In Search of the Perfect Body
Posted: Jan 19 in Lifestyle and Activity by Staff
Do you know someone who seems to have the perfect body? Have you ever noticed a stranger who looked trim, healthy, and fit and wondered, why can’t I look like that? It’s easy to get caught up in comparing our bodies to the people we see around us, especially when other people seem to have an easier time than we do of maintaining an ideal weight.
Don’t Let Others’ Success Sabotage Your Weight Loss Goals
Comparing yourself to other people who seem to look “better” than you can actually prevent you from looking better yourself. A negative self-esteem or self image makes it difficult to take care of yourself the way you need to in order to lose weight. While it’s okay to be inspired by other people’s successes, avoid thoughts that make you feel like a failure for not achieving the same results someone else has.
Be Inspired, Not Defeated
When you look at somebody else’s body, it’s important to remember that your own shape is determined by your genetics. You can be inspired by their lifestyle, but avoid thinking of their body as an ideal you need to achieve.
Try focusing on the behaviors that can motivate and positively influence you. Do you know someone who makes time to exercise every morning? Does your healthy friend make good food choices when you go out to lunch together? You may never look exactly the way someone else looks, but you can learn to do what they do and achieve your own version of weight loss success.
Don’t focus on what society thinks is the perfect body. Picture what is realistic for your perfect body. We are all made differently so we should all have different goals. Set goals for yourself in small increments that way they are easier to reach. For instance you may want to set a goal to lose 2 lbs in one week rather than set out to lose 50 lbs. over 6 months. You can see how it is not as overwhelming as thinking of the long term goal.