As a personal trainer, I deal with body image issues every day. It never ceases to amaze me how many people do not like the way they look. Regardless of thier age, fitness level, looks, they do not like themselves. If you are one of these people, I can tell you that it is all in your head. And, I will bet any amount of money that you know someone who would gladly trade places with you. Does that mean you should just be thankful and leave it at that? No. Try to imagine what that person would do if they could be you for a day.
This is what I mean;
Are you having a bad hair day? Yea? I'm bald. what little hair that I have, I shave off. If I could trade places with you do you think that I would bitch about how bad my hair looked? HELL NO! I would run my fingers through it, comb it, wash it...HEY I HAVE HAIR!!!! I would be ECSTATIC.
Are you a "fat girl with a pretty face?" Yea? Many girls regardless of being slim, never hear that they are pretty. Do you think that they wouldn't enjoy trading places for a day, and hearing about how pretty they are?
Are you under 100 pounds overweight? Yea? Have you ever watched The Biggest Loser? The first show of every season when the new contestants arrive to the ranch they get weighed in. Many of them are 150 -250 pounds overweight. Just look at what they can accomplish. Not only on the ranch, but at home. Imagine if they started at only 40 pounds overweight!
I came to this conclusion when I was 37 years old. I was at a health expo watching former professional wrestler Diamond Dallas Page at the age of 50, do 10 one armed pushups. I thought to myself "Wow my dad is in his 70's, what would dad do with 50? For that matter, what would Diamond Dallas Page do with 37?" It was then, that I stopped worrying about getting older. I'm 40 now, and it still holds true.
So, practice appreciating yourself. Because, you can bet that somebody else is.
Until next time.
