August 2008 - "Do you Love You?"

I hope that you are all enjoying these sunny days of August. I have been watching a fairly new TV. show "How to look Good Naked" on Lifetime. It has a very interesting premise - the goal of the show is not an elaborate makeover or even tips on how to lose weight. Instead, it deals with how women see themselves and suggests ways to feel more comfortable with our bodies and increase self-esteem. I was pleasantly surprised that this show does not focus just on the external appearance. While it does take time for many people to make a shift in how they perceive themselves, the women on the show appear to really make some positive changes during the five days spent with the show’s host, Carson Kreesley.

I believe that many women who want to lose weight are hampered by their self-perceptions. They doubt that they can lose weight or get healthy and quickly give up. For others, so much emphasis is placed on a number or size that may be unrealistic for them that the failure ruins any future attempts. I want to encourage all of us, myself included, to first focus on the positives. There is so much more than to us than our weight or dress size than we completely ignore. So, for the rest of this month, I challenge us to treat ourselves with kindness, love and respect for who we are. If you can see how valuable you are, you’ll be more likely to take care of yourself.

*Make a list of all your accomplishments. Completing college, raising two great children, volunteer work with Hospice. Put it all on paper where you can see it.

*Talk with a trusted friend and find out what that friend likes about you. Do the same for her/him.

*Try something new. Relearn to swim, visit a museum, read a book by a different author, Sudoku.

Let me know how you’re doing. Take care and be blessed!

Blessings to you,

Jacqui