Natural Health Information with a Biblical Perspective

Side Effects of (Not) Exercising

6/17/2020

We often hear about why we should get our bodies moving on a regular basis, and that the benefits are numerous. I totally agree. This past week, I found out what some of these are for me personally, but in reverse. I usually work out 4-5 days a week, doing a variety of HIIT, strength training, cardio, and stretching. I have been tired to the point of complete exhaustion lately, so I decided to take a week off, thinking that perhaps my body needed a rest. It is good to get more rest at times, which I needed to do, but in the process I learned how much my body needs the daily movement in order to function properly.

One week off of exercising taught me it's many benefits by showing me how quickly other things in my health can go backwards when I ignore this one piece. Personally, daily exercise goes a long ways in improving my mood and outlook on life. This is even more apparent the past few months. Lovingly moving your body in a way you enjoy releases serotonin and endorphins, chemicals that give you that "feel-good" feeling. How long do you have to exercise for this to take affect? Serotonin is released in about 30-45 minutes, while endorphins may take up to an hour. Most of my workout days are under one hour, but it is apparent that the 30-45 minutes are extremely beneficial for my overall ability to deal with life.

A second negative effect I noticed was that I had even less energy and felt I needed to consume more coffee. In moderation, coffee can have some benefits, but it does need to be balanced out with quality water and other beverages. Coffee itself is dehydrating, increasing our need for water even more than we would normally have to consume to be at a healthy level of hydration. If you are someone who needs a lot of caffeine throughout the day, consider replacing one caffeinated beverage with the equal amount of water, gradually increasing your water intake and reducing other drinks. You will be amazed at the benefits!

One of my most unsettling discoveries was the change in my digestion. If I don't move, my gut is quite unhappy. If our body slows down, our digestion slows down. A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to constipation, which in turn increases inflammation, toxins and pain. If this is a long term problem, we not only end up with toxins in our colon, but also in our bloodstream. Exercise, however, can improve blood flow, relieve stress, regulate weight and speed up metabolism, which can all contribute to a healthy, well-functioning digestive system. It has also been found that exercise can reduce the symptoms of gastrointestinal pain, including that linked to irritable bowel syndrome.

How am I dealing with being too tired now? I am focusing on making it a priority to get to bed earlier and aiming for 7-8 hours of sleep. This means I have to turn off the electronics an hour before bedtime, quit trying to get more things done in the evening (they really can wait!), and avoiding anything disturbing such as news or social media at night.

Exhaustion is one of the biggest concerns I hear in my office, but we can take measures to improve this. For me, cutting back on exercise definitely was not the answer! For another person, it may be necessary. Each individual has different circumstances and needs different answers. There is not a "one size fits all" when it comes to improving our health, and sometimes we need help finding out what our answers can be. It could be diet, hydration, stress management, sleep, movement, needing sunshine & fresh air or focusing on underlying issues to get to the root of things. This is where I can help! Personal consultation is a great tool for finding the cause and heading off bigger problems in the future. If you have questions about any of this, please reach out to me. I would be honored to help you!

Day 8

1/5/2020

Hello! Here I am on day 8. According to the booklet that comes with the OmniCleanse kit, days 6-9 can be the most challenging. For me, one of the hardest things is staying away from foods that I know will not help me to get the best results as I go through this process. Often, I am having to tell myself "You are not hungry. You don't NEED that!" This was more difficult over the weekend with family, but I was a whole lot happier with myself by pushing through it. Does it always go this way for me? NO! Definitely not! Knowing that I was going to be blogging about this detox has been a great help to keeping me on track, along with knowing that my sister is doing this along with me. I don't want to have to tell her that I ate/drank _______! Whenever you are aiming to make changes in your life, it always helps to have someone to hold you (lovingly) accountable.

One thing that I have found that helps with cravings is to look for a healthy comforting food. This may be a favorite healthy recipe or simply a cup of warm tea with a bit of raw honey in it. It doesn't need to be complicated or overly time-consuming! For others, it may be that you're actually thirsty and need to drink more water. Perhaps a distraction of some light exercise is the answer for you. Each person is individual and has different needs. Find that "thing" that satisfies you without compromising what you are trying to accomplish!

