3 Things to Consider on the Path to Self Acceptance

 

 

Your body is in many ways like a machine. What you put into it and what you do with it will affect how it performs. If you don’t treat it in the manner it’s designed for, it will let you know.

On the upside, our bodies are capable of remarkable things; possible feats of endurance and complex tasks that will never be replicated by artificial intelligence. We just need to know how to make it work and accept it’s limitations.

Our bodies are unlike a machine in that it’s not mass-produced. There are seven billion of us in the world, but no-one is exactly like you.

Even identical twins will have their differences. So when it comes to making sure you get the best from life, it’s really about finding your own prescription. Take tips from others, but don’t get hung up on replicating their results.

On the matter of taking tips, the following are a few which apply to everyone, but can be adapted to be part of your plan for life.

 

Exercise Isn’t Just About Burning Calories

If it were just a simple matter of working out to work off the calories of what you eat, then you could eat less and just sit around all day. There are so many more reasons to get off our bums and get moving.

Exercise allows us to metabolize nutrients which make us healthier. It gets the blood pumping and adrenaline running, which helps us feel better and be happier generally. And it tones our muscles – essential for a life that makes many demands on us.

So when thinking about exercise, a healthy way to approach it is instead of focusing solely on calories burned, be sure you’re doing something you enjoy and are gaining other benefits from.

Team sports where you’re apt to make new friends. A new activity that may just uncover a new passion of yours.

 

Be Prepared To Treat Yourself

For many people, this isn’t a problem. What we’re looking for is balance – do enough of the right things and there’s room for a little fun in there too.

The key is not making a habit of it. Don’t see the ice cream sundae as forbidden food – you’ll deny yourself until you can stand no more, and then you WILL overindulge.

At the same time, don’t see it as breakfast. As a treat every once in awhile, earned by sticking to the plan, it acts as an incentive and a release.

I never saw the value in cutting things completely out of my diet for periods of time unless I had an allergy to it. Those that do, just gain back the weight upon incorporating it right back into their diet.

We need to start having healthier thoughts when it comes to what we are eating. Enjoying an indulgence isn’t being “bad” it’s being human. As long as we are being cognizant of the balance and taking time to exercise, what’s the problem?

 

Looking Good And Feeling Good. 

Many people fear the gym because it’s full of people who don’t seem to be like them. Who smiles during a punishing workout, what are they going to think when they look at your body that hasn’t seen the inside of a gym in months and what are they wearing?

The truth is no one really cares. Most people are so self-absorbed in their own looks and getting through their own workouts, they’re not going to be focused on us and our lingering insecurities.

Whether you’re in collegiate sweats or clad in Lorna Jane, full of confidence and ready for anything, keep this in mind and you’ll feel better almost immediately.

Good news: when you get in a workout, your body rewards you by looking and feeling better.

There’s a saying that we’re not here for a long time, we’re here for a good time. There is no reason we can’t be here for both.

Take life seriously up to a point, and then be prepared to get silly. Achieve that balance and you’ll see all the benefits you could hope for.

 

What do you do to help achieve balance and embrace your bodies natural state?

 

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