Step 1: Have a conversation with your body. Find out what it needs. Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Think about your relationship with your body.
How has it changed over time?
My relationship with my body has changed dramatically throughout the years. Up until my early 20s, I was a chubby little woman. In fact, I remember when I was twelve crying, because I had to shop in the women's section of the store. We couldn't find any children's clothes that fit my rotund body. At 12 years old, I was a size 10 in women's clothing. As a child, I hated working out. I loved to eat. I overate often. I didn't even take PE in school. I got a waiver from my doctor, because of my childhood arthritis.
As a teenager, I drank,experimented with drugs, and had sex way too quickly. I abused my body in just about any way I could. I didn't feel worthy of anything other than abusive behavior. I felt like my body would never measure up to the beauty of my friends. I yo-yo dieted but really never thought about my body -- only about comparig my appearance to that of others.
In my early 20s, I discovered that I thoroughly enjoyed lifiting weights. I loved feeling strong, and I loved the adrenaline rush after a hard workout. I followed the PRISM diet program, lost weight, and gained muscle. At this point, my relationship with my body was about weight. I still hadn't figured out that my body is what allows me to be here -- to live and that it deserves to be taken care of to the best of my ability.
During the years of having my babies and my divorce in the midst of my second pregnancy, I gained a tremendous amount of weight. The weight was my safety blanket. No one could get close to the me living inside the layers of my body.
Seven years ago, I lost 100 pounds. When I decided to get help with my health, I made a committment to use this as a gift and to make sure that this body stays healthy. I have kept the weight off. I workout so that I am strong and have stamina. I eat to fuel my body. I love this little pacakge that houses my soul. I don't need boobs to love the physical me. Boobs are just decoration.
I am finally in a place where I love me, and I love my life. It is absolutely wonderful that I am loved, but the love around me doesn't compare to the love within me.
Tomorrow, we'll go through step 2. Hope you try this out. It is so uplifting.