While I am happy to be a bit past the half way point, I am also looking ahead to the long term. Included in the booklet is guidance for the "Transformation Phase" which is another 14 days, for a total of 28 days. The food recommendations are a bit more broad, but still stay within healthy guidelines and can help solidify good habits along with promote weight loss.

This first 8 days has gone quite well for me this time around, which I am thankful for! It is a reminder that making changes doesn't have to be miserable or painful. It can be looked at as a pleasant, self-care time. After all, if we don't take care of the body we are in, where are we going to live? And if you don't choose to do so, who will?

2020 OmniCleanse - My Personal Journey (Day 5)

1/5/2020

Day 5 is in the books! Day 1 & 2 were easy, but as I was part way through day 3, I noticed that I was a bit more impatient than normal. A bit of lavender essential oil, a warm bath, and extra sleep went a long way in alleviating that issue. Yesterday (day 4), I had a more serious headache than usual. This is normal when going through a detoxification process. Drinking more water and getting exercise helps lighten this, along with either peppermint tea or peppermint essential oil. When doing a detox, it is vital to drink enough water! I know I have said this many times, but it is so important. Your body needs this to help clean out your system.
During a detox, do not be surprised if you find yourself requiring more sleep. Your body is working hard, which is a good thing. Last night, I slept for 10 hours! It was amazing! And it was much needed. As I head into the next few days, my goal is to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. This should be my goal on a regular basis, but it often ends up being closer to 7 hours. Remember that the hours of 10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. are your prime healing time. This means that those 4 hours are worth twice of that before and after. However, this doesn’t mean that you should be sleeping ONLY those 4 hours! Aim for 6-8 hours of sleep as part of your regular routine.
I’m heading into day 6, knowing that days 6-9 can be the most challenging. The OmniCleanse increases the capsules and detoxification drink during these days to help work through these 4 days. The dietary recommendations also are a bit more limited during this time to help your body clean out toxins. It is possible to go through this detox without changing your diet and only taking the supplements. You will see some benefits, but not nearly as much as following the expert advice included. It is much easier for the body to begin the healing process if it isn’t dealing with more toxins coming in. Think of it as only taking out part of the garbage every week but adding more to a pile in your house. The stink would never be gone! If you are considering taking supplements to detox, consider changing lifestyle along with it to get the most out of it. It can be difficult to make these changes, but you will benefit in the long run. You are worth it!

2020 OmniCleanse Detoxification - My Personal Journey

1/1/2020

I'm beginning the year 2020 with a great detox, which is both gentle (It doesn't make your life or those around you miserable) and complete. I love that this product is not just a liver/organ specific type of cleanse, but addresses the entire cellular system. The areas addressed include: Brain/Nervous System, Extracellular Matrix (area between cells), Liver, Digestive and Colon Integrity, Kidney and Bladder Purification, Immune System and Lymph Drainage Support, Antioxidants, Phytonutrients, Core Nutrients, and Metabolism. It's really quite amazing! It goes deep, without clogging or congesting things along the elimination route, which will do more harm than good. The OmniCleanse Detoxification Program reaches deeply harbored toxins and facilitates their complete elimination. As I've stated in other posts, I have used this personally many times and always see positive results.

Since the thought of doing a cleanse (or detox) can be intimidating and foreign to most people, I will be sharing my experiences over at least the next 14 days. Don't worry! I won't get TOO personal! And remember, each person will have a different experience since we are all very individual and unique.

So here we go! Come back here every couple days for an update! I may not post every day, depending on my journey!

Day 1 - The first 2 days of this program include using homeopathic drops and capsules. This is to help your body get accustomed to the detox process. I love the fact that these first couple of days eases you in, without any dietary restrictions. However, I do reduce caffeine and eliminate sugar at this point, to make things easier on myself down the road. This is also a good time to work on increasing that water consumption, as this is vital to the success of the process.

Physically, I am not feeling any different at this point, and don't expect that will change much tomorrow either. There are more trips to the bathroom, but nothing urgent. It is the body starting to flush things out - be it on a small scale that doesn't cause any discomfort. If you do any type of detox, remember to drink that water!! Your body needs it to clean things. Just as we need water to clean our outside, we also need it to clean the inside! Check back for more information and updates!

What are you thinking?

