The true meaning of the "love your body" mantra is to motivate us to fuel our body, respect it, care for it, and nourish it. It should not be an excuse to do nothing. The advice wasn't given for us to be lazy or settle with what we have or what we are right now. We shouldn't act bad ass about being overweight and lovin' it. There are no excuses for having an unhealthy lifestyle. We shouldn't just let ourselves get fat, and just embrace it, and love it, and ask the world to embrace it and love it, too. We can love our body and change it at the same time.
How to “Love Your Body”? Let us count the ways:
1. Be determined to love your body. Yes, please do. Love it with the true meaning of the phrase. When you love someone or something, you do what you can to make it feel loved, to take care of it, to never lose it, and to cherish it. So when you are determined to love your body, you won't let it be unhealthy, you wouldn't harm it, and definitely, you will do all you can to make it last.
2. Quit procrastinating and start today. Give up junk foods, sleep early, stop smoking, drink alcoholic beverages moderately, and start a daily exercise routine- the best time to start a healthy lifestyle is today. Nothing is more important than your health, and your life.
3. Avoid comparing your body (and yourself) to others. When you always compare yourself to others, you are bound to be doomed! Yes, we are not exaggerating here, comparing yourself to others will only make you feel unhappy because there will always be someone who has thinner arms, whose legs are perfectly shaped, or has a bigger butt than you. Always focus on what you could enhance, improve or be proud of, for all you know, that other girl admires how clear your skin is, or thinks that you have perfectly shaped hips.
4. Dwell on positivism. Feeling bad about yourself or self loathing is easy. But we must all fight the urge to do it. So let us all stand in front of the mirror and say: "This is me, and I love myself, I love my body! I will not stop in bringing out the best version of me, the healthier, wiser me!" Believe in yourself, and get moving!
5. Celebrate your achievements as well as your goals. Write down your goals- from the smallest to the biggest goals. Work your way into your goal sheet rewarding yourself after each single goal is achieved. A great idea of a reward is a fitness equipment, a new set of fabulous workout gear, or enrolling to a new fitness class like pole dancing, kickboxing or yoga. Do not reward yourself with food. Food should be your fuel, not an indulgence.
6. Respect your body's limits. Listen to your body, it will tell you what it can do. When your body has reached its full potential, know when to stop. We often get injuries if we work our body way past its limitations. What will you do with a lean or slim figure if you get paralyzed or disabled?
7. Feel better and do the things you love. Think happy thoughts, do things that make you happy. These things may be simple stuff that we used to love but have overlooked because of the hustle and bustle of our busy lives. Reading a good book, dancing, karaoke night with friends, a tall glass of iced coffee, catching up on your favorite series, or breaking out a sweat in the gym, as long as it makes you feel good, it is guilt-free, and it helps to keep you healthy (and sane), do it!
