Your Body is Not the Problem. Society is.

So many of us think about the parts of our bodies that we would like to change. It doesn’t help that we are bombarded with messages both subliminally and overtly in our technology-laden world and part of a culture that is grossly superficial.

I’m a firm believer in the following statement:
“Love the body you have, so you can have the body you love.”

By that I mean if you are making dietary changes and increasing your physical activity because you want to look a certain way, you’re doing it wrong.

Believe me, I did it. If you want to live a healthy lifestyle that includes taking care of your body, nourishing it properly and giving it the movement it needs, then you will reap many benefits– both physical and psychological.

However, if you are looking to achieve your “dream body,” because you feel that once that happens, the rest of your life will just fall into place, then my friend I’m sorry to say you have a long road of dissatisfaction and longing ahead.

Exercise should not be a punishment for the food you eat. And eating should not be seen as sinful or something to feel guilty about. We all need food which is comprised of nutrients that help our bodies and minds function to their highest potential. Some foods are more nutrient rich (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, nuts, and seeds) . Other foods are more energy-rich (Sugary foods, fried foods). Some foods are both nutrient and energy rich (Avocados, nuts, fatty fish, olive oil). A healthy diet is comprised of a combination of these types of foods, with most foods being nutrient-rich with a few energy-rich foods interspersed.

My wish for everyone I care about (which is basically everyone I meet) is that we learn to love the bodies we have. They are the only bodies we’ve ever had, and we will never have a different one. Once we learn to love the vessel in which we live, then we will treat it with respect. From looking at ourselves from a standpoint of respect and love, we will appreciate all that it can do, and we will find joy in strengthening it, challenging it physically and providing it proper nutrition.

I urge everybody to refrain from talking negatively about their bodies. It promotes our culture of superficiality and further supports the notion that we must all strive to achieve something that may not even be within our genetics to achieve. Instead, be the bolder person and say something positive about your body. Everyone has something. Help me be part of a movement that challenges the norm of negative body-talk as an impetus for change. Let’s promote a culture of individuals who live balanced lifestyle because we care about ourselves.

 

 

Sleep, Stress and Overeating

Here we go, a post related to what I’m actually studying!

I know I write a lot about mood, but our lifestyle factors (attitude, sleep, exercise, and nutrition) definitely have an impact on how we feel, act, and portray ourselves!

Recent research done by Harvard Medical School actually did a study on sleep and weight gain. To make a long story short, those who don’t get enough sleep make poor food decisions; they opt for high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, and they overeat. 

I can personally attest to this finding. When I don’t get enough sleep, I’m grumpy, and I feel the need to eat to increase my energy. As a result, I feel stressed, then I turn to food. Then I over eat, gain weight, and the cycle repeats. 

In contrast, when I get a full night’s sleep, I’m more energetic, productive, and likely to make better choices regarding food, and I feel as though I get more from my work outs.

The best way for me to see this is by keeping a food journal. Writing down what you’re eating makes you more aware of what you’re putting in your mouth, so you think more about what and how much you’re eating. In my food journal, I write down the following:

Time
Mood & energy level
Food item & quantity (drinks included)
Calorie content

So, an example would look like this:

6/29/13 2:26pm
feeling sleepy, annoyed. Somewhat tired.
2 cups of coffee with 2% milk (~50cal), 5 small pretzels (60), 1 tbsp natural peanut butter (100)
Total calories: 210

The more detailed your logs are, the more it will help you! I also recommend keeping a log of how you sleep, and an exercise journal. That way you can see how your lifestyle choices affect your mood, and you can make changes from there to create a more productive and fulfilling life for yourself 🙂