9/6/2018

The past few months, I have been working on paying attention to my self-talk. In other words, taking responsibility and authority over my thought life. This is not an easy task! I recently had my 50th birthday, which means there were some bad habits that were deeply ingrained into my brain. I had mentioned this at Bible Study this past winter, when I stated that I cannot control my brain. A very dear, precious, godly woman who I adored gave me a stern (and much needed) talking-to. She looked me in the eyes and informed me that I was not to speak that way anymore and stand on Scripture instead, speaking it out loud, and gaining control of this important area of my life. She has since gone home to be with Jesus, and so her words ring in my spirit even more than they did the day she said them. I took them to heart, knowing that she was speaking the truth in love. Such precious wisdom from a precious lady.

What lies are you believing about yourself? Your past? Are there word curses and criticisms that others have spoken over you? Are you putting yourself down, thinking that you aren't enough? Do you believe that the mistakes of your past are too horrible, too big, and that you need to carry them around with you for the rest of your life? Have you, like me, had a broken record playing in your head over and over again?

Dear, sweet friend, if this is you, I want you to know in the depths of your heart that these words you are speaking over yourself are not true. They are not how your Heavenly Father sees you at all, and He knows everything about you! I want you to know that I have been there, and I am still battling this along with you. Although I have made progress, by the grace of God, I still have work to do.

How can we turn this around? I'm going to be honest with you. It won't happen by us merely wishing that it would change, that WE would change. There is an element of work involved. Compare it to wanting our physical body to look different. Will that happen by sitting on the couch, staying up late, consuming junk? If only! Of course, the answer to that is a resounding "no." Just as we have to make intentional changes such as exercise, eat more healthfully, drink water, and go to bed at a reasonable time to change our physical health, we need to take steps to change our thought life.

You may want to start with paying closer attention to the thoughts that run through your head on a daily basis. Writing them down will be a huge reality check! Now, are all these things true? Are you replaying the past? Is that list filled with putting yourself down, thinking that you are not good enough, not smart enough, just plain NOT ENOUGH? Would you talk to your friends with these same words? It is time to replace those words with TRUTH. Truth of how God sees you, for He says that you are enough just as He created you. The enemy got in and has kept us down by keeping us from knowing how much God loves us. Jesus died on the cross for us to have an abundant life, not a life filled with self-criticism and condemnation.

How can we walk this out? As I mentioned earlier, replacing those harmful thoughts with Scripture is effective in many ways. It is not enough to try in our own strength to stop the negative. We must replace it with the positive to get those weeds of self-hate and self-condemnation yanked out. It helps me to personalize the Scripture by either putting my name in it or stating it in the first person (I, me, mine, etc). You will notice that I have done this in examples below to make it a bit easier for you. Some of the Scriptures I have used as my weapons of warfare in this battle are:

Psalm 139:14
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

Ephesians 2:10
For I am his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that I should walk in them.

Romans 8:1-2
I am free forever from condemnation.

Romans 8:31-34
I am free from any charge against me.

Colossians 1:14
I have been redeemed and forgiven.

Colossians 2:10
I am complete in Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5
I destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

These are a few examples. If I attempted to list all of the Scriptures that you can speak over yourself to replace the negative words and thoughts, it would be pages and pages long! I have found that the best way for me to change things around is to speak words such as these out loud, rather than read them silently. There is something powerful about hearing your own voice saying the truth about you. You can post them throughout your house to remind you, or whatever works best for you to keep reminding yourself that the way you've been thinking is about to (and needs to) change. Over time, this will become your automatic response to those lies!

This is not an exercise in improving your self-image for the sake of self. This is a spiritual, Godly practice to renew your mind to how God sees you, not only to improve your own life. It will also change your relationships with others and perhaps when you hear someone you love speaking negatively about themselves, you will be equipped to lovingly, carefully, help them know that how they are seeing and talking is keeping them from God's best for their lives.

I challenge you to take this on, beginning today. Don't wait to renew your mind and step into all God has for you, His beloved child. I am praying for you!

In Memory of Rose

If you would like more Scripture passages that will be helpful to you, a PDF is available at this link: www.smilegodlovesyou.org/Who_I_Am-in_Christ-AtoZ.pdf

Abundant Life?

