"There is no wrong way to have a body"

When you read this, what do you think and feel? Do you agree? And I mean actually agree? Or do you begin to hear the whisperings of doubt-----the whisperings you've been hearing for weeks/years. Self love is something so many struggle with. I see it particularly with female identifying individuals; however male identifying individuals struggle as well. It is influenced by many things----world culture, family culture, gender norms and constructs, our environment, peer influence, social media and more. It is powered by negative self talk. Over time consistent negative thinking becomes strongly rooted in our belief system. We no longer question it and we accept it as truth.

It is difficult to defeat; however with consistent work the negative thoughts can be restructured! Working with a therapist can help significantly with this.

Here are some tips for your own self help:

Think about the parts of your body you do like

Honor your body's daily contributions

Be present in your body

Honor yourself as you honor others

Be aware of your negative thinking. Reframe it by focusing on the facts.

Remember ----Progress over Perfection

In the FASTer Way to Fat Loss the main motto is that last line-----Progress Over Perfection. We do not focus on getting things exactly right, or fitting into a specific narrative, or any type of "one size fits all." Success looks different to each person. For some it could be sleeping better. For some it may be increased confidence. For others it may be more energy throughout the day, or getting around better. You may notice your focus and concentration is better or that your mood has improved. You may experience less pain/discomfort. Or perhaps your clothes fit better. It may be that you just feel better overall! These are all non-scale victories. In my past efforts I did not understand or believe that I could change my body composition without losing weight! Now I KNOW that is absolutely not true!

The scale is simply a snapshot of weight at a given moment. The scale can be a liar. When we focus on the non scale victories, we are more likely to stay motivated on our wellness journey.

Challenge: Use the quote below as a new daily affirmation.