Have you ever said "I just want to lose 5 pounds or 10 pounds?" Have you ever obsessively weighed yourself to try to hit your magic number? Have you ever counted every calorie you ate to stay within a "recommended" daily calorie count? Well, unless you are a boxer or wrestler or even a jockey, the number on your scale doesn't mean anything, the important thing is how you actually feel.
When our mothers gave birth to us the doctors weighed us and measured us and throughout our life we are weighed for medical reasons so doctors could monitor us for multiple reasons. In sports, the athletes height and weight is always included and it matters in some sports but not all. Then we end up comparing our bodies to athletes.
I can remember weighing myself every morning and sometimes later in the day to see if I gained or lost weight and then judging myself "why did I eat that cookie?" That is not positive energy and it just produces a focus on a number and not how you feel. I think we can all feel whether we gained weight or lost weight, why do we need a scale? Maybe to beat ourselves up some more? Why is that necessary? It's not, listen to you body, don't let a scale determine how you are going to feel for the day.
How about counting calories? Do you think 80 calories in an Oreo cookie and 80 calories in a piece of fruit are the same? The calorie number is the same but your body will react different and feel different after eating them.
Ask yourself when you wake up in the morning, "how do I feel?" Ask again throughout the day. If your answer isn't "I feel great", then look at the food your eating. The food we eat and don't eat has a direct effect on how we feel. So stop worrying about the number on the scale and start worrying about feeding your body nutritious food that will energize you and sustain you until your next meal. Worry about moving your body, keep things flowing, mix up your workouts with activities such as walking, running, hiking, biking, yoga, weight training, Pilates, TRX, boxing, etc. Choose what you like and pick a few. Spend some quite time for yourself each day by taking long deep breaths, meditation, prayer, or journaling gratitude. Choose one or many and it will help clear your mind and center yourself to be present. By following those simple steps you won't find it necessary to step on that scale because you will feel great and you won't feel the need to know your exact weight. Another great measurement is how your clothes fit, when your clothes fit great you often feel great. Why stress about that number on the scale?
If we can teach our children at a young age to listen to their body and how it feels instead of looking at the scale or comparing themselves to others, we might actually help future generations have a better attitude towards healthy, clean eating as well as self-body image. Being healthy does not need to be complicated, it is about making choices and trying different methods that works with your body.
As a Health Coach, I can help you figure out what works for you and support you as you make sustainable changes. Before you know it you won't crave sugar or that 3:00 caffeine break and have extra energy to spend with family, friends and pets.
If you ready to have more energy and a better relationship with food and your body, please schedule a complimentary session with me to discuss your goals here: Energy Booster Strategy Session