Above all else, your healthiest relationship with your health must start within you. Here are 5 ways to love your body from nutrition Expert Marissa Puleo. Give it what it needs the most from you: love and kindness.
Why is it so easy to be our own worst enemy? We can be so cruel to ourselves.
And for what? It gets us nowhere.
I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to practice more body positivity when letting go of dieting or recovering from an eating disorder. Think about the times you’ve dieted or were self-destructive. More times than not, that punishment stems from not being up to some self-defined standard.
Body-shaming will always be a roadblock towards reaching your goals, so something has to change. That starts by changing your mindset to be more loving and kind to yourself.
How to start? Here are some tips to start giving yourself a little more lovin’:
1. Detox from social media.
It is so easy to fall into the comparison trap and it’s unfair to compare your beginning to someone else’s middle. Take a break from social media, or filter and block posts that no longer serve you in a positive way.
2. This too shall pass.
Everything is temporary, including those negative thoughts. These feelings don’t define you, and they won’t determine how the rest of your day goes. Engage in activities that you enjoy, surround yourself with people you love, take a deep breath, and understand that it will all be okay.
3. Challenge false truths.
For every negative thought, try and replace it with a positive one. Challenge where these negative thoughts even come from. You have the power to change your perspective and create new truths.
4. Respect your body.
Think about all the things you ask your body to do, and appreciate all that it does for you. Think of all the things you’ve put your body through, and how it still remains strong for you. Be kind to yourself and and don’t be so hard on your body. You only get one!
5. Don’t Diet.
I repeat – don’t diet. Dieting pulls you further away from finding your inner wisdom. This will only fuel restrictive and binge behaviors, adding fuel to negative self talk and feelings of inadequacy.
Adapted from the original article.
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Marissa Puleo, RDN, LDN is a private practice Registered Dietitian based in Scranton, PA helping people find the balance between healthy and happy. As a ‘food peace promoter’, Marissa specializes in helping those with food struggles and disordered eating in learning how to enjoy food while leaving guilt and self criticisms behind. Connect with Marissa at Thrive Nutrition.