The Secret to Unstoppable Confidence (Hint: It’s not washboard abs)
We often spend so much time thinking about how our bodies look that we forget to appreciate all they do for us. We scrutinize every perceived flaw in the mirror, judging ourselves against an impossible standard set by social media and society. But what if we shifted our perspective? What if, instead of focusing on what we think is wrong with our bodies, we celebrated everything they've done for us?
Our bodies also bear the stories of our lives in other ways. Scars from childhood scrapes, a healed broken bone from an accident, or the weary muscles after a tough day are all part of our personal history. They tell us we've lived, we've fallen, and we've gotten back up.
Over time, our bodies naturally change. Our metabolism slows, our skin loses some elasticity, and new aches and pains might appear. These changes can be hard to accept in a world that idolizes youth, but they are a natural part of living a full life. Every wrinkle, every gray hair, every new curve tells a story of years lived, wisdom gained, and experiences cherished.
Instead of fighting these changes, let's learn to embrace them. Let's practice gratitude for the bodies that have allowed us to run, to hug our loved ones, to laugh until our stomachs hurt, and to experience the world in all its beauty. Let's replace judgment with kindness and criticism with appreciation. Our bodies are not just something to be looked at; they are our homes, our vehicles for a life well-lived, and they deserve our respect and love.
What has your body accomplished?
Think about all the things your body has carried you through. For some of us, that means the strength to compete in sports, pushing past limits we never thought we could. Maybe it's the quiet endurance of hiking a mountain trail or the joyful movement of dancing to your favorite song.
For many women, their bodies have undergone the profound and transformative experience of carrying and bringing children into the world. Pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding are a testament to our incredible resilience. The stretch marks, the softer belly, the wider hips—these aren't flaws. They are evidence of a beautiful, powerful journey.
In addition to noteworthy feats, we should also recognize the non-stop daily tasks our body performs. Your heart literally never stops beating! That muscle contracts and relaxes approximately 100,000 times a day. Can you imagine doing 100,000 bicep curls and still having the power to keep going the next day?? Our brains complete high level tasks that allow us to do all of the activities we desire in a day. Whether that is coordinating motor control to drive a car, putting together letter sequences to read a book, or even just making sense of moving images so we can laugh at our favorite show. Even though these tasks seem simple to us, they require immense amounts of energy and reflect the effort your body puts in for you on a daily basis. When we think about fueling we shouldn’t just be thinking about how it will impact our love handles, we should truly be thinking about how the food we eat impacts organs like our hearts and our brains.
What change truly means…
Our bodies bear the complete stories of our lives in so many ways. Scars from childhood scrapes, a healed broken bone from an accident, or the weary muscles after a tough day are all part of our personal history. They tell us we've lived, we've fallen, and we've gotten back up.
Over time, our bodies naturally change. Our metabolism slows, our skin loses some elasticity, and new aches and pains might appear. These changes can be hard to accept in a world that idolizes youth, but they are a natural part of living a full life. Every wrinkle, every gray hair, every new curve tells a story of years lived, wisdom gained, and experiences cherished.
Instead of fighting these changes, let's learn to embrace them. Let's practice gratitude for the bodies that have allowed us to run, to hug our loved ones, to laugh until our stomachs hurt, and to experience the world in all its beauty. Let's replace judgment with kindness and criticism with appreciation. Our bodies are not just something to be looked at; they are our homes, our vehicles for a life well-lived, and they deserve our respect and love.
Tips to changing outlook and improving confidence
Practice daily affirmations - change your morning routine. Instead of waking up, looking in the mirror, and picking out all the aspects of your body you are unhappy with and have goals to change let’s try something new! Spend 3-5 minutes looking in the mirror, acknowledging the imperfections you are unhappy with, and picking out at least 3 parts of your body you ARE happy with. Don’t just think about the aesthetics of your body. Consider what you need to accomplish in the upcoming day and what pieces of your body will help you meet those goals.
Quiet your inner voice - we all have that little internal voice that gives us feedback throughout the day. For those of us who are hyper critical about ourselves this voice can get pretty loud at times, especially when it comes to body image and food. If you notice this voice speaking up in a negative way spend some time challenging what it says. If that voice is saying you shouldn’t have a snack because it contains calories and calories lead to weight gain, challenge it! Why do you need calories at this time? How are those calories fueling your body, your brain, and your performance? Set yourself up with some solid logic so logic can win over that emotionally charged voice telling you how to live your life.
Speak to yourself like a friend - a true friend wouldn’t call you multiple times a day to tell you all of your flaws. If they did, you likely wouldn’t be friends with this person for very long. The same should hold true for your internal dialogue. Start to speak to yourself softer and with more compassion and grace. What you say and hear is what you will hold as truth. If you are constantly telling yourself you have no discipline, are out of shape, and don’t deserve certain things because of it that will become your reality. Instead if we remind ourselves that we HAVE made changes, we are working on improving our nutrition and health, and that things take time we will see that we do still have worth despite not reaching our goals overnight.
Body image often seems like a thing people talk about, but isn’t the thing that is going to help you reach your goals. WRONG! Reaching your nutrition and fitness goals will be so much more enjoyable and easier if you are kind to yourself throughout the journey. Making just these small changes in mindset can have a huge impact on your outlook and your ability to accomplish your goals. Don’t forget how truly amazing your body is and that it needs some love too!
xoxo,
Elizabeth
P.S. If you are ready to start dominating your health goals, go here to set up your free discovery call and book a package.
