Loving the Body You Have!

So many people have low self esteem. It's something that affects all types, sizes, ages, and genders. In other words, it's a universal problem. There are many reasons why we have body issues. Weight gain, weight loss, social pressure, verbal and emotional abuse, expectations we or others have for us, guilt..the list goes on and on an on.

Did you know that learning to appreciate the body you have, NOW, can actually help you achieve your goals for better health? It's true! When you start to learn to love yourself, you become more motivated. Think about a material object that is important to you. Do you not take care of it? Do what's best to keep it in great condition? The same applies with our bodies. When we learn to love ourselves, we WANT to take the best possible care of ourselves.

If you are struggling to lose weight due to issues with willpower or lack of desire to workout. A great question to ask yourself is, "why do I not love myself enough to do the best thing for my body and mind?" Sometimes we have an anger towards ourselves that we aren't aware of. For me, it was anger that I had let my weight get so out of control. Anger that I had a bad leg that kept me from being able to do all the things I wanted to do...that translated into doing nothing at all. What is keeping you from loving yourself? If you can figure that out, you will suddenly go farther than you thought in caring for yourself.

Here are a list of exercises to help you rediscover the love you should have for your body.

1. Think of your body as the vehicle to your dreams. Honor it. Respect it. Fuel it.
2. Create a list of all the things your body lets you do. Read it and add to it often.
3. Become aware of what your body can do each day. Remember it is the instrument of your life, not just an ornament.
4. Create a list of people you admire: people who have contributed to your life, your community, or the world. Consider whether their appearance was important to their success and accomplishments. 
5. Walk with your head held high, supported by pride and confidence in yourself as a person.
6. Don’t let your weight or shape keep you from activities that you enjoy.
7. Wear comfortable clothes that you like, that express your personal style, and that feel good to your body.
8. Count your blessings, not your blemishes.
9. Think about all the things you could accomplish with the time and energy you currently spend worrying about your body and appearance. Try one!
10. Be your body’s friend and supporter, not its enemy. 
11. Consider this: your skin replaces itself once a month, your stomach lining every five days, your liver every six weeks, and your skeleton every three months. Your body is extraordinary—begin to respect and appreciate it.
12. Every morning when you wake up, thank your body for resting and rejuvenating itself so you can enjoy the day.
13. Every evening when you go to bed, tell your body how much you appreciate what it has allowed you to do throughout the day.
14. Find a method of exercise that you enjoy and do it regularly. Don’t exercise to lose weight or to fight your body. Do it to make your body healthy and strong and because it makes you feel good. Exercise for the Three F’s: Fun, Fitness, and Friendship.
15. Think back to a time in your life when you felt good about your body. Loving your body means you get to feel like that again, even in this body, at this age.
16. Keep a list of 10 positive things about yourself—without mentioning your appearance. Add to it daily!
17. Put a sign on each of your mirrors saying, “I’m beautiful inside and out.”
18. Search for the beauty in the world and in yourself.
19. Consider that, “Life is too short to waste my time hating my body this way.”
20. Eat when you are hungry. Rest when you are tired. Surround yourself with people that remind you of your inner strength and beauty.