BEGIN | WOMEN’S WELLNESS
Love the Body You’re In Thoughtful steps to change mind-body habits and live happily and healthfully into the New Year.
NUTRITION. Think plant-based eating and no deprivation. Along with healthy foods, hydrating with water (not soda) will help you feel and look better.
BY DR. DEBRA ROUSE
16
WINTER 2019 | LIVE NATURALLY
SHUTTERSTOCK
W
STRENGTHS. hen we are born, we arrive in our “Earth suit,” the beautiful body that Accentuate and appreciate your houses the miracle of our being. But personal strengths. as we age, our perception of how we stack Share your gifts and up against our peers and media ideals talents with those greatly influences what we think about around you. our bodies. We can never be thin enough, strong enough, beautiful enough. It may come as no surprise that a majority of AmeriPRACTICE cans (and a higher percentage GRATITUDE. of women compared with Every night before bed, men) suffer from a negative write down at least three body image. Studies show things you appreciate SURROUND there is more discontent with about your body. Give YOURSELF WITH our bodies than ever before. thanks for the tasks POSITIVITY. Poor body image not only your body does for decreases general life satisyou daily. Positive friends and images, and working on your own optimistic faction and happiness, but it thoughts, will lead you along the can also be potentially deadly road to body bliss. Refrain from if it fosters eating disorders, negative self-talk. Counter depression and anxiety. negativity with kindness How do we support our and positive words. teenage daughters (and sons), colleagues and friends who feel too “fat’” or too “thin” and “ugly’” compared with their DRESS FOR friends? How do we boost our SUCCESS. body image when media images FITNESS. of airbrushed beauties pollute Wear clothes that fit your Moderate daily shape. Avoid wearing overly our judgment of what’s real? exercise elevates conbaggy clothing that not only What actually matters is that fidence and self-esteem. makes you look bigger, but we love the body we’re in. Simply Mind-body fitness also may lead you to feel losing weight or surgically augmentpractices such as yoga, uncaring about your dance and tai chi are ing our bodies to look more like images in appearance. highly encouraged. mainstream media is highly unlikely to make us happier. Positive changes in lifestyle and mindbody habits over the short and long term are places to start to boost not only body image, but also overall life satisfaction and happiness. Taking thoughtful steps to end the negative mind chatter is the way to love Dr. Debra Rouse is a registered naturopathic doctor and member of the Institute for how you look. Here are a few tips to help Functional Medicine. drdebrarouse.com you love the body you’re in every day.
