Raw Emotions-Better Body Image
So, I saw another really great post on Diet Tired and the raw emotions & feelings really grabbed at me. I knew I had to share this with you! It was about a better body vs. a better body image. It was about our feelings abut ourselves, our body, our life. It was about how we treat our body & ourselves and assume that we can just go on living, not getting sick or getting diabetes or having high cholesterol or clogged arteries without treating our body to a healthier lifestyle.
It was interesting that it posed a statement to a similar question that was on Diet Blog this morning: "If you were diagnosed with a life threatening disease or illness tomorrow - I would do everything in my power to fix it, cure it, reverse it, fight it." On Diet Blog, they addressed how many people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes still do not "clean up their act" to get healthy but continue down the path of eating things that contribute to their diabetes.
The post also addresses what I have blogged about along with many of you - how we put everyone before ourself!!! Sharon below says:
"I have horses, dogs and children that I care for to the best of my ability everyday - the best food, water, exercise, fresh air, cleanliness ... everything. Why do I not do the same for you? Without you, I wouldn't be here at all and this life that I value and enjoy so much would be over."
Sharon goes on to say how she is changing and why, so please read the full post below by Sharon!
Have you ever thought to yourself “If I really hate my body, maybe I'll be motivated to lose weight."
The truth is that the self-care behaviors required for sustained weight loss need you to like your body and yourself.
Here is what Sharon had to say during her journey of self discovery on the Healthy Weights program.
Sharon:
Without you I would not be here, living the life I love so much. Yet on a daily basis, I look at you and dislike you.
I assume every morning that you will get out of bed and function at your peak but I can't take credit for that. I feed you foods that I know will kill you, eventually.
I know what makes you feel your best but I still don't give you the exercise you need. If you were diagnosed with a life threatening disease or illness tomorrow - I would do everything in my power to fix it, cure it, reverse it, fight it.
But I don't take preventative steps to reduce the odds that those same diseases or illnesses will occur in the first place!! I have horses, dogs and children that I care for to the best of my ability everyday - the best food, water, exercise, fresh air, cleanliness ... everything.
Why do I not do the same for you? Without you, I wouldn't be here at all and this life that I value and enjoy so much would be over.
Why then do I not respect you as the keeper of my life? So today I begin a new journey - to give you the best of everything- what you need instead of what I want.
I know in time, your needs and my wants will become the same and my goal of you living into your 100's will be closer. You are the only one I've got and it's high time I looked after you - don't you think?
Do you motivate yourself with the crack of a whip or gentle encouragement?
The truth is that a better body image will help you lose weight, not hinder weight loss. Accepting your body the way it is, at this moment, will allow you to be happy now while artfully working towards your goals.
You know, I just put a comment on Merry's blog today about this issue. For me, it wasn't about accepting my body when it was obese, but rather looking at my body as worthy of the work it was going to take to get it healthy.
I am guilty, even today, of putting everyone before myself. I always have to remind myself that making myself a priority at times is OKAY!!
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It's funny how long it took me to realize that having a good body and having a good body image were not the same thing. It seems to me that the latter has to come first or you will never attain the former! (At least not in your own eyes...)
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What a great article from Diet Tired. It really speaks for a lot of people out there about how our body image & body as a whole is perceived. I know so many women who put others in front of themselves, when really they (and their body) need some attention.
And the statement from Diet Blog-is so freaking true. My aunt had a stroke, and the drs told her to stop smoking...that she will end up back in the hospital or even worse dead if she doesn't stop. It's like those words didn't even phase her. Still smokes, doesn't take care of her body and she won't listen to anyone! Even when people are diagnosed with something, some are so thickheaded that they can't even try to turn their life around, for their own sake!
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If you want to achieve anything in life, losing weight for example, you have to put your mind in a state of joy and happiness. To put you mind in a state of happiness you think about the things that you are grateful about. The love from you family, your pet, that you actually are alive just anything that make you grateful. Think about those things as often as you can instead of all the problems you have, the things that you don't want in your life, that you don't have to body you want to have etc.. When you have set you mind in grateful state and really feel good inside then visualize the things that you want to have in your life. See your self wearing those pants that you want to be able to wear, see you self on the scale and actually seeing your goal weight. Get into the feeling of having reached your goal. That will make you motivated to actually reaching your goal. You have seen yourself succeeding and therefore know it's possible. You are going to attract things into your life that will help you on the way.
