I’m sure at some point or another, you’ve come across a magazine cover shouting at you,
“Drop 10 lbs now with this new awesome pill”, “Zap belly fat with this hot new diet” or “Get the best body with this perfect workout”.
Guess what? There’s no perfect workout, no perfect way of eating and no get-the-perfect-body-now quick fix. Yet we’re constantly being told that what we need to do is get even stricter with our diet, and workout more.
While I do believe that eating natural and delicious food and moving your body everyday is essential to your health, there’s one key ingredient missing here.
LOVE.
I don’t care what you’re eating, and what kind of workouts you’re doing. If you’re in a constant fight with your body and making food the enemy, nothing is going to work.
So what if you could stop all the craziness and decide to love your body NOW?
I don’t care if you think you have a muffin top, love handles, too big of a butt, too small of a butt or cellulite. (News Flash! We all have cellulite.) Accepting and loving yourself now, is they only way to actually reaching your goals and creating your ideal body that you love.
I know it’s not easy. This is something I’ve struggled with for years too. Be we can decide to take small steps everyday to stop fighting with our bodies, and start loving them.
Here are my favorite ways to end the craziness and start loving yourself.
1. Wear fabulous underwear.
I don’t care if the only person seeing them is you. Wearing beautiful underwear makes you feel confident and sexy. Ladies, please get rid of all your granny panties. And fellas, if your underwear has holes in them, same goes for you.
2. Enjoy delicious food.
No more counting calories, measuring portions and obsessing over food labels. Nourish your body healthy and delicious foods you actually like. And when you do splurge, enjoy it.
3. Move your body every day.
Not because you “have to”, but because you feel awesome and energized when you do. Now, I do love a high intensity workout. I love the rush and the energy I get from it. But going for a walk is just as beneficial too. Studies show that walking may ward off depression and anxiety. Going for a walk mid day can improve your mood, even on the crappiest of days.
4. Practice self care
Get a massage, cook an amazing meal for yourself, or get a facial or manicure simply because it makes you feel beautiful.
5. Get it on.
During sex your body produces a hormone called DHEA. This hormone can boost the immune system and gives your skin that healthy glow. Plus, studies show that people who have more sex, respond better to stress and are much happier.
6. Have fun
This is probably the most important step. Take up that hobby you loved as a kid. Signup for that class you’ve been meaning to try. Or simply have a glass of wine on a terrace with a few of your friends (one glass, not 5!). Take your mom out on a date. Whatever it is, get out and do more of what you love.
In the comments below, I’d love for you to share what step you are going to take to start loving your body now.
FINALLY a good excuse to go underwear shopping! 😉 wohoo!
Love this post
Take care of my feet <3
Definitely going to hit up the new underwear tip! My roommates have been telling me the same thing for months!
And I am definitely going to start eating what I want, this way I will know when to stop and I won’t crave it because I can’t have it. 🙂
Thanks for this Ana! I want to post this at work as I think it would be great inspiration for staff. Would you be ok with that?
I think loving our bodies is especially difficult to do when we come from a dance or modelling background. We are constantly being looked at that it becomes engrained in our heads that we aren’t good enough no matter how skinny we are. It really is hard to decondition ourselves, but with a little bit of work and a lot of LOVE it is possible.
Thanks for being such a wonderful inspiration for women (and men)!
Time to go and get a pedicure and a new pair of shoes to show it off.
Thanks Emanuela! Of course it’s ok to share this post at work 😉 Thanks for being honest and sharing your story about how you felt as a dancer and model. I also never thought I was thin enough when I was dancing. When I work with dancers and actors, many of them feel the same, but nobody really likes to talk about it.
Awesome Claudia! Would love to know how you feel after one week of wearing great underwear.
Thanks Sonja. BTW, loving the new hair!
The hair move might be an answer to one of your earlier posts… the to be brave one!!! 😉 In addition to the go-nuts-move-country…!
What is flax eggs?