For women and men, there is an undeniable pressure to lose weight and/or to fit a specific ideal in order to be attractive and happy. We feel this pressure more than ever. For summer, for a holiday, for an event, for your wedding. It is a never-ending loop of shame and suffering in relation to your body and the image you have of it.
I have five different events coming up this year. I can’t help but feel this pressure to lose weight and change certain things about my body merely because i am going to a foreign country or event. It’s ridiculous!
My discomfort is routed by a certain ideal that our society has instilled within me and us. Based totally on unrealistic ideas and ideals.
I am happy and incredibly healthy and i certainly DO NOT need to lose weight in any circumstance or for any reason. Its irrational and to be honest, self-destructive.
The only things that are important to your body:
- Health
- Movement
- Healthy, balanced diet
- Mental stability and Happiness
These things are a necessity for your body and your life and should be your main concern.
IF YOU ARE AT A HEALTHY BODY WEIGHT YOU DO NOT NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT.
IF YOU ARE HEALTHY YOU DO NOT NEED TO CHANGE YOUR BODY OR WHO YOU ARE NO MATTER WHAT.
We have to recognise that this feeling of shame around the way our bodies look is destructive and unhealthy. Come to a place of peace with your body and then and only then, make positive changes for your HEALTH, not to fit and unrealistic and non-existent ideal.
Losing weight when you don’t have to and losing weight because you want to look a specific way is understandable but can be dangerous.
- You have to be clear on your motivations to look that way. Why do you want to look that way? Are you avoiding another problem? Is it a way to distract yourself from another issue in your life?
Most of the time such feelings of shame when in a healthy body is due to an insecurity or many about sometime totally irrelevant to the way you look. Think about what bothers you and what you are dealing with. Ask yourself if all of the stress of losing weight and restricting yourself is worth it? Is that what you really want? Is that what you really need?
You will never be 100% totally, utterly and completely happy with the way you look and that’s just human nature. We always want to change and improve. Losing weight or changing your body to look a certain way NOT because you have to will never make you happy or solve your problems.
Awareness of this is essential and important to your health.
The only thing we can do is provide our body with sufficient movement, nutrition and mental stability and happiness. I guarantee you; the feelings towards your body will decrease rapidly and become much easier to accept.
The most important thing is to be healthy and happy, whatever that means to you. The you vs you battle will never end, but being healthy will help you greatly. I look at it like this, how can you hate a body that is so healthy, that you provide for and nourish? How can you hate a body and a mind capable of so much? Fall in love with your body for what it can do and provide for you when you fuel it properly.
The next time you have an event or holiday coming up, before you go on a impossible and restrictive nutrition and exercise regime. Think to yourself: Is this necessary for my health? For my happiness? Would it make you healthier to lose weight?
If the answer to these questions is NO. Work on loving yourself and loving the body you’re in. Loving your body as it is incredible and healthy and can do anything.
YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!
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Let's Talk Health with Mairi 