We always want what we don’t have. Isn’t that true for so many people? Far too often, we look at someone else and think that what they have is better than what we have. When neither is better than the other. It’s just different – like vanilla and chocolate.
Sometimes it can be something silly, like a brand of phone or car, or it can be something that we can’t easily change – like a laugh, or the way another woman wears her hair.
I find that I admire women’s bodies whose shapes are very different from mine, too. Although we still have a ways to go, I find that we’re seeing more diverse images of women in magazines, television, and movies – women of different ages, sizes, shapes, and colors are being seen & celebrated. I think that’s awesome.
When I gain weight, I tend to gain it in my hips and thighs. I was always secretly jealous of women with slender builds – who didn’t have to worry about the size of their hips when they gained weight – who could just throw on an a-line top & mask the areas they wanted to hide. But what I didn’t realize at the time, was the fact that people gain and lose weight in very specific places on the body. It’s either hips/thighs or stomach/waist.
Some of that is genetic, some of it is hormonal, and for women in midlife, some of it is lifestyle.
Let me share with you 3 quick tips that can really help when it comes to managing your weight, other symptoms of menopause, and the dreaded muffin-top!
Tip 1 – Practice Paying Attention
Of course, we all want to be healthier, and create better habits. Yes, we all know that we could be doing better in our eating habits, exercising, getting better sleep, being more organized, and the list goes on.
But here’s what I want you to know: we can’t change what we’re not aware of. What this means for you is that the first step is to start paying attention to what you ARE doing instead of noticing what you aren’t, and immediately jumping into the new behavior.
Tip 2 – It All Adds Up
Oftentimes, when we set out to accomplish a goal, we have an idea of what it looks like to DO that goal. So then, anything short of what we’re ‘supposed to do’ isn’t good enough.
Except for Keto, most diets and exercise programs are pretty forgiving if you don’t follow them exactly. You can half-ass your way to success & you do not have to do things perfectly.
This is great news because unless you’re violating a primary principle of the technique, you can adapt the method to work for you. AND any effort is better than no effort. A walk is better than no walk. A brownie not eaten is better than a brownie eaten.
Tip 3 – Pivot. Don’t give up.
At some point as we’re on our journey, we’re going to think “It isn’t working” or “It isn’t working anymore.” Beware of this thought. It will show up way earlier than it should.
And on an intellectual level, we know that doing SOMETHING is better than doing nothing, yet when we’re in the middle of the river of despair, we say “Eff It! I don’t care!” And then feel rotten physically, emotionally, and mentally afterward.
But if we can expect that we’re going to have times when we think it’s not working, and come up with a plan ahead of time on how to address it, we’ll be less likely to self-sabotage. Listen to this episode on pivoting of my podcast, Done with Dieting.
These three tips are foundational for creating a better relationship with food, exercise, and your body … and ultimately, yourself.
Elizabeth Sherman is a life and weight loss coach who works with (mostly) women to lose weight and feel better through managing easy to do, sustainable habits.: diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management. Using certain cues, including Cravings, Hunger, Energy, Stress (mood), and Sleep, she helps folks design the right health program for their body and lifestyle, and address the obstacles and barriers we encounter when trying to be consistent in our desired habits. We can achieve optimal health; which leads to better energy, focus, productivity, relationships, and happiness in our lives.
Elizabeth is a Chicago native, but now lives in Puerto Morelos Mexico, and meets with her clients online. She is a certified life coach, nutritionist, personal trainer, and health coach.
Elizabeth has a successful podcast called Done With Dieting. Check it out hby clicking the link below.
https://elizabethsherman.com/category/podcast/