Don't hate food. Just lose weight!

Firstly, let me introduce myself. My name is Victoria and I normally blog at busyhousebigheart.com


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Chi has given me the honor of being the first post of the new year for her wonderful blog. For those of you who follow Chi you know her blog is a wonderful creation and collection of the things she likes and enjoys in life. So, naturally she said I could write on whatever topic I wanted to (no pressure ;)! I know Chi loves food, I love food, and being the first blog of the new year many people have a love/hate relationship with food. Often making resolutions to ban themselves from enjoying food.

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One of the most common resolutions for the New Year, every year, is to "lose weight". Every year this resolution has people feeling guilty, useless, and sometimes as far as worthless! Some people mistake their resolution to "lose weight" as a resolution to be healthy, but by yo-yo dieting, giving your self strict rules where you say No, No, No. You are just knocking your body around. Chances are you will gain even more weight than you started out with.

It takes some reflection, but really understand why you want to lose weight. Why is it important for you to do so? Is it because you would like to be healthier or is it a body image issue? Losing weight is not necessarily the answer for either of those goals.

To Be Healthier: Be active! Do not run a marathon tomorrow, or work out for three hours straight. Find something that works for you, make it consistent, and start slow. Sweat. Work your core. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns, working out should have a nice burn, but it shouldn't be PAINFUL.

You may find that this increase in activity will impact the number on the scale, or it may not. You will still however, find yourself with an increase in energy, happiness, and motivation. Staring at the scale will discourage you. If you have to weight yourself do it at the same time a day, naked. You can lose and gain 2 lbs in one day. (You are also heavier in the morning then you are in the evening)

Eat well! This is where the love/hate of food comes in. You need food to live. Saying "No, I can't eat that" all the time will drive you nuts! 

Try to find nutritious food, I know for some it's becoming more and more difficult to pay for fruits and vegetables, but do what you can. If you have nutritious food around that you like, you can say "Yes, I can eat that" more often than telling yourself no. You can then use that extra will power to stop other bad habits in your life. Or start up another healthy habit.

To Improve Body Image: This one is unfortunately hard to achieve, but it has a huge impact on your health. So you want to lose weight to look better? You look great right now, and you have to keep telling yourself that. Your body is so much more than just something to look at. Though TV, Magazines, Movies, and that bully in middle school would like you to believe different.

When you catch yourself giving your body negative attention, give it some positive attention. Being hard on yourself doesn't move you forward! Eating right and being active are gifts you give yourself, they are not punishments.

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Continue to love yourself, love food, and follow sunnydaysarelove.blogspot.com & busyhousebigheart.com