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Climbing out of the shower each morning is a bit of a challenge. As I clamber out, reaching for my towel, I do everything in my power not to look to the right, towards the end of the bathroom...towards the large sliding mirrored doors that hide our closet. If I do happen to glance in that direction, I am greeted with a full-frontal view of myself. (Cue slasher movie scream.) I quickly look away in frustration and start on a long barrage of reprimands and promises to lock the pantry door and throw away the key.
Despite all of these dramatics, I am a very healthy person. I run four days per week and am training for a half-marathon, I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and I am doing everything but sticking an IV in my arm to increase my fluid intake. Yet, still, my body is far from the perfect specimen I yearn for. During that brief glance into the mirror, my eyes and brain refuse to see the legs that are becoming stronger or the arms that are getting a little bit slimmer with each run. Rather, they focus on the imperfections. Why are we so hard on ourselves?
While the media's glorification of skinny celebrities is partly to blame, I think we need to look a little deeper than that. While none of us have perfect lives, I will bet that the majority could list several things that are pretty darned good in their lives - kids that are active and happy, a supportive spouse, healthy parents, or a satisfying job. I am lucky enough to be able to check all of these off my list. These are the things that I should be focusing on, not the fact that my skinny jeans have been relegated to the back of the closet.
Right here, right now, I vow to be grateful for friends and my family, to be present in the moment. Do my kids care that my muffin top is popping over the waistband of my shorts while I am kicking the soccer ball with them in the backyard? Of course not. They are just happy that we are spending time together.
Each morning, I will continue to crawl out of bed, strap on my running shoes, and let myself enjoy the exertion as my friend and I run our regular loop. We are getting stronger, we are running faster and - darn it - we look good doing it.
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For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, please answer the following question in the comments section:
What do you do to boost your body image?
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39 comments:
When I exercise, I feel better about myself and that boosts my body image.
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
I make sure that I drink enough water. My skin looks fresher and better when I am well hydrated.
msgb245 at gmail dot com
I did Jazzercise this summer, and that's helped how I feel about myself a ton!
I tweeted this giveaway :)
http://twitter.com/julieruble/status/21327537482
I write down all of the amazing things that my body can do. I make myself realize that my body wasn't made for appearances, but to function.
katie_20102002@yahoo.com
If I start to think how pudgy my legs are or how my muffin top pops out, I remind myself that a: I am fortunate to HAVE this body, these legs and arms, this brain! And b: that my legs are strong and carry me where I need and want to go, that my hands are dexterous and help me do the hobbies I move, that my brain is capable of learning new things and that is what I LOVE!
To boost my body image I fancy myself up a bit. I do my nails or wear something lovely or try a new hair cut,and I always try to get lots of sun and exercise because when I know I am my healthiest I am also my happiest and that just makes me more beautiful! YAY! Thanks
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com
http://meeyeehere.blogspot.com/2010/08/wanna-win-100-bucks_16.html
I blogged ya!!
Great question! I am not overweight, but I have always had a big frame. Big feet, big hips, big head even. And I always envied the feminine, dainty frame. A few months ago, a would-be rapist broke into my apartment, and because I wasn't dainty, I was able to fight him off until the cops came.Now, I have true respect for the way I am made and the power this large frame is hosting. Seriously.
quitecontrary1977@hotmail.com
i try to not eat ice cream at the middle of the night >.< and exercise as much as i can and eat healthy. it is hard to have a healthy lifestyle.
songyueyu at gmail
i tweeted http://twitter.com/syytta/status/21362994586
I try to work out a few times a week and drink tea every day. When I feel good health-wise is when I feel good about who I am and how I look.
julie (at) thelittlekitchen (dot) net
I drink a ton of water every day-keep active and just know how blessed I am to be alive and healthy.
I always feel great about myself after a tough workout!
I do a few things
1. Running, the sweat from running makes you realize the hard work your body has put into it and it feels good to drink that glass of orange juice.
2. Cycling, boxing and any other physical activity that makes you sweat like a pig. Sweating makes me feel my body working towards the goal of burning fat. Makes me feel fantastic.
I make homemade vegetable juice and keep active.
I try to focus on my assets and not my drawbacks and every little weight-loss victory along the way. I need to lose about 40 pounds and it's much harder taking it off than it was putting it on. I had to stop thinking of it as a "diet" and instead make it my mindset that it was a change...I'm not going to deprive myself of everything that tastes good but it has to be in moderation..no more eating a sleeve of fig newtons but I can have one or two. I feel a lot better about myself and my body when I know I'm doing what I can to lose the weight without feeling like it is a punishment.
shel704 at aol dot com
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/21468327704
shel704 at aol dot com
What do I do to boost my body image?
First and most important, I take time to breathe. First thing in the morning, I sit in silence and breathe and feel my body. After that, it's all in the moment.
gmissycat
gmissycat@yahoo.com
We all see every, single, solitary fault we have, so to boost my body image I....try to see myself as an entire package. Not just the outside but the inside, too. Now that brings about another problem, BEING THE BEST, KINDEST, SELFLESS-EST, LOVING-EST PERSON YOU CAN BE.
I make sure to get some work outs in and eat some healthy meals along the way. Even if I don't look exactly how I want to, knowing that I am taking good care of my body makes me feel great.
I make sure and get good work outs in and balance eating healthy with small indulgences. Even if I don't look what I feel is my best, knowing I'm taking good care of my body makes me feel great.
I'm sorry, I forgot to leave an email - erika.marie@sbcglobal.net
Because summers are so hot here I swim several times a week. In the winter I walk a lot.
I stay hydrated, eat right and exercise regularly (love yoga and jogging) to boost my body image.
http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/21524208672
blogged.http://tcarolinep.blogspot.com/2010/08/giveaway-points-of-review_18.html
I've found that how I see myself usually has less to do with how fit/thin I am at the time and more to do with what I'm focusing on and letting myself think about throughout the day. We're all too hard on ourselves and its sad how many beautiful women I know that focus on their percieved flaws. Remember what is good and what is true. You're more than just your body. You have heart, character and mind. There's nothing more beautiful than a loving spirit.
missamorgan@gmail.com
I swim 3 times a week and it makes me feel good. Thanks for the contest.
http://twitter.com/slehan/status/21857379754
Drink a lot of water! more water than soda or other drinks
belgd at live dot com
I remind myself that I'm pretty as I am, and that the people around me think so too.
I try to take care of myself by walking 3x a week and making sure I take the time to do my hair
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet
http://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/22276126362
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I stay away from HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup), lunch meats containing Nitrates, aspartame, etc. I take pride in taking the time to really think about what I'm putting into my body. =)
ninjapandawedding(at)gmail(dot)com
I exercise and drink tons of water
Tweet
http://twitter.com/jillyrh/status/22551351191
I exercise, eats healthy, and drink,lots of water to boost my body image. Some days are more difficult to do all of these things.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
I boost my body image by working out/running. When I feel like I am "working on it" then it makes me feel better.
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