YOUR BEAUTIFUL BODY

How do you feel about your body? When you walk into a room do you stand tall and exude confidence? Do you feel free to buy the clothes you really like, or do you stick with the "safe" stuff? Do you love your body or loathe it?

Chances are you are somewhere in between. The majority of us waste precious time every day hating the bodies that we live in. I don't know about you, but I donít want to waste any more time. The older I get, the less of it I have to waste! If the following statements are true for you, then it's time to make some changes!

Signs you are a body hater:

1. You don't have a full length mirror and it has nothing to do with not being able to afford one.

2. You never wear your shirt tucked in.

3. Your bathing suit has a skirt on it.

4. What bathing suit?

5. Black is your favorite color.

6. You've discovered that Slim Fast is an oxymoron.

I have spent most of my life wishing I was a few pounds lighter. Although I've never had a huge struggle with my weight, I have had a very difficult time loving my body. My guess is that the same is true for you. It seems to be an epidemic.

Several months ago I decided I was sick and tired of feeling the way I do about myself. I needed to either love my body or do something to change it. Actually, I'm trying to do both. I started walking for an hour four or five mornings a week. I wanted to lose a few pounds, tone up and feel healthy. I walk with Diane, a wonderful friend who reminds me regularly that a body that has borne children is beautiful.

I've toned up a bit, but haven't really lost weight because I've gained muscle. The biggest change has been in the way I see myself. My daily time with Diane has boosted my self esteem and I am discovering a new-found confidence. I recently attended a pool party for a women's group that I belong to. There were twelve of us at the party and only four of us put on a swimsuit and got in the pool. I can't tell you how wonderful it felt to walk across the deck in total confidence (even though I still have the suit with a skirt). After swimming, I climbed out of the pool and one of the women said to me, "You look great!" Now I want you to know that I still have a tummy and some extra weight I'ím carrying around. I haven't changed to a smaller size yet. The difference is I am standing up tall and confident!

I came home and the next day I picked up the book Diane gave me to read, "Feel Good Naked" by Laure Redmond. I'm not finished with it yet, but I read this paragraph:

"I find it fascinating that it was only when Jennifer began treating her body with love and respect, instead of abusing it in the name of seeking outside approval, that she began receiving the approval she'd been craving for so long. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy: our own opinion of ourselves influences others' opinions of us much more than we realize".î

May I challenge you to begin loving your body. Take good care of it and become friends. After all, you'll be spending the rest of your life together.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find a pair of scissors and that bathing suit with the skirt.

Copyright © 2002 Jeanne Wing. All Rights Reserved.