I think the biggest hurdle that is faced when embarking on a health journey to lose weight, maintain, or gain weight is the struggle with body image.
It might not be everyday, but no one is alone when negative thoughts creep up with a spotlight lighting up their words telling you that you aren't thin enough, haven't made enough progress, etc. It's natural, and it's something that must be tirelessly worked at to ignore.
The thing is, you can't prevent a bad body image day. You can be the most body positive person in the world who loves every inch of the skin that they're in and still want to nitpick or change something here and there.
On days like these there are a few culprits that should be avoided in order to lessen the stress brought on by these thoughts:
- Stop body checking. See a mirror? Cool. Walk by it - don't check to see if your stomach is a little more bloated, if you skin looks dull, don't go seeking for what you think are imperfections.
- Weigh yourself daily. For some people, this may not be triggering, but for others the weight you read in the morning dictates your entire day. Limit it to 1-2 times a week to keep a general idea of your average if you wish -- or just throw the scale out all together.
- Social media deep diving. You've heard it once and you're about to hear it again -- social media is everyones highlight reel. All the people you are comparing yourself to are in turn comparing themselves to other people too. Don't compare your progress with someone else's, our timelines just don't work that way.
It's been a long road for me to accept weight gain and my body changing to where it wants to be without me forcing any ideas of what I want my body to be (which was physically and genetically impossible...). Food was what I could control, exercise was what I could control when everything else seemed out of sorts - and that became my life. It was draining. It was no fun. And no matter how many goals I achieved or how great my body looked - I was never going to be happy with it because I internally wasn't happy.
It was about reframing my thoughts.
When I wake up the day after eating maybe a bit too much or drinking a biiiiit too much, I refrain from beating myself up and instead remind myself that the moment of spontaneity that included food and drinks ALSO included new memories to remember.
In ten years from now will I remember the number on the scale or the moments had with the loved ones that sculpted me into who I am? I'm going to guess it's the latter.
You don't have to like your body everyday, but love your body and your mind each day. It's about choosing to do this, and soon, it won't be a choice, it just will be.