ROCKIN' HOT BOD ON THE BEACH

At the risk of sounding insufferable I'm about to write a motivational piece you will either love or hate.  At various times in my life I, too, would have read this either way.  Now, proceed, and see where you fall on the love/hate spectrum...and why.

Readers may recall I've been using the Noom app to guide me toward the goal of a healthier weight for my diminutive height (5'2").  I've long said that my weight is fine; it's my height that needs improvement.  No amount of standing tall in Mountain Pose has been successful in gaining vertical inches.  I've been reduced to reducing my girth.

I've been on Noom for a few days over a year.  I have LOVED it.  It's the first program with which I've found lasting success and the desire to keep up my new habits.  It's all based on introspection, psychology, nutrition, habit awareness and change, and constant positive reinforcement.  Right up my alley.  And with any program there is no substitute for determination and commitment, so there's that too.  

At the very beginning clients are encouraged to figure out Your Big Picture -- the big WHY one wants to change.  My Big Picture is to grow older with health and vitality so I can be an active part of my grandchildren's lives.  That has motivated me consistently, where lesser desires have not.  I've always rationalized my way around other goals and have not been able to sustain my plan.  There is no rationalizing my way around this one.  So many unforeseen things can happen to us -- illness, accident, a tragic diagnosis -- but if something is within my control, I want to use my powers of mindfulness, determination, and commitment to mitigate foreseen factors in ill health.  At least that's the plan.

So, yes, I've lost weight. I've spent decades hiding from the camera, or behind other people, or hitting the delete option until I was nearly erased from documentation of family life.  This trip to Kauai I seem to be hogging the camera.  I'm proud of not feeling embarrassed at how I look.  Hub is having fun taking photos of me without me scowling or protesting.

Does this mean I have reached Perfect Body Image Land?  Is there such a thing?  No.  I'm still chunky around the middle -- it's genetic!  Look at photos of my parents!!!  My legs are skinny and I have no booty to speak of.  I tried a series of yoga poses on the beach and the resulting photos are not super great.  My tummy hangs down in Plank Pose and projects out in all the Warrior Poses even though I was going for a strong core.  I'm almost straight up and down since I don't have a very pronounced waistline from boobs to hips (notice this in Tree Pose).  I rarely post photos of myself here on the blog, but I'm posting this one -- with trepidation -- so you can have a field day critiquing my less than perfect body.  It will help you feel better.  I'm no swimsuit or Yoga Journal model.  Hardly anyone is.  

BTW, the tan is fake -- thanks to Jergens Natural Glow tanning lotion.  I'm not letting the sun touch my lily white Northern European skin any more after indiscretions of my youth that have come back to haunt me and my dermatologist.  But I like a little sun-kissed look when in Hawaii, so I use the lotion which gradually darkens the surface layer of skin temporarily and will fade in a few days if I don't reapply.  I guess that's vanity.  You can judge.  But as vanities go...  And if "tan" isn't your thing, that's perfect too! You be you!

We can all self-criticize to death -- sometimes literally as those with eating disorders have done.  Body image is a thing Noom focused on in our lessons last week with the encouragement to stand in front of the mirror either clothed or unclothed and focus on all the things you like about your body.  Try it.  It's hard.  We are so programmed to find fault.  Our culture tells us how to look and if we don't (no one does) we feel shame.  

Here's what I'm noticing...I can paddle, walk up hills and over rough terrain, hike, climb over rocks, get up and down from the chair or the floor, or the ridiculously low-seated car we've rented,  twist and turn, stand on one leg (for a second or a minute depending on the day).  My poofy belly has nothing to do with my ability to be mobile and sorta agile, on a good day.   (Yoga has A LOT to do with it!)  Losing weight has helped with my stamina, yes, and for that I'm grateful.  

But judging myself by how I look and not how I move through the world is silly.  My granddaughters have healthier body image ideas than I do!  They love who they are and what they can do and neither of them is "perfect" except in the way we all are.  Self acceptance, doing our best, taking a risk, being mindful, and being gentle with ourselves in the process all serves us no matter what our goals in life.

No matter our limitations, from injury, illness, genetics, or self-imposed judgement (the worst limitation!), we can define Our Big Picture to motivate us toward a goal of self-discovery and self-acceptance and maybe even a small, but mighty change in the body's ability to support us as best it can going forward.

At least, that's the view from here...©

P.S. Just as I'm ending this post... I skipped our walk today and Hub just got back.  He took a fall on a slope on loose red rock and his Apple Watch asked if he fell and if he was OK.  He is...just a scraped knee like a 6 year old.  But see?  Technology has our backs even when we are fit, agile, and in great shape, like he is.  So, yes, anything can happen.  But our Big Picture goals can see us through and the nice people at Apple will call an aid car if you need one. Win-Win!