Body Thankful
by Heather Harter
As we say goodbye to the holiday season and head into the new year, it’s normal to turn introspective. The New Year heralds the possibility of a fresh start and a time to make all our dreams a possibility. It’s a normal time to set some goals (aka resolutions). In fact, 41% of Americans start a new year setting at least one goal and 48% of those people set weight loss specific goals. It’s not surprising – we’ve spent months eating all the holiday treats at every party. We’ve baked (and sampled) all the goodies. We’ve received all the cookies and candies from neighbors and friends. Now we head into the new year and our pants are a little tight, we feel a little sluggish, and we likely feel a little stressed. We are frustrated with our bodies and so we set a goal to fix it – lose weight in 2023. Unfortunately, at least 27% of us will fail in the first week of January alone.
There’s a better way – let’s approach 2023 with love and appreciation for our bodies. Instead of hating the way we look or feel and setting goals to fix what’s wrong, let’s accept everything our bodies have done so far and set goals that support a loving relationship with our weight, health, and fitness. Getting to a place of thankfulness can be hard but try this.
Sit down with a pen and paper and make a list of all the things your body did well in 2022. Think about what your body does for you day in and day out. Don’t make the list in your head – studies have shown when we commit things to writing, it matters more. Now start writing. Some examples might be:
My body gave birth to a beautiful baby.
My body allowed me to work out and exercise.
My body has taken some abuse and yet it’s carried me through.
My body allows me to do what I love (hiking, painting, skiing, or whatever hobby you like).
My body has given me 47 years so far and helped me experience so many great places.
My body has recovered well from a surgery.
My body supports my life.
My body allows me to walk onto the football field to hug my son after his game.
My body allows me to cheer from the stands at my daughter’s volleyball game.
My body allowed me to dance the night away at my wedding.
Disregard anything that sounds like criticism during this exercise. This is all about thankfulness and positivity.
Now that you have a list, spend some time thinking about how to best love your body in 2023. Remember, we do not nurture what we hate – we only nurture the things we love. So now make a list of ideas for how to nurture your body – these can become your goals if you are a goal-setter/resolution-maker. Do this in a way that “tricks” your mind – it’s not about changing something you hate, it’s about nourishing something you love. Here are a few ideas:
I’m going to exercise to feel good, not to lose weight or punish my body.
I’m going to eat less processed foods because those foods make my body feel sluggish and achy. I’m going to eat more healthy, whole foods because I feel so good when I do.
I’m going to talk nicer to myself – sharing more about what I love and less about what I hate.
I love the outdoors and I’m going to hike more.
I love it when my body feels strong – I’m going to lift more weights.
It doesn’t matter what goal/resolution/intent you set – it only matters that you do it in a way that leads to success. Remember – we put time and effort into what we love, not what we hate. Show gratitude to all your body has done in 2022 and nourish it more in 2023 – it might just amaze you.