I Have a Beautiful Body.

Seem like a bold statement? In all honesty, that's a hard thing for me to admit. It is a foreign phrase for me. I have a beautiful body. 

I'm all for positive body image. But as much as I am an advocate for it, I kind of feel like a hypocrite sometimes. I'm learning too though. I think it's easy to just say "everyone is beautiful!" without really meaning it. When you see someone overweight walking down the street, do you judge them? Do you see someone with a thigh gap and skinny legs and judge them? Do you judge people based on their weight? I'm willing to bet that the majority of us have done this. I'll even admit to it. And especially having to admit it online, I feel terrible about it. Why do we do it?

I'm sure there's more to it than we realize, but this is the best explanation I can come up with. I think it's a perpetual cycle. We are hypnotized by the media. We love to see beautiful people. But the thing is that usually aren't seeing real people. Although I'm sure you all know about photoshop. Yet, despite our knowledge, it still affects us. I think that when what we constantly see around us and in the media is one way (ie. toned, skinny, curvy - whatever we aren't), we subconsciously take it in and compare ourselves.

I hate to break it to you, but homeslice over here isn't even that hot. He's attractive in both pictures, I think, but the one on the left creates an unrealistic expectation.

Also, Kourtney didn't even look as good as the magazine cover made her look! Just look at the placement of her left arm in both pictures. That's absurd. I actually hate to think that they photoshopped her baby in any way. That baby is a perfect little guy, and there is definitely NO need to retouch him. I digress though. Ladies, if you are post-preggers right now, please cut yourself some slack! 

ALSO! If you exercise, do it because you want to show your body LOVE! Because your body deserves to be healthy! Not because you "need to lose weight" or because you think that your body isn't good enough. 

You might think this is a Fit Friday post, but it's not, and that's because I want you to try something new. I'll be doing it to, right along with you!

I challenge you all to do something. Well, three things, but I'll start off with this one. I want you to start being consciously aware of what is going through your filter of attention and realize how it is affecting you negatively. Identify what it is that is directly and exactly affecting you. We say the "media", but what does that mean to you? For example, if you catch yourself looking at magazines that are full of toned, skinny, or curvy people, stop it. You don't need to compare yourself to anyone (more than we already do - which we shouldn't!), especially superficial and retouched people. Or worse, those body-bashing magazines. I hate seeing those in the grocery store line up. What worse way to teach us to love ourselves, than to see people making money by hating on other people's bodies, and saying things like "You won't believe who this is!", "Top 10 WORST Bikini Bodies", or "Cellulite Alert!" You can't expect to love yourself when you constantly criticize and find flaws in others. You could even flip those magazine covers over so that you and other people don't have to look at them.

Challenge number two: I want you to start looking for the good in other people. Men and women. Compliment them! Receiving a compliment is an amazing way to cheer someone up and make them feel more confident. Plus, studies show that people like people who compliment them! Duh! You'll make more friends this way. Who could say no to that?! And next time you're with your friends and you see someone who you think doesn't measure up, zip your lips! You have no right to judge them. Instead, replace that mean comment with a positive one! If your friend starts saying something negative, reply with something positive about that person. You don't need to chastise your friend. Just lead by example. If you're by yourself and you hear yourself think a negative thought about someone, be aware of it, forgive yourself, and replace it with something positive. The more you do it, the better you'll become!

Third and final challenge: Change the way you talk to yourself. Either the way you talk outwardly or the way you think about yourself. Watch the video below. When these women started talking positively about themselves, it became contagious. There was so much joy. When you compliment yourself and others, you will be happy! Even watching this video and hearing these women talk so positively made me smile. Start telling yourself that you have a beautiful body. Say it everyday, until it becomes no longer foreign to you. Say it with me right now, I have a beautiful body! 

Now watch this video please!!

Now remember that, and you can change the way you think about yourself! You are beautiful, m'kay?

I want to know, what do you love about your body? And, when do you feel the most beautiful/handsome? I'll start. I love my legs, especially my thighs! I realize that may be really random, but they are strong and beautiful. Also, I love my hair! You can love more than one thing!! I feel the most beautiful when I am helping others or laughing.

Let me know your answers and what you think in the comments below! 

Sending you love,

Lo

What "Healthy" Means.

We hear this all the time, "Be healthy!" Or "It's not about being thin anymore, it's about being healthy!" 

So what does it mean to be healthy? This is something I've been pondering for about a year now. It was last year in January when I started on a journey to become healthy. 