7/2/2018

"The thief comes only to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

This verse has been on my heart today as I have been pondering how so many of us live in defeat and lack, rather than abundance. I am not talking necessarily about a "prosperity gospel" in the sense of finances, but our overall lives. When we walk around as Believers in Jesus with our heads hung low, struggling with all the same types of sicknesses (physical, mental and emotional), the same divorce rates, the same sense of drudgery, filling our days with complaints and whining as if we have absolutely nothing to be joyful about, I can't help but wonder if this is how we are meant to live. More importantly, is this how Jesus wants us to live?

Jesus has promised us an "abundant life." The above description sounds anything BUT abundant! The Greek word translated as "life" in this verse is ZOE. This is defined as "life in the absolute sense, life as God has it." Yes, Jesus came to save us from the torment of hell, but He also came to give us this ZOE life! It is not something we need to wait for until the day we are in Paradise with Him. It is a present state that we are to live in the here and now.

But how do we do this? The only way is to refuse to focus on any thoughts, emotions or actions that are not in line with the Word of God. When we line all of these up with God's Word, we will find this ZOE life coming forth in our minds and bodies. This is not a popular stance in our current culture and will not be received by many, but it is filled with truth, freedom and abundance. Can we do this in our own power? I certainly don't believe that I can in my humanness. However, with God's help, ALL of this is possible, if only we will submit our will to Him.

May you find your true freedom in Christ today, that he died for you, me, and everyone to have.

The Spiritual Side of Holistic Health

2/12/2018

Greetings! It has been a long time since I have written a blog here. I tend to write when the subject that is on my heart is too long for a Facebook post, or it just seems like the time to do so.

The past few weeks, I have been drawn to do a study on the book of Proverbs. This is known as the wisdom of Solomon, which was bestowed upon him by the Lord. When God asked him what he wanted, Solomon didn't ask for riches. He asked for wisdom, and the Lord granted his request. If you know the history of Solomon, he apparently didn't always make the wisest choices in his later years, but he did have a lot of godly wisdom that is still timely today, and always will be, regardless of what the world may say.

In the field of holistic health, we pride ourselves on focusing on the whole person that is before us. We do not see only the physical or a symptom or disease. The idea is to address physical health along with the mental, emotional, and spiritual areas of life because ALL are intertwined. While studying the book of Proverbs, I have been convicted of the fact that when I talk with clients or people at workshops, I stress the physical along with a bit of mental and emotional. Do you see what's missing? I am leaving out the most important part! I think it is because the other areas are perhaps more acceptable to talk about, more easily received. This is not an excuse! I have not been doing all that I am called to do as a disciple of Christ!

Time and time again, Proverbs states that meditating on the Word of God brings health and life to our flesh. He doesn't say it once or twice; it is SEVERAL times. This means it is something we should pay attention to. Here are just a few examples:

“Let your heart hold fast my words;
  keep my commandments, and live." (Proverbs 4:4)
"Hear, my son, and accept my words,
  that the years of your life may be many. (Proverbs 4:10)
"My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not escape from your sight;
    keep them within your heart.
For they are life to those who find them,
    and healing to all their flesh." Proverbs 4:20-22

Likewise, there are several warnings about what happens when we don't listen to God's Word and go through life doing it our way. The choices we make spiritually effect our health. They will either bring life and healing, or death and destruction.

" The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
    that one may turn away from the snares of death." (Proverbs 14:27)
"Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh,
    but envy makes the bones rot."  (Proverbs 14:29-30)

If we choose to live the life that God has intended for us, it will bring healing and health to our bones (and our entire bodies) but we need to choose to live His way, regardless of what our culture may try to influence us to do. Every day, every moment, we make that choice. What will you choose?

A Heart of Thankfulness

11/22/2017

My favorite holiday is upon us once again. I look forward to this time with family, hanging out together, and remembering how grateful we are for each other. While the world is often focused on material things, it is a time to take a step back from it all and think about what it most important in our lives. Doing so on a regular basis, and not just on a holiday that happens once a year, can have an amazing effect on your over all health. It will reduce stress, pain, anxiety, depression, and several physical ailments.

We are often reading about how to improve our health with proper food, exercise, drinking more water, consuming less caffeine and other healthful changes. However, we are much more than a physical being. We also have a mental/emotional aspect, along with spiritual. It is this last one that often gets the least attention, when it could very well be the most important.

In the theory of holistic health, when one part of our lives is suffering, the rest of our health also suffers. We cannot separate them into different compartments that don't touch each other. They are intertwined and closely related.

