Fall In Love With You

Loving your body is one of those things that’s sometimes easier said than done. As the weather begins to turn and we slip into those jeans from last year—even if they’re a little tight from all the summer indulgences and missed workouts—I’d like to inspire you put the thought into action and pave your own body-loving path.

Make a choice to get into the habit of focusing on the positive. We all have bad days.  I work with some of the fittest women in Philly, and trust me… they all have them too.  The next time you catch yourself battling the mirror or saying something like, “Ugh, my arms are looking so fat,” change your focus to what you love about you. There are a few things that I do when I have one of those days:  Instead of focusing on my thighs, I’ll  say, “Wow, I have a great waist; I’m going to show it off with a belt.” Or,  “ I have big, beautiful eyes.” I’ll  play them up, and put some eyeliner on them.”  When I’ve gained a few pounds,  I won’t torture myself, but I will put on a pair of heels and see how great I feel.  I love wearing heels. It’s  my feel-good-immediately go-to.  Focus on the positive, and eventually your mind will start to change.  It does take time—it’s a habit—but just like anything else, over time, you can change your mindset.

Move it! Instead of reaching for food to deal with every emotion, get moving.  When I need a quick boost or an energy lift—or even a way to celebrate something good in my life, I exercise. The fix will carry you through to your next workout—unlike that second helping of ice cream!  And instead of feeling guilty, you’ll feel proud of what you did for yourself.

Peace and love—not perfection. After years of intense, daily exercise, the most important lesson I’ve learned is to focus on my strengths and not my weaknesses. No matter how much you work out, your body will never be perfect.  It doesn’t exist.  Don’t dwell on your weaknesses, but love your body for its strengths.  The bottom line is – everyBODY is different. Just as every person is different.  Ever wonder why women keep getting pushed to get smaller, while men get pushed to get bigger?  Are we, as women, willing to accept this unbalance?  I’m not.  We come in all different shapes and sizes.  Let us love ourselves as we are, and demand diversity in representation. I love myself, just as I am.  I hope you do, too!

Step off the scale! I’m not saying that we should never weigh ourselves, but there is no need to visit on a daily basis.  What’s the point?  When I stopped letting the scale steal my happiness and be a measure of my self-worth, I was able to really build a true love relationship with my body.

Learning to love your body and be accepting of everything is definitely a process and a journey, but one well worth it.  Here is a body diversity image for you if you’d like to use it…Lithe Instructors Amy Larkin and Heather Burt (via Dominic Episcopo).  Amy is petite and “curvy” at  5’0″ and Heather is 5’11,” tall and lean. Such different proportions and such beautiful bodies!

Lauren Boggi is the owner and creator of Lithe Method with locations in Rittenhouse, Northern Liberties, and Ardmore. Read more about Lauren here.