More powerful than any food you eat or any exercise you do, are the feelings you have about yourself. According to Stroller Strides's founder Lisa Druxman's book, Lean Mommy, breaking away from a negative body image will help you make - and stick to- positive lifestyle habits. Not only will you be happier, but you'll be a better mommy!
I've never met a mom (including myself) who didn't want to lose the baby weight she gained. Who likes the fleshy belly left after pregnancy? However, how we see ourselves isn't always realistic. It's important for our mental health, not to be a slave to the scale! It's easy to slip into tunnel vision after having a baby. If you have more weight on your bottom that you'd like, is this what you should focus on? NO! It's your choice whether you hone in on what you don't like or whether you adopt a more accepting attitude and see the whole, healthy you. When you are depressed and unhappy, you are more likely to see only the negative. But, you'll be happier if you focus on the positive.
This is easier said than done. You must stop thinking that you, or your body, or its parts are awful. At first you can try lowering the volume of your dark thoughts and you can redirect your self-talk by creating a awarenes of it, then you can begin to minimize it. When you learn to like and hopefully, love your body, you will begin to appreciate it.
Here are seven quick tips from Lean Mommy to help you get started:
FOCUS ON STRONG POINTS
Would you let your husband or your kids tell you repeatedly that you are fat and ugly? So, don't do it to yourself. You deserve to treat yourself as well as you expect others to treat you.
BE WHAT YOUR LOVED ONES SEE
Your baby thinks that you are the most beautiful creature to have ever walked the planet. (Your dog and cat does, too.) Allow yourself to see what they see!
LOOK GENTLY IN MIRRORS
Before looking at your reflection, identify something in your mind that you know you like about yourself. Focus on that when you glance in the mirror.
KEEP SCALES IN CHECK
If you are prone to getting obsessive or having an emotional response to the numbers, throw your scale out the window! It can't measure your worth, your health or your happiness. You don't want your children to mimic your behavior and start weighing themselves as soon as they are able?
REFRAME SELF-DEFEATING THOUGHTS
You think diet, you think DEPRIVATION, You think exercise, you think BORING or TORTURE.
If you are following a punishing routine, you're likely to fail since you're doing it for the wrong reasons. If you respect and appreciate your body, you will want to treat it well.
WATCH WHAT YOU SAY
Every negative remark you make about your body ingrains body-bashing beliefs even deeper. In Stroller Strides classes, no one is aloud to make negative comments about their bodies. Start listening to your conversations and stop all the negative talk!
CHANGE YOUR TAPES
Every behavior stems from the desire to feel good or avoid feeling bad. If you associate eating healthy and exercising with pain and eating cookies and sitting on the couch as a pleasurable activity, then you will choose to snack and sit. But, if you redefine your thoughts so you think of being active as invigorating and eating well as energizing then you are likely to choose to engage in healthy lifestyle habits.
Learn more about what you think about the way you look in Lean Mommy. You can purchase the book from Amazon.com or from the Stroller Strides website.
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I love it. :)
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