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5 Ways to LOVE Yourself RIGHT NOW!

Body ImageWhitney CarlsonComment

We spend so much time doubting ourselves, looking to change things about ourselves (sometimes those things can't be changed or involve surgery to do so) and thinking negative thoughts. Stop torturing yourself. Forget that old way of thinking - it's time to make a change! Try a few or try them all, but regardless of which ones your incorporate, here are 5 ways to love yourself right now:

5 Ways to LOVE Yourself RIGHT NOW!

#1 - Tell yourself you are beautiful AT LEAST once per day. It's one thing to want to hear it, it's another thing to actually verbalize it and hear it. Even if you just rolled out of bed and have a horrible case of bedhead, you ARE beautiful. Even if your favorite sweat session at the gym and can't wait to hop in the shower, you ARE beautiful. Even if your goal weight is 100 lbs less than where you are right now, you ARE beautiful.

#2 - Accentuate your favorite asset. We all have one thing we like about ourselves, right? (You should - if you don't, think about it and make it a priority to love something about yourself.) If it's your eyes that you love, choose a new flattering haircut or hair style that will let those eyes sparkle, dress them up with some eye liner or shadow or go see your eye doctor about finally getting those contacts you always wanted. If it's your shoulders that you love, wear your favorite strapless or halter top or dress. When you feel like you put your best foot forward, it makes everything else about you shine.

#3 - Do something that makes you happy. This is an easy one, but it's always fun to get to do something for yourself - something you genuinely enjoy. Even if it's as simple as taking 5 minutes to enjoy a hot cup of tea or reading your favorite magazine, do it! Most of y'all know I love to sew, but I think I love fabric even more. Sometimes, when I need a pick-me-up, I go to my local fabric store and window shop - no need to spend any money!

#4 - Try something new. Part of loving yourself requires learning more about yourself. Each time you try something new, you discover something about yourself that you may or may not have know previously. Whether you liked the activity, how you felt doing it and even if you would want to do it again are things that you should explore in an effort to learn to love you.

#5 - Spend time with someone that makes you happy. Loving who you are means loving your friends and your family. Most of us have special memories with each and everyone of our family and friends. Don't let those memories go to waste - cherish those - learn what your favorites are - be uplifted by spending time with others who love you and make you happy.

Follow these and you will be well on your way to changing that negative attitude into a positive. Days don't start off bad - you have a choice to make it a good day or a bad day. You choose!

Be Happy in the Skin You Are In... NOW!

Body Image, MotivationWhitney Carlson4 Comments

Today's post comes out of necessity for me to get something off of my chest. There is so much talk in the media about what it means to be skinny and even a definition of "fat." We are seeing "fat shaming" and now, "skinny shaming" left and right - wherever we turn.  So, when should we be happy with the body we have? Once we are happy, do we stop trying to make it better?

The truth of the matter is, you have to be happy in the skin you are in at the moment to make any improvements in the future. As most of you know, I had a baby 10.5 months ago and my auto-immune disease has spiraled out of control since then. I'm in a good place as far as my body goes (at least I think so), but I'm not that super teeny size I used to be. Guess what - I don't care! I'm happy with the effort that I have been putting in, the way I have been eating. and can honestly say that I am getting stronger each day - physically and mentally. I fit in most of my clothes (with the exception of those super tiny ones) and I have found the balance that I need to ensure I am taking care of my family while also taking care of myself.

(I was that person... I used to laugh at the people that said I didn't understand what it was like to have a kid, when I didn't have one, but now I understand! Especially at this age, there is very little time to yourself and it's a triumph if you actually cook something to eat and GET to eat it!)

So... does that mean that I won't work hard to get myself to the next level? Absolutely not! Life is a constant state of change and why not change for the better? I am a real woman, a real mother, a real wife and a real member of society. My life has to reflect that. Your life should reflect the person you are and the person you want to be - not reflect what you do or don't see in the mirror. That will come.

Understand that YOU are constantly evolving. Love the process. Love each and every step.