Do You, Like, Love, or Hate Your Shape & Size…

Do you feel Skinny, Perfect just the Way You Are, or Super-sized?  Does how you FEEL, and how you look match? Or is your brain, and body image, a little out of alignment?

This week has been a reality check for me in evaluating the connection between my brain and body image.  We are so bombarded by advertisements that tell us we’re too fat, unhealthy, and unhappy.  The solution (according to the media) is pills, diet plans, Botox, and plastic surgery, then maybe someday we can look like the models in the magazines with thin thighs, flat Abs, and perfectly airbrushed make-up and sexy hair.  As hard as I try to erase these images from my brain, they still are constant reminders that I’m just not good enough!

I know I’m not the only women out there who hungers for the quick fix, but knows from the bottom of her heart that the money spent, medications, pills, and potions aren’t really going to solve the problem.  We have to actually like ourselves from the inside out!  More than like, we have to really LOVE ourselves to value and appreciate our beautiful whole self – brain, body, and spirit!

Self-love, self-acceptance, and self-satisfaction are more valuable to our good health than anything else.

I’ve done some soul-searching this week and have come to the conclusion that I’ve still got some personal growth work to do to get my brain & body image in sync.

Some things we CAN change, and other things we’ve got to learn to accept.  But I don’t think we have to accept everything!  The question is, if you’re not happy or willing to accept your current situation, have you really done everything possible to make a change?  Most people want the change, but aren’t willing, dedicated, or committed to doing the work, thus the media pitches for quick-fix options that don’t really solve the problems because we haven’t made permanent lifestyle adjustments.

Personally, I’ve been unhappy with how I look and my weight for most of my life.  Like I said, I’m still working on it.  But the constant mental drain of beating myself up because I feel fat & ugly isn’t really serving positive, lasting, long-term personal growth and self-improvement!  I see that…  I get it… but geeez it’s a tough mindset to change.  However, I am determined to embrace my body and learn to love myself!

Where are you at on your own personal self-love/hate scale?

At the end of 2011 I made some major food and diet changes.  Not because I wanted to “lose weight” (although I always do…) but for my overall health and well-being.  I have not counted one calorie, deprived myself, or missed a meal.

Since January LOTS has changed!  I no longer have joint pain, my body is stronger, and I’m sleeping better.  Yesterday I tried on every pair of pants in my closet to get rid of what doesn’t fit.  Perhaps 20-25 pairs of pants later…. The 8’s, 10’s, 12’s, and 14’s are now packed away.  (almost everything in my closet!)  Just for fun, and so i’m not running around naked…  I went shopping for a new pair of jeans.

Here’s what happened…  My head walked my body right up to the 8-10’s jeans and the large to x-large tops even though these were the sizes I’d just boxed up that we’re way too big.  Now, guess what size I actually purchased… Size 2!  TWO’s!!!  Really????  Are you kidding???  I’ve NEVER been a size 2!  Bought 1 pair of pants, size 2, and one pair of jeans (without any Lycra/spandex) size 4 just because I was afraid this size 2 special might only be a one-day event for my body.

Driving home it dawned on me that even though my body has changed, when I look in the mirror I’m not seeing the little size 2 me, I’m still looking at the size 12 me.  I don’t love, trust, of believe that this is really me!  When I look at what the scale says, I still feel frustrated that I’m not where I want to be, I’m not sure I’ll ever get there, and by what the scale says I should be a solid 8 or 10.  But I  really want to keep the new “little 2” me happy.  And I know the only way to do this is to love and encourage me to stick with the lifestyle changes I’ve made to get here, as well as not forget to celebrate my success.

Actual weight is not as important as how I feel, and my good health!   And holy crap, what size will I be when I actually do drop that last 15 pounds I think I need to get rid of?

I guess the point of this all this is to encourage you to take a look at the congruency between what you think about your body and your body.

• Be Happy
• Love Yourself Inside & Out
• Love Your Body at Every Size
• Appreciate & Celebrate Your Beauty – Mind, Body, & Spirit

If there’s something you want to change, love those parts anyway!  Then take action and see what you can change.  A lot more can shift for a positive result when your riding on the wings of light & love.

I love my size 12 body.  I love my tiny, new, size 2 body.  And I love YOU too!

Thanks for reading my posts.  Hope I’ve planted a seed of self-love for YOUR body in your brain today.  Now water it and watch it grow.

Have a Happy & Healthy Day!

Aliesa George, PMA-CPT
Centerworks®
Pilates, Foot Fitness
& Functional Movement
for Whole-Body Health