When I focus on the negative things in life, such as current events or personal family challenges, I have noticed that they get BIGGER. This results in one huge pity party, depression, a short fuse, exhaustion, and a feeling of hopelessness. As someone who has struggled with severe depression in the past, I know how deep that pit can get and what a dark place it can be. It is also easy to get back into that pit if I am not careful and vigilant about my thoughts. That's why this verse has become vitally important to me: "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" (2 Corinthians 10:5) When I focus on this truth and other Scriptures, my heart changes. I am filled with His joy and peace despite what the circumstances may be. In turn, I can be more of the woman He created me to be, rather than letting the enemy ruin my day and consequently affecting everyone around me!

I have found that focusing on the Lord and all He's done for me (and it's a LOT!) reduces pain in my body, calms my mind, and creates a joy within that is indescribable. Imagine what happens inside of you with this shift in thinking! Your heart rate slows down, your digestive system can work better since it has more energy available to do its job, sleep is improved...the list can go on and on! Do I do this perfectly? No, of course not. But I thank God that even though I'm not where I need to be yet, I am not where I used to be!

My challenge to you is this: What are you thankful for, not only today or in this season. Every single day when you get up in the morning, what can you thank God for? You woke up! You have breath! That's a good place to start! You are loved! Even if it may not seem like you have people in your life that care about you, I can assure you that it isn't true. And if it appears that way at this moment, remember that your Heavenly Father loves you unconditionally. He loves you so much that He sent His Son as an atonement and sacrifice to save us from ourselves so that we can be forgiven. There isn't anything more precious than that.

And so, dear friends, my prayer for you is this. "For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might." (Ephesians 1:15-19)

Detoxification - is it necessary?

9/27/2017

Is it necessary to detoxify your body? This is an issue that comes up as being debatable quite often. What is detox? It is the removal of toxic or harmful elements from a living organism. Modern living exposes the body to a wide array of potential toxins in the air we breath, the food we eat, and even the hygiene products we use! It is true that the body is designed to rid itself of harmful elements, but it cannot always do this completely. This is partly due to the overload we put on and in ourselves, along with medications and immunizations that can also add to our already taxed bodies. Americans are experiencing a greater toxic burden than ever seen before, which is nearly impossible for the body to keep ahead of.

Some of the symptoms of toxicity include: headaches, fatigue, weight gain, chronic illness, depression, aches and pains, anxiety, sleep problems, autoimmunity, frequent colds and flus, skin rashes/acne, mental fog, infertility, and many signs of chronic illnesses.

Although I try to live a clean, healthy lifestyle, my body still gets over loaded with things that do not belong in it! I admit that I do not eat perfectly, and we are exposed to many chemicals in our environment everyday, some of which we cannot control. As a preventative, I like to incorporate a full body detox into my life every spring and fall. Just as some people do spring and fall housecleaning, it is important to clean out the "house" that you live in - your body! It's the only one you have!

One of the gentlest and most effective detox products I have found is made by the DesBio company. It is a COMPLETE and TOTAL body cleanse, rather than just a specific organ, supported by homeopathics to help the body work through the process. While some detoxification programs can be too harsh, I have found this system to be thorough with minimum difficulties. A person may experience some discomforts, but in my experience, it is doable! Knowing what to expect and how to deal with it as it comes is a huge asset. These discomforts also let you know that you are getting rid of toxins, which is a great relief to your body!

Anyone who is interested in learning more about the detoxing process and if this is right for you can contact me. I would be happy to discuss this with you! And if you decide that you are ready to go to the next level of wellness and cleaning out the toxins, I will walk you through it and be a support to answer questions and concerns.

"If you don't take care of your body, where will you live?"

Loving and Accepting Your Body - NOW!

6/21/2017

Have you ever listened to how you talk to yourself? This may seem like a ridiculous thing to consider, but it is important to pay attention to our thoughts and self-talk. Would you say the same things to your friends as you say about yourself? If you are like me, doing such a thing would soon result in very few (if any) friends! Chances are, your family wouldn't want to hang around you either. If we wouldn't talk to people we love and care about this way, why do we think it's acceptable to do it to ourselves? It's time to "think about the things we think about," and decide if they are serving us well or causing us harm.

