All you have to do is see yourself as fit and healthy, and the rest will follow. This goal is sustainable because it is a primal force of human nature and not based on narcissism. There is no deadline (pun intended) because it is a lifelong journey. Now that you have taken the stress out of weight loss, you will feel empowered to make food and exercise choices which are right for you.
Amazingly, when it concerns weight loss, desperate people believe in myths which damage both the body and mind. One popular myth about skipping meals like breakfast slows down metabolism while holding on to fat. Another myth encourages over-exercising which usually results in joints that are pounded into submission, muscles that burn along with depression and insomnia. However, when you no longer focus on a negative body image, and redirect to a positive mindset, you feel happy about building a healthy body. Taking stress out of the equation alleviates junk food eating for the purpose of self-soothing: You have just lost your sugar cravings!
Personal trainers and exercise physiologists advise clients who want to lose weight to lose the vanity instead. Simply shifting perception to the long term goal of fit and healthy introduces balance in all activities of daily living. This redefines beauty and the human form realistically, genetically, individually and vitally. Deprivation is replaced by substance. Stress is replaced by strength.
What you need to know to be fit and healthy:
- Eating balanced meals consisting of lean protein, healthy fats, whole grains, fruits and vegetables fuels your body with good energy, relieves stress and boosts your immune system. Food and mood correlate highly.
- Your brain needs a regular infusion of glucose to function. The brain on its own consumes 30% of daily calories and needs a minimum of 1200 calories a day for good reaction time, concentration and memory. 2/3 of the brain is composed of fatty acids. What kind of fat do you want for your brain: saturated fat (which solidifies at room temperature) like butter and red meat and could cause rigidity in the brain or monounsaturated fat like that found in olive oil and in omega 3 fatty acids like salmon, where your brain cells are more fluid and flexible?
- Don’t become an exercise addict. People who exercise for hours at a time are at risk for internal damage. Note that muscles recover and strengthen during rest. You can do aerobics or strength training exercises for up to 90 minutes a day, but make sure to avoid sitting slumped over a computer or plopped down in front of the TV for hours because you exercised earlier. The way you monitor your food for quality, you mind your muscle for quality movement. Housework is a great way to move and accomplish simultaneously. A walk will improve your focus at work. Seek opportunities for movement that matters throughout the day. In other words, eat and burn to become an efficient human machine.
- Avoid external and superficial comparisons because you cannot presume to know another human being’s heart and soul. Focus on your own health profile – how do you feel? Does anyone go around comparing blood tests, blood pressure, insulin levels or urine analysis with other people?
For more information on managing your stress and reclaiming your life read my book, Addicted to Stress: A Woman's 7 Step Program to Reclaim Joy and Spontaneity in Life. To listen to archived radio shows with guest experts visit Turn On Your Inner Light Radio Show
