Respect Your Body!

For many years, I mistreated my body. I fed it junk and processed foods and for that I paid greatly. I was obese, sluggish and unhappy. I hated my life and the sight of myself. I stayed away from mirrors and I wouldn’t even dare think about stepping on the scale. Depression hit me hard, no matter how nice I dressed or how skilled I was in certain areas of my life; it still didn’t change that fact that I was FAT. I didn’t respect myself. It was not until my uncle, mother, and grandmother all in that order, passed away from heart failure that I decided to make a change.

I’ve tried several times in my life to make a change and while I always exercised; I never altered the way I ate. I just figured as long as I took a 60 minute spin class, that the cheese steak and French fries I had the night before wouldn’t matter. Little did I know, that loving me, meant nourishing myself with wholesome, natural foods from the earth. Once I got that concept, I was off and running. My body finally started to love me back and in turn, weight loss almost became effortless. I felt better, my skin was clearer, I was more upbeat and most importantly, not only did my body love me; I now loved me. I smile now when I look in the mirror. And the scale, bonk the scale; it still doesn’t matter to me because I know that I’m eating the right types of foods and I’m exercising.

My once flabby body is now tight and muscular. I admire my curves and the stretch mark scars that are left from the damage I have done eating the wrong foods over the years. I call them war scars. Why? Because I fought hard to make the necessary changes in my life to eat healthy. I fought hard to respect my body. And when I look at those scars, they are constant reminders of the journey that I have traveled. Loving yourself can be hard work and at times it can be overwhelming. We always focus on our faults rather than what we are good at. I remind myself every day that I am loved by many, including myself. I respect my body and I trust my body therefore I take care of it by nourishing it with the best food possible and in return it treats me well now and hopefully for years to come.