Why you should not lose weight just for body image!
Body Image
When I started exercising and dieting at the age of 14, it was to look beautiful. I wanted to have the perfect body like in the magazines and to feel good about myself. I honestly thought with hard work and dedication I could achieve this. I grew up with Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schieffer and Cindi Crawford on the covers of Dolly, Cleo, Cosmopolitan and Elle magazines. And even though at 14 the only magazines I read was Dolly, the other magazines were always splashed around NEWS Stands at train stations and newsagents for the world to see. Now this article is not about body images in magazines or about achieving the perfect body but it is about dieting for all the wrong reasons.
Body Health
Up until the age of 39, I thought dieting was a great idea. It thought it helped me stay on track. I honestly believed by skipping meals and or not eating as much on my plate was what I needed to do to stay in shape. Boy was I wrong. In the last 7 years of study I finally started to understand that dieting was not a good idea. Sure it kept the weight off, but it also stopped my brain from functioning at its best and didn’t help my memory either. When I started learning all about nutrition the text books pointed to the same thing. Exercise.
Now I hear what you are saying “Exercise for losing/ maintaining weight is obvious”.
But I thought "I don't want to exercise every day and frankly I don't have the time."
However, now I am here to tell you "Make the time, you will not be disappointed."
Body health and Well-being
Did you know exercise not only helps you maintain your weight, but does help prevent heart disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, arthritis and risk of falls? In addition, exercise boosts energy, promotes better sleep, improves self-esteem and confidence, may put a spark back into your relationship and I dare say it, is fun.
Five years ago whilst studying and reading the same messages over and over in regard to exercise, I decided to become more active outdoors. For example, I started walking three kilometers everyday and ride my bike. I noticed a difference in my mood. I felt happier even though I was still crazy busy and I felt a little more relaxed. Alongside outdoor activities I joined the gym. This was to help me with a constant pinched nerve in my shoulder, a stiff neck and back pain in addition to staying at my desired weight. What I didn’t expect was what came next.
A shift in my goals.
My goal shifted from wanting to look good on the outside to starting to love myself and wanting to be healthy on the inside. I saw my body as a car that needed the right fuel all the time and that also needed to be tended to on occasion. This for me meant taking a trip to the GP and getting a full health check (which is entirely covered by Medicare every three years over the age of 40), and visiting the dentist every six months.
I stopped worrying about what the bathroom scales read and sometimes did not read them at all. Instead I planned and organised how I was going to fuel my body each day.
I feel amazing, my clothes fit better and I am eating more food than I ever have and not putting on any weight. Looking in the mirror does not make me cringe anymore. Ok, so my body isn’t perfect. However, I have come to realise no bodies body is. But who cares, it’s not important anymore.
What is important is to be healthy.
I now embrace my health every day and feel lucky that I have started taking better care of myself.
So for these reasons listed below I believe that you should never lose weight just to look good.
They are
1. If losing weight to look good is your only objective then you will probably find once you have lost the weight you will return back to your old eating patterns and slowly put the weight back on. However, if you see your body as a machine that needs to be fueled correctly for better performance and add some exercise to help you functioning better, then you are more likely to keep at it, feel amazing and stay healthy.
2. For some people, no amount of weight loss is going to help them feel that they look good and this may lead to disordered eating and eating disorders. In contrast, if you are feeling amazing on the inside (because you are looking after yourself) then this will reflect in your mood and make you feel beautiful on the outside.
From the book "The Twits" and in the words of Roald Dahl
““A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.””
Exercise:
Do you know you don’t have to join the gym to get exercise?
Exercise comes in all shapes and forms, from bike riding to work or school, walking around the block, running around with the kids after school, taking the stairs at work instead of the lift, cleaning the house, washing the car or the house windows. Research suggests physical activity can be accumulated in small amounts throughout the day or as a single session. These two types of activity produce similar health benefits in preventing and reducing the risk of chronic disease, such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers (Queensland Government, 2008).
I joined the gym as it was at my university and it made me stop to take short breaks from study and do something else for a while. But everyone is different. So you just need to find something that suits you, your life style, budget and needs.
And remember to have fun.
No excuses.
If you are wanting to improve your health and well being you can send me an email or give me a call. I am only to happy to help by offering simple suggestions on food and giving simple swap ideas.
My eating philosophy is all about balance and creating long term healthy habits focusing on practical strategies for modern, busy people that encompasses variety and moderation.