Prioritizing my health over the number on that scale has been the most liberating and positive change in my life. My mistakes are merely lessons. They make me human. There’s no compensating for it the next day. There’s no, “I ate too much yesterday, I need to eat less or workout more tomorrow.” It’s become, “I eat healthy on a regular basis. It’ll be okay.” I listen to my body. That’s the big difference. I am learning to live mindfully, not mindlessly. I am kind to my body. I never use the word “hate” when I talk about my body. Hating my body is not a lifestyle I want to sustain. There’s nothing good that comes out of hating yourself! I am far more motivated by love for my body. I want to eat good, healthy food. I want to exercise because it’s good for my health.
I tried restricting and working out like a fiend. It worked. Temporarily. I lost 7 pounds in two weeks and I was “so happy.” Then I gained it all back. Why? Because I was eating only salads and soups and vegetables and there was NO WAY that I could keep that up forever. True change is slow, it’s a work in process, but it’s worth it. It’s positive.
