Building a healthier you starts with...you!
Today's media is filled with reports of the obesity epidemic in this country and/or the unrealistic expectations people place upon their own self image. As a behavioral coach, I recognize the fine line necessary for one to balance his or herself between these two diseases. With the demand for speedy, convenient, no thought comfort foods; the non-stop service mentality of our schedules and the conveniences technology provides us, it is no wonder the obesity epidemic has been an ever expanding bubble among our society, and now that of others around the world. Yet, everywhere we turn he or she is bombarded with the unrealistic idealistic images of the 'perfect' human body placed upon us by marketers and the altered photos they produce. It is because of this push and pull of expectations that people feel helpless and overwhelmed by the thought of achieving health. This often leads to either turning to food for comfort which elevates their problems, or starving themselves in attempts to achieve the 'perfect' body.
For those looking to loose weight and live a healthier lifestyle, I indisputably will advise he or she to consistently eat a healthy diet and be routinely physically active. Pretty straight forward and basic, however; it goes much deeper than that. Yes, eating healthy and exercise is a strong set of skills to achieving the desired success for weight loss and health, but there is a skill much more effective and essential; self-esteem. The importance of combining a positive and high set of values placed on one's self-esteem with eating right and physical activity can have seemingly magical results. In order to successfully obtain and maintain longevity in your goals it begins by having a secure and clear belief in yourself. Eliminating negative self-talk is the biggest hurdle many fail to acknowledge, this results in the short term success many of us are familiar with. This process of developing a strong self awareness is not simple, but requires determination and continual willingness to step outside one's comfort zone and learn new perspectives about one's self. Surrounding yourself with positive environments and support systems also are a strong key to succeeding in this process. Everyone has successful traits and may be excelling in various levels of commitment, but when one negative curve ball is thrown at us, it is simple for us to begin dwelling on that one negative and let it infect everything else we are excelling at. It becomes vital to nurture and continually re-evaluate the positive traits and milestones that have already been accomplished in the journey of a better you and then creatively evaluate new strategies to tackle the challenges at hand.
When it comes to eating, food should not be a confusing or a frightening field in your life. It should be enjoyed, while at the same time being respected and appreciated for what it does for us in the process of life. Sadly today so many of us go about eating in with a haphazard and careless perspective, even using it to help alleviate the pains of life. We have also come to associate physical activity as another item on the 'to do list' that is often given little to no importance. This is when it becomes important, as we develop the strong foundation of our own-self worth, to begin incorporating enthusiasm behind these healthy skills as becoming a part of us. Using them as a means to help define who we are as a person, one who cares about his or herself, and not merely a dieting lifestyle.
While searching for the 'perfect' body, recognize that we are all different and as long as you are healthy and achieving the goals you have set out for yourself, you are successful. If you yearn for a lean and tone body, realize it takes effort and dedication, and should be done in moderation and in a healthy and positive manner. Today in the United States sadly, “ as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia. Millions more are struggling with a binge eating disorder.” 1 This is why it becomes important to recognize the unrealistic expectations social marketers place upon the general public. Living a healthy lifestyle is not only important for the quality and longevity of your life, but it also will be an assistance in achieving your sought after goals. Yet, before you are able to efficiently begin this journey, the journey of creating a strong and positive self must come first in order to sustain the goal of a healthy you.
1. Crowther et al., 1992; Fairburn et al., 1993; Gordon, 1990; Hoek, 1995; Shisslak et al., 1995
Quick Order
