The first and most important thing to know is that body weight in itself does not matter. Take a moment to really let that sink in: weight does not matter.
For anyone feeling unhappy with their body weight, shape or appearance, you may strongly disagree with that statement, thinking to yourself "it matters to me". And, based on our very weight-centric culture, it is understandable that you feel that you "should" be a different weight, shape or size. For more information on how to accept yourself as you are, read my post here.
What I am referring to is the idea that weight does not determine your health. Health is instead determined by genetics, medical history, environmental factors and behaviours. So, having a goal of weight loss to improve health, is like having a goal of getting more tanned, to improve health. The colour of your skin may change if you change your behaviours, just like the number on the scales may change with altered behaviours, but they do not alone determine whether you are healthy or not, nor are they an indicator of health.
So, if we are not focused on weight as a goal, what should we focus on? Focus on behaviours that positively impact health and longevity. These include:
Enjoy a wide variety of healthful foods most of the time, guided by your internal body cues (hunger and satiety)
Engage in enjoyable movement whenever possible such as gardening, dancing, walking in the park or swimming. See my blog post on exercise here.
Give your body and your mind adequate rest with good quality sleep and relaxation
Find a GP you are comfortable with and have regular medical check-ups. If there are any signs of disease, they should be caught early so you can have the best possible outcome.
Develop a positive, caring relationship with yourself focused on self-care, positive encouragement and acceptance.
If you would like to learn more, book in for a free 15 minute discovery call today. Click here to book now.
