I think it is easier to lose 30lbs than to lose a negative body image.
I would have thought the girl on the left would have more negative body thoughts than the girl on the right… BTW both girls are me 🙂
I had a really bad case of the “uglies” yesterday. I was super critical about how I was looking! To be honest, I was feeling a little frustrated with my body- thinking that I should look better due to all the working out and eating healthy I do. These days are fewer than before. The negative voice in my head is quieter but when she comes out she is MEAN! I honestly think its the hardest part of the process- losing that negative body image.
I remember seeing Sarah Ferguson (Sarah Duchess of York) on Oprah right after she lost all her weight with Weight Watchers. I remember her saying that everytime she looked in the mirror she saw her old body not the new one. I don’t exactly see my old body in the mirror but sometimes instead of seeing the new muscles or the leaner waist my eyes are drawn to my more “problem” areas.
Yesterday these thoughts were ramped!

Or this one

I think yesterday I was feeling a little impatient! The old me would have driven straight to McDonalds for the comfort of a Big Mac and those salty fries. But then what happens? The voice gets meaner and louder because not only is she pointing out flaws now she’s beating you up for eating crappy! I think we all know about that “vicious circle” of comfort eating then negative self talk. What I have learned is how to break that circle. I have found little tricks that work for me that stop that bad body image day from becoming bad body image week.
#1 I wear my favourite outfit. That outfit that makes you feel awesome! For me, I know its totally shallow but for me its my Lululemon pants. I don’t know why $100 yoga pants make me feel prettier but they do- so I wear them everyday now LOL. Just kidding.
#2 I did some Balance Breathing. This sounds a little weird but it works! Use your thumb to close your right nostril. Breathe in through your left nostril. Remove thumb from right nostril and use ring finger to close left nostril. Exhale through right, inhale through from left nostril. Place thumb on right nostril to close it, exhale through left, inhale through left. Repeat, alternating for 3-5 min. This helps stressful feelings leave the body. I know- sounds weird but try it.
#3 Workout. Release the endorphins. Yesterday, my workout class got cancelled. Worst day for that to happen for me! I could have ordered a pizza, drank some of the leftover cottage beer and had a huge pity party. Instead I went for a run. Boy did I run! It felt great! I came home really sweaty and celebrating my first sub 30min 5K.
#4 I made my favourite “taste bad for you but it isn’t” dinner. My favourite dinner lately has been Thai Coconut Pineapple Shrimp Curry. Happiness on a plate.
#5 Dark chocolate. Eat some. It will make you happy. It does a better job at making me feel good inside than wine or McDonald’s for that matter.
#6 Then I looked in the mirror and smiled at myself. Be nice to yourself. Not everyday is going to be perfect… sometimes it is harder to choose to be happy.

Thai Coconut Pineapple Shrimp
I’ve adapted this Skinnytaste.com recipe: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/03/thai-coconut-curry-shrimp.html
Ingredients:
1 lb of shrimp, shelled
1 red pepper, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1 cup pineapple, chopped
1 can of coconut milk (full fat)
1 tbsp red Thai curry paste (or more if you want it spicier)
2 tsp fish sauce
1 tsp coconut oil

In a frying pan, fry the onion in the coconut oil until soft. Add the red pepper and the curry paste. Stir fry until it begins to soften. Add the shrimp and fry until pink. Add the coconut milk, fish sauce and the pineapple. Simmer for a few minutes then add the cilantro.

I serve it on about a 1/2 cup of jasmine or basmati rice.

Very yummy! Guaranteed to make you feel happy.

Choose happy 🙂