crappiest about themselves they wear ill fitting clothes, things that don't flatter and hide their bodies. When you are having a low body image day THAT'S THE TIME to wear your favorite dress or scarf or the pants that you love the most and you feel good in! This REALLY works. When you are comfortable in your clothes and you like what you are wearing and it compliments your good parts - AND YES WE ALL HAVE THEM!!! You will carry yourself with confidence. Confidence is SEXY!


2. GET YOUR BEAUTY REST
Kind of hard to feel sexy and in the mood when you're exhausted. Our bodies are so smart that when we sleep we maintain, rebuild and detoxify. ALL have a very attractive outcome!

3. SMILE
Ask anybody. The person at a party laughing and having fun or the person at a party sulking in the corner. Who do you think they'd rather spend time with? Who would YOU rather spend time with?

4. BELIEVE YOUR PARTNER
Your partner tells you that you are the most beautiful woman or the sexiest guy they know. You should believe it. You don't expect them to look like Brad Pitt so why do you think they expect you to look like Angelina Jolie? Think about it. You are the ONLY one putting unrealistic expectations on how sexy you are. And if your partner does make you feel less than sexy then you have to really explore the reasons you are with that person. Or at the very least communicate to them that they make you feel bad about your body. Maybe they don't know they are making you feel that way! A healthy relationship is an honest relationship where two people communicate and would never intentionally ever make the other person feel bad in any way. And seriously what kind of person would put your body down and then want to be intimate with you? Not someone who loves YOU!

5. CONNECT WITH YOUR BODY
Sexy people have control over their bodies. When you feel  great about what you look like, feel like, and what you are capable of doing with your body... the sexy part comes naturally.  If you haven’t gotten “in touch” with yourself in a while than DO IT. Knowing and understanding your body is essential to being a strong and sexy individual. How can you possibly tell someone else what makes you feel sexy, turns you on or excites you when YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW?




And finally...Just say it! “I am sexy.”  How many different ways can you say it?  Try it out loud.  I AM sexy.  i am SEXY.  I AM sexy. I AM SEXY. I am sexy.  KEEP SAYING IT.
*Probably best not to try this on a crowded subway train or in the middle of a business meeting or at dinner with the in-laws* LOL


Sexy is feeling good about your self. It starts in the brain. Then it goes to the body. We all have areas we don't like. We all have areas that we DO like. FOCUS on accentuating THOSE areas. It's good for the body, mind and soul.



Work your mojo magic and HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL OF YOU.

BE NUTRILICIOUS...just for today :)

"I think the quality of sexiness comes from within. It is something that is in you or it isn't and it really doesn't have much to do with breasts or thighs or the pout of your lips." - Sophia Loren