Our bodies bring us through this world -Are you not happy that you are not just a mass of free consciousness? – But they can also keep us back. Often, this is not due to our body, per se, but because of our mentality.
I often say because some people have physical and/or mobility restrictions that do some things more provocative. (I recently read that Stephen Hawking has traveled widely for both scientific conferences and leisure, but as Als has worsened, increasingly – and ultimately exclusively – traveled from a private jet aircraft, but this is a luxury available in a small fraction of people.)
Anyway, Our thoughts, feelings and beliefs about our body – How they look and how they work and whether they are “acceptable” – it can have a profound impact on the way we move into the world (with confidence or not) and this includes how we spend time, money and energy.
Signs that you have concerns in the body
Do you do any of these things?
- Count/Track calories, macros or spots?
- Consider yourself in the mirror?
- Get pain to avoid seeing your reflection?
- Are you worried about what your body looks like (or it may look like in the future if you are not “careful”)?
- Are you worried that your outfit makes you look bigger or older than you are?
- Spend hours shopping for clothes that can make you look smaller or younger?
- Overheated in the summer because you want to keep your body covered?
- Only exercise in places or in times when few people will be around to look at your body?
- Avoid dancing at weddings, parties or concerts because it makes your body very openly visible?
- Refuse to leave home without full makeup (even if you only run on the grocery for one thing)?
- Avoid social events because you don’t like how you look?
- Avoid social events that include food because you are on a diet?
- Avoid eating at social events because you want to look like a diet?
- Abouts for Menopause -related body changes?
- You make excuses for your children about why you won’t swim with them, why don’t you want to see in a swimsuit?
- Release the dream trip until you are thinner?
If you answered “yes”, ask yourself if this is really how you want to live. It may also be useful to ask yourself this question: “If I woke up tomorrow and people were shifted so that no one would care about appearances, what would I start doing differently?”
The reality is that there are social “ideals” for appearance. This is a mess, but it is not going to change soon. So we can let us prevent us from living our best life, or we can do (the thing) anyway.
We can wear the swimsuit. We can spend time with friends even if we have gained weight. We can wear clothes that are appropriate for the weather, even if it means showing some skin. We can spend time reading or participating in a hobby instead of microprocessing whatever we eat. We can go to the gym (if this is something we enjoy), even if we are the least (visible) suitable person there. You can get up and dance when a song you love plays.
Reflects and takes action
What things would you do more, less or different if you were not worried about your body?
Choose one thing to do that will help you exercise “do it anyway” and approach how you really want to live. Do this thing twice next week.
“Doing this anyway” is a bit like cheating a band-aid. May feel a little painful but Once you do, you realize that the forecast was the worst place. And it gets easier as you do.
When choosing your thing, you do not need to make a full body jump on the deep end of a non -heated pool. You can take baby steps.
For example, I once had a larger customer who spent summers, because he couldn’t do the grocery store, the park or a barbecue back, unless he was covered with jeans and a shirt with long sleeves. She started wearing shorts and a short sleeve shirt when she was in her backyard. When she felt okay, she was wearing a similar outfit in the park with her children. He then wore a similar outfit in the grocery store. He then wore a similar outfit to a friend’s barbecue.
Guess what? It was more comfortable, of course, and it also got the original mental discomfort.
Similarly, I had an older, larger customer who went on a trip to Italy in the summer. She would usually keep herself covered, but said “f*ck it” and bought shorts and sleeveless shirts to take her journey. Guess what? It was a million times more comfortable and quickly got over any mental concern.
You only have one life and it’s not rehearsal. Go live!
Hi, I am Carrie dennett; Mph, rdn, a weight-inclusive Registered Dietitian, Nutrition Therapist and body image consultant. I help adults of all ages, shapes, sizes and sexes that want to escape from disturbed food or chronic diet, Learn how to Manage IBS symptoms with food, or Improve their dietary and lifestyle habits to help manage A current health concern or just support them overall health and prosperity. This post is only for information purposes and is not a personalized diet or medical advice.
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