So I agree, your really have to be grateful for the things you have and then going after things that you want to achieve or get. I don't believe in the whip tactic it's just a short term solution. Permanent change and achievement will come if you truly want it and on your way there you are in a state of joy, happiness.
This has help me tremendous in my journey to get back in shape. It has helped me bouncing back from illness and injuries in a very short time.
Pierre
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That lil excerpt from Sharon, pure gold. In fact, screw gold, it's frame worthy. Those aspiring for change need to read that out loud, over and over till it sinks in.
Those are the words of a woman who will go on to make changes in her life. It looks like she had an Epiphany, but also has a source of motivation.
Not many are fortunate enough to experience this, so the mere fact that it's out here, in the the public for everyone to read is a real kick in the ass.
Good stuff.
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Want to thank you all for your great comments. This lady, Sharon, really put it straight out there. FJ, your comments are so true along with all of you! It takes time to get to where Sharon got to for a lot of us.
Pierre, thx for visiting & your wonderful input!
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Carrying around an extra 100 pounds for so long did a number on the appearance of my body. It's taking some getting used to. I cope by focusing on the body parts that look great (legs!) and overlooking the ones that don't (belly). I'm just so grateful to be at this point that the positives I do see far, far outdistance the negatives!
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I know this may sound strange, but it was my son's father that helped me get started in my weight loss journey. I'm TERRIBLE with putting myself down, while I'm getting dressed, after I'm dressed, getting ready, I'm always making negative comments about myself. Well, years ago, I got out of the shower, and I started bitching again. I was in my towel, and my son's father, who I was living with at the time, finally got sick of telling me I look fine, etc, etc.... He grabbed me, stood me in front of a full length mirror and said.. "Is this what you don't like? Is this what you are constantly complaining about? Because no matter what I say, you'll continue thinking that way... so if you don't like it.. quit bitching about it and DO something about it!! I don't wanna hear another negative comment.. EVER!"
He was ticked. I guess I never realized how my own negative comments brought down not only me, but the others around me that love me and try to support me. It's a vicious cycle, and I catch myself to this day doing the same thing. Complaining but not doing anything.
Gotta do it, Just have to, because bitching, complaining and putting yourself down doesn't burn any calories and certainly doesn't reshape your body OR your life.
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Cher, thank you so much for you honest comment! WOW, your son's dad did that! Hard stuff but it may shake some people into reality! And yes, we can bring others down with us, including kids. Lots to learn from what you wrote!
Cher, YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! Put yourself first!
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I wanted to add a few additional words to my writing included in this post. I have struggled with body image for a long time - even at my thinnest/fittest, I always compared myself to others. I have done this my entire adult life - thinking my body wasn't good enough. A few weeks ago, the realization hit that my body is good enough ... simply because I am alive. I can walk and talk and do anything I want to do - what isn't good enough about that?
However, with this realization came a big dose of anger. My sister-in-law was diagnosed with pre-cancerous cells in her cervix and underwent a full hysterectomy at 34 years of age. I was with her throughout this time and witnessed the overwhelming fear of possibly not living into old age - leaving her two young children motherless. Luckily, the surgery and recovery went well and she was granted a clean bill of health. What infuriates me is that she continues to smoke heavily. Her body gave her a undeniably clear signal that it couldn't handle the toxic chemicals she was putting into her body - and she ignored it. So I am trying to put anger aside, learn from her situation and listen more to my body and give it what it needs. There is comfort in knowing that I am doing everything possible to live my best life in the best of health!!
Thanks for reading and making positive comments - it helps my journey to read your stories!
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Sharon, thank you so much for sharing this!!!! I am going to make a note on my Monday post for people so they see your follow up comment! You are amazing & a survivor!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
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