Healthy Is Not A Number: It's A Lifestyle

I used to think Yoga was boring and all that deep breathing was useless. Until, I actually tried it with an open mind. Now, I love it. It calms me and helps my aching muscles. For years, I went to the gym and did cardio and weight training, but I skipped out on the most important part. I didn’t stretch. No wonder my muscles were stiff and painful all the time. As I get older, I am learning to do more of what makes me feel better. 

Our health is so much more than a number on a scale. At one point, I was at my ideal weight, and yet I was not healthy. Now, I work to find the balance of it all. In order to feel great, I know that I need to eat enough vegetables, proteins, fruits, healthy fats, and carbohydrates. It all works together. The same is true with my workouts. I need cardio, strength training, and to stretch to make me feel great. 

Dealing with stress and nurturing my thoughts have also made such a difference in my life. I’m learning to be my own best friend. Constantly shaming myself for bad choices was not helping me. Reacting with love, however, helped me to overcome my negative cycle. When we talk to ourselves in a negative voice, it hurts. In order to feel better, we often turn to food for comfort or indulge in things that actually make it worse.

We all need love. So often we go to others for love, compliments, and encouragement. But we have the power to give those things to ourselves. We need to trade in our shame voice for one of compassion. 

For example:

Shame voice: You are so fat. I can’t believe you ate that. You are so stupid. You can’t lose weight or become healthy. You hate healthy food anyway. 

Compassion voice: It happens. You ate something fattening, but you are not fat. You are beautiful and worthy of being healthy. Chose your food out of love for your body, instead of hate. 

I’ve stopped punishing my body with exercise. It is not a punishment for what I ate or for how I look. Now, I view it as reward. Exercise makes me feel stronger, calmer, and eases my pain. None of those things are punishments. I also don’t count calories. I count containers and chemicals. When I eat whole foods, in the right portion, then I don’t need to count calories. 

Make a decision today, to love your body. When we love our bodies, then we nurture them. 

Have a wonderful day!

Love and blessings, 

Candida