Beach parties, barbecues, fun under the sun, shorts, swimsuits… Who wouldn’t like that, after almost six months of cold and heavy clothing? Sadly, for a lot of people, it causes much stress. Why? Because our society tells us – women mostly – that our bodies are not OK as they are. The media and the women’s magazines send the same message: to be beautiful, women need to lose weight, have flawless skin, etc. What all these commercial ads do is teach girls and women to hate their body. Hate is a strong word, you say? Tell me this: when you look at your body in the mirror, what do you say to yourself? Do you say “I love my body” or do you say “I hate my ____” (thighs, belly, etc.)? If you say the latter, it means you unconsciously believe all the crap ideas the media fills girls and women with.
How can you enjoy yourself and feel good in your own skin if you hate your body? You just can’t. That’s no way to live. So, what can you do about it?
You can choose to look at it in a totally different way – a healthy way. Instead of saying you need to avoid eating this type of food, you need to work out, you need to buy this expensive cream, etc., try saying this: “What can I do today to take good care of my body?” Then, you make choices from that perspective. You choose foods that nourish your body, and activities that are fun and beneficial to your body – like walking or hiking in nature, dancing, biking, playing badminton, tennis, volleyball, swimming, etc. What’s important is to choose healthy foods you like and activities that are fun, because then you’re more likely to stick to your new healthy lifestyle.
If you start doing that, you’ll see results pretty soon. You’ll be healthier, you’ll have more energy, and you’ll feel good about yourself. Remember, your body will be with you all your life. If you take loving care of it, it will stay healthy and vibrant and you will be able to enjoy all that life has to offer – not only summer!
Oh, and by the way, your body will reach its ideal weight, your skin will be healthy and glowing, and you’ll feel great about your body and yourself J Now that’s the way to live!
– Sylvie Grégoire