Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Embracing What We Love About Our Bodies

I'm sure we all have at least one thing we'd like to change about ourselves. Be it our thighs, buns or belly, at least one of these probably isn't firmed to its peak. The question is, how far are we willing to go to get our menacing body parts into shape? What are we willing to go through or sacrifice to reach our goal of what we consider to be a perfect body?

Many people approach weight loss with the opinion that the only way to lose is to starve themselves. By not eating, they hope all the imperfections of their body will disappear. Not only does this weight-loss strategy fail, it is not healthy either. Not eating robs the body of vital nutrients, resulting in illness rather than physical fitness.

Eating right and exercising are the real answers to insuring that all of our body parts are in perfect shape. Exercise is not only good for us, but it can be fun, too. There are many different choices when it comes to exercise. From jogging to yoga, aerobics to Pilates, there is something out there for everyone.

The same goes for eating well. This does not have to be a chore, and can be a great reward. Experimenting in the kitchen making cookies sweetened with apple juice concentrate instead of sugar, or making lasagna with whole wheat noodles and vegetables can help you realize that eating healthy doesn't have to be boring or difficult. The choices for exercise and nutrition are limitless, as long as you are willing to open yourself up to new things.

We all need to focus on the parts of our bodies that we love, yet make a commitment to change the parts we don't like in a healthy way. Starvation is never an answer to achieving change, and could do more damage than good. Instead of passing on meals, pick up some healthful groceries and put on your running shoes. I'm headed to the gym myself, but I think I'll go buy a new lipstick first.

No comments: