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As the Summer approaches, our Spring schedules come into full
swing. This is a great time to assess and adjust your self-care.
Unfortunately, this is also a time when the companies that make
money from yo-yo dieting come out in full force. You will be barraged
with body loathing commercial and infomercials. I hope you can keep
your focus on taking care of yourself. I encourage you to cultivate
your self-appreciation and avoid the body loathing that the media
and yo-yo diet companies promote. Below are excerpts from an article
about a recent study:
Researchers from the University of Ohio who studied the dietary
habits of almost 199 college women found those who accepted their
bodies were more likely to eat healthily.
Instead of dieting, driven by dissatisfaction with one's body shape
and a desire to change it, women who accept their bodies the way
they are end up with the lowest body mass index (BMI), the study
has shown.
The strategy is called "intuitive eating", based on feelings of
hunger and fullness. It is contrasted with eating for emotional
reasons - "comfort eating" - or as a response to stressful situations,
that are seen as the chief drivers of obesity. Those who followed
intuitive eating principles had a lower body mass index than those
who did not.
The findings, presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological
Association in New Orleans, suggest that the typical reasons for
dieting may backfire. Tracy Tylka, the assistant professor of psychology
who led the research, said: "The message that women often hear is
that some degree of body dissatisfaction is healthy because it could
help them to strive to take care of their bodies. But it may be
just the opposite: An appreciation of your body is needed to
really adopt better eating habits."
You Are Invited to Tonight's Chat
 Join
us on the first Tuesday of each month to help bolster your self-care
and diminish the grip of body criticism. Just stop by our chat room
at 9:15 p.m. EST. (6:15 p.m. on the West Coast)
Some of our chat topics include:
- Healthy Eating without getting sucked into the "Diet Vortex"
- Finding fun fitness that you CAN do
- Changing the way you talk to yourself in your head
- Coping with friends & family on the subject of weight
- Diet recovery
- Defending yourself during the "war on obesity"
- Foods that effect how you feel
- Dressing to feel better
- Self-care and it's profound effects on your life
- and so much more
We look forward to seeing you there.
Kids Hear What You Say,
and They Believe It!
I write this section for talk show hosts, newscasters, parents,
teachers, coaches, doctors, and anyone who speaks where children
can hear you. If you are a public figure or a role model for kids,
it is especially important for you to be aware of this concept:
 Kids
hear what you say about yourself,
and they learn to say the same kinds of things to themselves.
Watch the news. Most of the time when a reporter does a story about
body size, weight, plastic surgery, or looks in general, the reporter
adds a disparaging comment about their own body. A tiny female reporter
on the morning news talks about her fat thighs. A prominent reporter
who is thin comments "I'm not as thin as I should be." Reports on
liposuction, stomach stapling, and tummy tucks, sound more like
infomercials than news stories.
The media is supposed to present the facts about the news of the
day. Instead, our kids are bombarded with body loathing comments
and emotions. This damages all of us. But it especially damages
children and teens.
When you make body loathing comments
about your body, you are teaching
young people to hate their bodies too.
Every time you say that your butt is too big or your arms are too
flabby, you are planting the seeds of body loathing in everyone
who heard, especially the kids. Listen to what you say. Kids hear
what you say about yourself and they believe it. Notice how often
you make negative comments about your looks, or size, or hair, or
whatever. If you continued to do this, YOU would be teaching the
children who hear you to do the same.
Make a promise to yourself NOW. Make a promise to the children
who hear you. Stop saying negative things about your body. Kids
will follow your lead. You can lead them well.
Do It for the Children
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Enter coupon code 9A33E206 when checking
out,
or just tell me when you call. 610-394-2547
You can learn to put yourself at the top of the list
of those who deserve your care. Together we can work it out. |