Actually, what I wanted was to lose weight. But why did I want to lose weight? It's because I saw people around me and ads and models and all sorts of images and thoughts ingrained in my head, telling me that I wasn't good enough. I think that's really the reason that I felt like I should lose weight. We all are all affected by what's around us, and if it wasn't for that, I think most people would be generally happy with themselves and their bodies. I really wish there wasn't such a thing as "plus-size modelling", I wish it could just be called "modelling". But that's a subject for another day. 

I've grown up in a very supportive home, and for that I am grateful. I grew up with a dad who always told me I was beautiful. Probably every day. I know I am loved. I grew up in a church where I was constantly reminded of my divine origin and potential, and of the unconditional love God and Jesus have for me. I've been extremely lucky to have been told that I am loved, always. 

That love is an amazing backbone. It allowed me to gain confidence, although that love in itself did not give me confidence. That is something everyone needs to gain for themselves. Confidence is something you need to learn for yourself. You can't just be told it, if you want to know it. It's like any talent or skill. It takes time. My own confidence has come over time. And being healthy has been a large part of my confidence. 

So, being healthy helps with confidence. Pass around the sign up sheet!!

Now that that's established, what's involved with being healthy? 

To me being healthy is not about having flat abs, a nice booty, and toned arms. I'm not saying that those things aren't healthy, but being toned isn't what healthy is. Being healthy is also about what you put into your body, having moderation, and being happy. It's also about getting enough sleep. :) That's one of my favourites! 

I believe to be healthy, you should eat when you're hungry, stop when you're full, and on occasion eating a little more. I believe in moderation in all things, even in moderation itself. That's for your mental health. You shouldn't deprive yourself. 

Also, you should make sure that you aren't eating too much sugar. That's something I struggle with a bit. But that's one of my February goals! I'm trying to have sweetness in my meals naturally - from fruit. I'll drizzle maple syrup or agave on my protein pancakes, but I'm trying not to drown then in it. As tasty as that is! 

Being healthy is about exercising to REWARD your body. Steph Hendel came out with a really great image the other day.  

Don't exercise to punish yourself for the way you eat. Do it because your body deserves your love. And you can love it, and make yourself happy, by exercising and releasing endorphins. 

Also, one tip I have is to exercise by finding something you love! That way it's not something you dread. So, if you don't like running (and you've already tried it), try biking! I love going on the bike and watching TV. Go play tennis, plan a hike with your friends, or take a spin class (it works your butt off, and it's fun). Also, I generally like running, but only when I'm in a warmish and beautiful place. I love to be outdoors and see the world. So, I prefer to run outside in the summer on trails when I'm surrounded by nature. But I have a deep dislike for the cold so I choose not to run outside in the winter. So, sometimes I run on treadmills. But if I really don't feel like doing that, I take a dance class (which I just found out I LOVE), go snowboarding, play volleyball, do yoga, or just be active naturally! You could even go roller skating, curling, or tobogganing. 

If you think about people in earlier times, they were fit and healthy. Did they spend hours in a gym on a stair climber? No. Obviously not. I'm sure they would think that that idea would be ridiculous. They did things naturally. If I do things naturally that are healthy, I find it's not so much of a hassle. Like walking for instance - I walk to and from the train to school almost every day. That's about 1/2 a mile each way. I figure if you get in about 2 miles of cardio each day, you're on the right track. And with walking, I'm halfway there.  

Things we can do naturally to be healthy are things like gardening, dancing (because everyone should dance around their house), taking the stairs, going to a park, cleaning, standing more (standing burns more calories than sitting), playing in the snow if it's not too cold (i.e. build a snowman), parking farther away, shovelling snow (bonus if it's for someone else), or generally just don't spend so much time in front of a screen (advice I need to take myself)!

If exercising and using your muscles makes you happy, then being toned will be just a happy bonus! :)

But, let me quickly mention, that sometimes you don't want to exercise, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't! Sometimes working out is hard and makes you sweat, but it is so worth it! Working out and exercising make you feel great after! Sometimes you have to suck it up, BUT if you do something you enjoy, it will be more fun!

So if you want to be healthy, don't base it on your shape or size, and especially not on your weight. Base it on what you put into your body, how you feel (don't eat until you feel gross), and that you're giving your body exercise. 

So to sum up everything I've said, use moderation, limit sugar intake (but only sometimes), find a form of exercise you love, exercise naturally, and you will be (in my definition) healthy. And healthy people are happy people! (Who don't kill their husbands). 

I just want to be happy, and laugh, and enjoy what's around me, and live a long, healthy life. And I'd like to hope I'm on the road to that by being healthy! 

Have a great day friends! :)

Love,

Lo

Fit Friday: Self-Talk

Happy Friday!

Source

Kay I thought this was hilarious. Hope you all had a fun Christmas and indulged a little...or a lot! Tis the Season!

