The topic of body image has been coming up for me a lot lately. Maybe it is because my daughter is one now, and she watches me more carefully than she used to. Maybe because my son is 5 and asks so many questions, and he can be so observant, so blunt about certain things.
When I first started exercising daily and paying attention to the food going into my mouth, I started to worry that I would be setting a bad example for my kids. I didn't want them to see me questioning my imperfections, worrying about my body, picking at my food like a bird or squeezing my love handles while frowning into the mirror.
Then as I got deeper into my Journey, I realized that I can use this opportunity to set a good example for my kids- eating food that makes me feel good and helps me function my best. I'm exercising because it is good for my heart, lungs, muscles, brain, everything.
I can also use it as an opportunity to demonstrate where "junk food" belongs in our lives. I try to view everything as ok in moderation at some point, but the things that make our bodies strong and feel the best are the things we should be eating every single day. We don't buy candy, soda, etc. on our weekly grocery shopping trip, but we might have some on occasion, in small amounts, at celebrations and such. We load our refrigerator with fresh fruits, veggies, meat, eggs, and cheese. I stopped buying granola bars and fruit snacks to keep where my son can reach them and instead he has taken to grabbing things like fruit, applesauce, nuts, cheese, etc. (The granola bars and fruit snacks still make their way into my purse for those moments at the grocery store or the doctor's office where I just need them to be quiet, so no judgement LOL)
Most importantly I have used this as an opportunity to "check" myself before I look into the mirror. How would it look to someone else whenever I am looking into the mirror. Am I smiling? Am I frowning? Am I taking inventory of every stretch mark, every buldge, every grey hair, every pimple? Or am I using my mirror to simply assessing my outfit for the day, making sure that I don't have baby snot on my shoulder, and then I'm out the door?
Currently I have a big sign on my mirror that says, "You Are Beautiful and Strong!" And my sweet husband wrote "Yup!" underneath it. I am so thankful to have a supportive spouse, one who loves me no matter what I look like. One who supports me on my journey to better health, but never pushes me to do it for vanity reasons.
I love my body. It has done amazing things. It continues to do amazing things. I am thankful for what I have been given and I will take care of it for as long as I live. I choose to exercise and eat clean because I LOVE my body and it deserves the very best. I hope that I can relay the same message to my children as they grow up.
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