It seems this is more prevalent among women, although I'm sure men are not immune from it either. Whether we are young, old, or somewhere in-between, we can easily find physical elements that we are not happy with. Perhaps, like me, you look back at old pictures and think, I wish I was that weight again, I wish I could still fit into that size outfit (which is still in the closet), I wish, I wish, I wish. Do we think we would be happier, more content, life would be perfect, if we looked a certain way? The media would like us to think so. Advertising is notorious for featuring "picture perfect" people, which if we actually knew them, we would find out the pictures are edited and their lives are far from ideal.

As if the media wasn't bad enough, we now have social media, where we can portray ourselves and whatever portions of our lives we are willing for others to see. We can easily share all the best moments, giving the impression that life is wonderful and we have it all together. Reality is usually a different story! However, I don't believe it is wise to share our personal lives and issues on such a public platform either!

When it comes to our physical body/appearance, most of us need to have a new frame of mind. The worst thing we can do in any area of our lives is compare ourselves to others. It is always detrimental! We will either end up feeling unworthy, hopeless, and not good enough, or superior and prideful. Neither of these is healthy.

Most people keep a daily inner conversation of our imperfections and what we "could" do if we didn't have them. There is a high price for this, keeping us from the life we were meant to live. It will keep us in bondage, preventing us from living in the joy and peace that our Creator has for us.

What if, when those negative thoughts come, we started replacing them with truthful, positive thoughts? The most powerful and effective way for me to do this is to begin with what God says about me. Does He look at me and say, "oh, I see too much pudge in that middle-aged stomach of yours. And those thighs! Even your calves are huge! You shouldn't buy that...it doesn't hide your gut." No! Of course not! We have a loving, kind, Heavenly Father, who knew us before we were born and knit us in our mother's womb! All of our days were known to Him before we were known to anyone on this Earth!
"For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:13-14)

Along with trading the lies of society (and our inner dialogue) for the Truth of God's Word, we can start appreciating all that our bodies are capable of. We have amazing and complicated structures! If you are reading this, you are obviously breathing and your heart is pumping and circulating blood. Do you have to consciously think about any of these things? I certainly hope not! What are the different ways you are able to move? Can you walk, bend, use your hands, your mind? Can you see and/or hear life around you? Were you able to get out of bed this morning, eat a meal, shower, go to work, help someone, serve your family or friends? Granted, many of us may have different limitations, but what CAN you do on a regular basis?

One of my favorite things to do is go for a walk early in the morning. It is peaceful, quiet, and beautiful, The birds are singing, the sky is colorful, and everything is green this time of year. It is a wonderful way to appreciate what my body can do! I may walk faster to get my heart rate up and improve my cardio health, or I might just take it all in and spend the time in prayer, thanking God for everything I am seeing around me, that I can enjoy it, appreciate it, and spend time with Him while exercising and taking care of what He has given me. Am I hoping to lose weight at the same time? Honestly, yes that is a part of it. But I also need to do this for my mental, emotional and spiritual health. While we should accept what our body looks like ALL of the time, we can also take care of it in a responsible way in order to have the energy and stamina to do what we've been called to do in this life. There have been times in my life when I couldn't do the simplest things, like go for a walk. I was having trouble moving at all!! Did I think about my weight or size of my thighs at that point? NO! I just wanted to be able to move with agility and quickly like I had before! We take the everyday things for granted until we can no longer do them. Anyone who has had a health crisis can relate to this, whether it was short or long term. Pay attention to all the little things you can do every day, and be amazed at how easy they may be for you. Your body is a beautiful creation, just as it is!

The truth is, no "body" is perfect. Every single one has imperfections in one way or another. That means that imperfections are normal! We should actually expect them and then accept them.

Think about this: when your time on this earth is through, how do you want to be remembered? What do you want people to say? That you had a washboard stomach and sculpted thighs? That you wore a size ____? Or would you rather be remembered for how you loved others? The joy and compassion you had for your fellow man? The passion with which you lived your life, making the best use of every moment with family and friends? Did you LIVE? Or did you spend hours and hours worried about how you looked in your jeans, the lines forming around your eyes, the curves that weren't where you thought they should be, always concerned about a bad hair day?

Try a bit of self-reflection. Write down what you would really like said about your life, If you could let go of the self-hate and self-rejection, (because that's what hating our body is), what would you do? It might be the spark you need to start thinking about yourself differently.

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