Today I wanted to quickly talk about self-talk. I think the way you talk to yourself in your head can either make or break you. If you want to get healthy, don't go around comparing yourself to others, saying things like "that person is skinnier than me, that person is more toned than me, etc." That will just send you on a negative downward spiral. It's a common thing, I do it too, but what really helps me is if I realize that I'm talking to myself negatively, and quickly change my thoughts. Start saying things like "I want to be healthier and I'm gonna do it/I'm working on it" - and actually do it! You're self-efficacy and self-esteem will improve, as you prove yourself right! Just change your negative thoughts to positive ones. Having those negative thoughts will only discourage you from loosing weight, or becoming healthy.

Watch this video! It gives a great perspective on talking to yourself like you would a friend. The part I really like starts at 6:04, but the whole vlog is great!

Let me know what you think!!

I also saw this video of Jennifer Lawrence, and I just love her, as I'm sure you noticed here, but this is part of an interview she did with Barbara Walters, and I really liked what she had to say. Enjoy!

Have a fab weekend!

Love,

Lo

Favourite Five!

Hello all! Hope you've been getting into the Christmas Spirit now that it's December! I've finally started listening to Christmas music. I was waiting till December, and now that it's here, I don't have an excuse! The snow is falling, the temperatures are dropping, but what better way to stay excited than by doing Christmasy things! Check out my Winter Bucket List!

Here's my list of my favourite things this week!


Favourite Moves:

This guy is LEGIT. I just watched The Holiday Inn with Fred Astaire, last night and all these dance moves are blowing my mind...and may be making me a little jealous...

Favourite Cozy Scene:

Source

I would gladly be there right now!

Favourite Wedding Inspiration:

My sister just got engaged last week, so wedding details are on our minds! A Waffle Bar should be on everyone's wedding checklist.

Favourite Quote:

This one just makes me smile. Good perspective.

Favourite Christmas Eve Idea:

Source

Cookie Decorating Station!

Favourite Cardio:

Source

After you're done eating those cookies, let's do some Tabata! Who's with me?!

Have a great Humpsday! Love you guys!

xoxo,

Lo

Fit Friday: "Motivation"

¡Hola Amigos!

I'm diving straight into serious waters today. So, lately I've been thinking about body image, and how we have such a distorted view of our bodies. Guys and gals alike. It is important to be healthy, but it's not good to focus SO much on being smaller, thinner, more muscular/ripped, etc, that you start self-hating, and that's what consumes your thoughts entirely. This is a massive issue, which I don't even think I can come close to handling or fixing, but I'll do my best.

I noticed when I started getting into health that there's a ton of "motivational" quotes and images all over Pinterest & Instagram that emphasize going harder, working out everyday, never having cheat meals and never giving up. I agree with these to an extent. When you're working out, it is good to push hard, because that's how you make your muscles stronger. And I know I've felt great after a run when I've pushed myself to go farther than I thought I could. And some days I think you've just gotta get up and work out, instead of just sitting around hoping for some amazing source of motivation. But when these images and sayings are around us allllll the time, our thoughts change. We start to think that way and focus on always being better than we are. And then what happens when we miss a day of working out, or we eat some milk chocolate? We start to hate on ourselves.  Because we messed up. And then we can start on a downward spiral. 

I really wish there were more images like this: 

Or this: 

(don't even get me started on the whole "thigh gap" phenomenon). 

If we surround ourselves with these types of images, we'll be more likely to love ourselves enough to keep trying to be healthy. And we will realize that not working out one day (or a few more) or eating some sweets is not a bad thing! It's actually pretty healthy. Mentally and physically. Your body needs a break. You can't just work it all the time. It will break down or get sick. And if you deprive yourself of the things you really like, that aren't good for you in excess, then you're more likely to binge later on when you finally do. And binging is not healthy! Obvs. But I hope you already know that. 

Everyone is beautiful and everyone is loved. And if you can realize that, and try to love yourself, then you can be healthy!
It's funny, because I think we think that once we're healthy that we'll start loving ourselves. But it's totally the opposite. You need to love yourself enough, that you realize you deserve a healthy body, and that you want to put good things in your body and give it exercise, so that it's can function and perform optimally. 

Read this article! It's a great view on being happy with yourself. 

You can be healthy at a size 12 or a size 2, or pretty much anywhere in between or around. Being healthy isn't just a number on your waistband or the scale. It's a whole lot more than that. I think it's about how you feel, how you perform/carry out tasks, and the moderation you have in your life. And health = happiness!

I hope you enjoyed this post and that it helped your perspective a little! Remember that you are loved and you are awesome! Keep trying and loving yourself and you can be healthy! 

Lots of love, 

Lo