Weight Loss - Self Image and Attitude

Many people, especially in America, are very concerned with their weight and body type. Not all of this concern is healthy. Weight is one factor that may affect health, but it is not the only factor. Neither is it the most important factor. Studied in a vacuum, weight is meaningless. Only considered in light of diet, exercise, and above all, healthy attitude is weight a consideration, and if the other three are in line, the right weight will naturally follow.

Healthy Attitude

The key to beauty, happiness and good health is a healthy attitude. What makes a healthy attitude?

• Positive Self Image
• Self Love
• Perspective

Positive Self Image

Learn to like what you see in the mirror. When you see your reflection, give it a big smile. That's you in there. Whatever you see in the mirror, praise it. Tell it how beautiful it is. Then, think how it might be more beautiful. Visualize it that way. Imagine how the "ideal you" will look in the mirror. Smile.  Your smile is beautiful.  

Self Love

You are, always have been and always will be the most important person in your life, therefore you should love yourself. What does it mean when you love someone? You are good to them, you are kind to them and you do what is good for them. You build them up, you don't put them down. So be good and kind to yourself and do what is good for you.  Eat right, exercise, and get adequate sleep.  Help yourself feel good.  

Perspective

You can never really know what people think, even if they tell you, because they may not be telling you the truth, they may not be telling you the whole truth, or they may not even really know what they think. Also, they can only express what they think in words, and words are not completely adequate to express thoughts. Even if they manage to express to you in words what they think, your understanding of them may not be complete. Their thoughts are based on their experiences which are inherently different than your experiences. Therefore you should never base anything on what you think someone else thinks, especially your opinon of you. Form your opinion of you based on the only thoughts that matter: yours.

Consult your physician before going on any kind of diet or exercise program.

Diet and exercise are inseparable in terms of their influence on health. If you eat fat, sugar and starch and lay around watching TV or staring at the computer all day, you are training your body to burn sugar and store fat. If you exercise for at least one half hour daily, avoid starches and sugars and eat more protein and omega 3 fatty acids, you will train your body to burn fat and build muscle. This is oversimplified, but thinking of food and exercise in these terms WORKS.

Diet

Eat more:

• Salmon
• Low fat yogurt
• Olives
• Avocado
• Nuts
• Dried fruit
• Fruit
• Green vegetables, carrots

Eat less :

• Chips
• Fatty dairy foods
• Fatty meats
• Potatoes
• Rice
• Bread
• Pasta

Exercise

Find a sport or other physical activity that you like to do that increases your heart rate for at least one half hour every day. Really get into it. Read about it. Learn about it. For example, if you don't currently exercise, I good way to start is to get into walking. Go to an athletic footwear store and buy shoes designed for walking for exercise. Search for online articles about walking. Buy special clothes for your daily walk. Make your daily walk your special time.

As you continue, find ways to challenge yourself. Change your route. Try ankle weights. Try walking faster or farther or both. Try walking for longer periods. Try alternating walking fast for ten minutes and then slow for five minutes.

You can apply these ideas to any exercise program. Your exercise will make you feel more alive and vital, stronger and more alert. Enjoying good exercise and eating right makes a body happy. It's much easier to be a happy person when you have a happy body. And happy people are beautiful people.

With the right attitude, diet and exercise you can look great and feel great, too. Before you know it, you will be the ideal you.