It’s not about the size of your jeans, but the size of your heart, soul, and spirit.
If thinking about the roast potatoes, chicken, turkey and other food items your mom will feed you because “you don’t eat properly at university”
sends you into a spiral, not to mention the massive amounts of sugar (oh, so much sugar) you’ll be consuming over the holidays, you’re not alone. Everyone indulges over Christmas. Unfortunately, it leads to a not-so-good feeling when you come back, and find that the dress you used to fit into, is a little tight. So, what do you do?
Well, first of all, ditch the inner critic that has the idea that thin people are happier. (I mean, where did this idea even come from? People can be happy at any size) Every time you catch yourself saying something negative about your body, stop and reformulate. Example: “I ate too much, I’ll never lose those five pounds” (result: you feel guilty). Stop and switch to: “I’ll start eating mindfully. I’ll be patient and I’ll make it work for me” (result: you feel empowered). You deserve to feel peace and joy around food.
Another helpful advice mentioned in numerous websites is to treat your body like your best friend. Would you tell your best friend that she/he has put on a little weight and doesn’t look as good as they did before? Probably not.
However, if you do want to get back into balance, here’s a few things you can do.
A) Exercise for the sake of feeling better, not looking better.
Exercising doesn’t always mean hitting the gym. Maybe you don’t like going to the gym. Find a way to be active that works for you- join a sports club, a dance class, take long walks or cycle around with your friends to explore the city.
B) Cut back on the added sugar and alcohol a little bit. They’re not good for you anyway.
C) Bring out your inner chef.
Cook at home more often. Not only will you avoid the extra calories and the huge amounts of sodium, your wallet will thank you too.
D) Stay hydrated.
Drinking around two liters of water everyday not only has health benefits like flushing out toxins, relieving headaches, improving blood oxygen circulation, but
research has shown that people who drink water before meals have been shown to eat fewer calories
Do not hold back on things you love or want to do because of how you interpret your body. Your weight is only a number on the scale that tells you your relationship with the gravity of the earth. It does not tell you who you are, or what you are worth. You are enough. You are more than enough. You are more than your exterior. You are your inner being, your spirit. A smile and confidence are the most beautiful things you can wear.
By Ishita Sharma