Finding Peace in the Mirror

Loving yourself really is half the battle! It's hard to look in the mirror and see things that you don't like, whether you think you're too skinny or you wish your nose was smaller, there's always something we wish we could change about our physical appearance. It's important to remember that looks aren't everything. Accepting and loving yourself for who you are, flaws and all, is an important part of living a healthy life. If you love yourself enough to take care of yourself, you will naturally make healthier lifestyle choices. I found this article called "Finding Peace in the Mirror: The Quest for a Healthy Body Image" by Pamela H. Hansen and I wanted to share it with you because it really hit home with me. The quote that I posted last week was actually taken from this article in LDSLiving:

A lot of unhappiness results from agonizing over our physical appearance. But if we are able to see the divinity inherent in our wonderful mortal bodies, we can find a serenity and peace that eludes those who are caught up in the world’s obsession with the so-called ideal body.
-Pamela H. Hansen

She also relates being physically healthy to our spiritual well-being. It's a wonderful article and if you want to read it I've posted the link on the side bar or just click the link in the first paragraph.

What shape are you?

Like it or not we all have "predetermined" body shapes, that is to say we all have certain places fat deposits like to settle the best. There are 3 different body types
The apple-shape: people with the apple body type tend to store fat around their midsection (belly). This is the most dangerous place to store fat because it surrounds your vital organs, meaning it is the most likely to lead to heart disease. Apple shaped people need to be or become health conscious to avoid excess fat stored in this area.
The pear-shape: Pear shaped individuals tend to store fat below the belt, that is in the hips and thighs. It is harder to lose than belly fat but it is not so dangerous to your health as belly fat.

The proportioned shape - These people distribute fat evenly throughout their bodies.

Holiday Feasting

So it's that time of year again, people are putting up Christmas tress and lights and there's the hustle and bustle of holiday shoppers everywhere you go, not to mention the Christmas treats in the oven and the parties being thrown with all kinds of yummy not-so figure friendly food! But do not despair you can still enjoy all the things you love and keep the extra pounds at bay! How you ask? Just a simple matter of portion control! I know you've probably grown entirely weary of hearing me blabber on about how portion control is the key, but my friends, it's the truth! ANY food can be a part of a healthy diet as long as it's enjoyed in moderation! That is a wonderful thing, it gives you a free pass to go ahead and have a cookie and not feel guilty about it ! Here are some other tips for all those goodies that are sure to come your way this holiday season!

- If you don't LOVE it, don't eat it! Just because you start to eat something doesn't mean you have to finish it if you don't love it. For example, you're at a Christmas party and you put a cookie on your plate that looks delish, but when you take a bite it's only so-so, DON'T finish it and don't feel bad for not doing so! Put it back on your plate or throw it away, your hips will thank you when the season passes and you can still fit into your fave pair of jeans!

- Have an apple or a light snack BEFORE you go to dinner or a party where you know there will be a lot of unhealthy food and snacks. Doing this keeps you from being famished and loading your plate up with everything that looks edible!

- This one is probably going to be difficult if you're like me and love to bake, especially for the holidays, so take it in stride. Instead of baking cookies and other goodies to give to friends and neighbors (which come on let's be honest, we sample everything that comes out of the oven because we wouldn't want to give away bad cookies...=) why not give away little baskets of Christmas oranges or clementines or any wintery fruit for that matter? Not only are these baskets pretty, but it's ok if you sample the holiday fare!

I have to run the baby's awake, but if I have any more tips I'll be sure to send them your way and as always, if you have any tips of your own please share!

Slacking

Ok, so it's been over a month since my last post, so sorry! My baby's been in the emergency room twice in the past two weeks and sick pretty much all month. Poor thing. Anyway, I'll have some healthy holiday tips coming so don't give up on me yet!