It's 7:30 am here in Ohio and I've already caught myself having some negative body image messages.
Here were two followed by how I reframed the message when I caught myself:
"My thighs look big in my running pants"
Reframed positively "My thighs are strong and carry me the distances I want to run".
"My bad shoulder is so weak"
First off, I don't like that I have somehow gotten into the habit of referring to my right shoulder/arm as the "bad" one. So I'm trying to break myself of that habit.
Reframed positively: "My shoulder is rehabing really well and I'm ahead of the curve."
What negative self messages have you already told yourself this morning? How can you start your day on a more upbeat note by reframing those messages?
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
I noticed last week when I was putting lotion on my behind (the true test for me of healing of both of my shoulder injuries, since moving my arm behind me was the most painful part of rehab for both shoulders) that my mobility is pretty close to 100% now.
That's an awesome feeling! I remember the first time I was able to put my bra on without contorting myself or needing help. It felt like a HUGE milestone and I think I told everyone and their brother because it has been SOOOO long since I could do that pain free.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
this is a great exercise. here is what i felt good about this morning: i am finishing the divorce filings so tomorrow, i get to file them with the court. yeah, moving forward...
i ran on a higher incline (treadmill) this morning. less time, more intensity. i felt strong and visualized myself as a fighter and survivor! i have learned that focusing on performance keeps me away from body-hating comments. also, my role models are strong athletes like venus williams and laila ali.girlfriend can kick some B_TT!
my cousin keeps telling me her 40s were amazing, and her 50s are better yet, so i remember her words as i wake in the morning, to give me a broad perspective. this keeps my attention away from things like " gee, your tummy is particularly poochy today"
another thing i started doing when my self-talk was really awful was taking long baths where i rub my tummy (because that is the area i am most critical of). i remember reading that in some cultures (maybe India?) after a woman gives birth, she is taken care of gingerly by her female relatives. mom and aunts and sisters move in for several months. they all take turns caressing the new mother, giving her luxurious baths in scented oils, cooking for her. it is part of the culture in honoring the new mother, her recent accomplishment of giving birth, new life and her womanhood. so i started taking long baths and rubbing my tummy and saying nice to it.
i am pretty nice to injured body parts also. i tell my knee "ok, you have worked so hard for me . i am sorry you are in pain now. i am going to take care of you now." gives good energy to that area of the body. (might sound goofy to you guys...)
negative self-talk is also a measurement for me of when life is out of balance. i have learned to minimize the negative stuff. so when i hear myself start down the "ickk" road again...i know it is time to re-group and check in to see what is really going on in my big head. (i like big heads, that is not negative. we are a family of big headed people.)
good dose of inspiration brie!
Goals: 1. Stop thinking like a chronic dieter and start living to inspire. 2. HALT (hungry, anxious, lonely, tired) I will stop and tune in with myself should I experience these things, and respond with something healthy. 3. One word 2008: courage 4. Eat slow and mindfully.
But Saturday or Sunday... I caught a few minutes of Giada and Robin Miller. Watching Giada always makes me think, "I'm a little tea pot, short and stout".
For some reason... my brain went off on a Robin Miller comparison fest:
Am I as thin as she is? Am I fatter than she is? If I lost 5 lbs, would I look like that? [insert random thoughts of "Is middle America really going to make this recipe?"... we now return you to our unexpected comparison marathon... ] Maybe I should lose 5 lbs? No, wait... maybe I'm already as thin as she is... no, wait, I don't think that is possible. Am I older than she is? Obviously, I am. I wonder by how much? Do I look that good? Am I fatter than her?
I had an early morning session at the gym today. So there I was, warming up on the treadmill, no makeup, hair not done, under florescent lights, staring at myself in the mirror. Every sag, bag, and wrinkle in my face seemed amplified -- and I thought "Ugh! I look so old." But then I corrected myself (admittedly, with some difficulty): You are aging gracefully, and you have an inner beauty that is more important than the things Botox can correct.
I put on a pair of pants that are snug and slightly uncomfortable...and didn't want to wear slightly uncomfortable pants, so I hung them back up and did NOT say, "I am SO fat and I have NOTHING to wear and I SUCK." I just...hung the pants back up.
I did, though, catch myself on my walk into work feeling frumpy, fat, and out of shape. Lemme reframe that.
I am not in the military. I do not wear a uniform. My clothes are perfectly appropriate, not frumpy. I do not have to pass a physical fitness test, and I do not get a hour of every workday to work out with my co-workers, so my fitness level is not (and does not NEED to be) the same as most of the people I'm around. I am in this job BECAUSE I offer different insights and perspectives, and do not need to be down on myself for feeling different. I am different. And being different doesn't make me "fat" or "frumpy." It makes me different.
Challenge Goals: *10 minutes of unplanned exercise five times a week *Gym time twice a week *Socialize at least once every two weeks.
Once again Brie, thank you! This is very, very hard for me! I hate to admit it, but when I got up and went into the bathroom to put my hair into a ponytail, I looked at myself closely in the mirror and said..."iiichh". I don't like to start my day that way! I just had my prayer time and asked God to let me see myself as He sees me.
It is 8:00. I have taken my first child to school, the next one is getting ready to go and I had a yogurt with some fresh blue berries. I feel like I am off to a good start!
My affirmation for today is "I am strong and in control!"
Thank you!
Posts: 1376 | Location: West Florida | Registered: March 12, 2004
Originally posted by Brie: First off, I don't like that I have somehow gotten into the habit of referring to my right shoulder/arm as the "bad" one. So I'm trying to break myself of that habit.
Good job on the reframing, Brie! It is so important to catch ourselves when we're having those negative thoughts so we can turn them around to positive.
I also wanted to comment that I went through this with referring to my right shoulder as "the bad one" too. I had pain and loss of mobility for (what seemed like) so long that my right shoulder definitely became a major excuse-maker. But I noticed last week when I was putting lotion on my behind (the true test for me of healing of both of my shoulder injuries, since moving my arm behind me was the most painful part of rehab for both shoulders) that my mobility is pretty close to 100% now. I haven't had PAIN in the shoulder since maybe late last spring or early summer, but the mobility has taken longer to come back 100%.
I will keep my brain peeled for negative self-image thoughts today and turn them around as soon as I become aware of them. None so far.
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7256 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
