Health and Aging

The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.

--Anthony Robbins

I want you to think about your body as one of your children or someone else you love dearly. When was the last time this person did or said something that really made you mad? In that moment, you might have been thinking "I really don't like this person right now." However, did his behavior cause you to stop loving him? Absolutely not! My teenager regularly acts in a way that I do not like, but I still love him. I will protect him, do what I think is best for him, and give him what he needs.

Now let's return to your body. How often do you look at your body and think, "I do not like my legs, my hips, my butt (or whatever)"? I admit it. I do not like my thicker waist that came from my second child and being over 40. Okay fine, so it also comes from sometimes eating too much of the wrong foods and not exercising consistently. It's one thing to dislike your body. It's something completely different to have an attitude of hatred or disgust towards your body. This attitude will cause you to mistreat your body instead of loving and honoring your body.

Your body, with all its imperfections, is sacred. It is the only body you have been given for your entire life. Your body houses all the organs that keep you alive. It gets you around from place to place. Your body pumps oxygen to the brain that enables you to feel, think, create and function. You need to take care of your body like any relationship with a loved one. Loving and respecting your body requires the same ingredients. So what can you give to your body that you would give someone you love?

1. Daily Attention To nurture a relationship, you need to pay attention to what it needs. If you ignore your loved one for a long period of time, what happens? The relationship begins to die. In order to grow my relationship with my little guy, he needs daily doses of conversation, playtime with me, and cuddling. In order to thrive, your body needs adequate sleep, proper nutrition, exercise, and plenty of water everyday. You wouldn't go for a week without talking to your child or husband, so why would you go for a week giving your body 4-5 hours of sleep a night or regularly feeding your body foods with no nutrition? Love your body by staying conscious about how you treat it on a daily basis.

2. Spend Time and Listen In order to get to know someone you love, you need to spend time together. Your body is the same way. It will communicate with you if you only listen. Your body will tell you when it is hungry and when it is full. It will tell you when it is tired and needs to relax. If you are getting sick a lot, your body is screaming at you. It is trying to get your attention. When you exercise, your body will begin to hurt if you push too hard. Or maybe you are short of breath from lack of exercise or being overweight. That is your body's way of communicating that it is working too hard. Pay attention to the cues your body sends you. Respond to them and see them as signs that something needs to change. Someone I know says to people, "If you ignore your health, it will leave you." And so will your husband.

3. Special Treats Sometimes you give your loved ones special treats to show you love them. You don't give them everyday because then they wouldn't be special. Your body needs special treats too. Treat yourself to a massage, a facial, new clothes, or a mocha latte every once in awhile. When I was a teenager, my mom and I used to go running on the local school track. Afterwards, we went to this awesome ice cream shop and treated ourselves to a scrumptious sundae. We didn't overindulge all the time - just once in awhile. Special treats help banish feelings of deprivation.

4. Grace How many times does your loved one say "I'm sorry"? And how many times do you forgive him or her? We all need grace at times, and so do you when it comes to taking care of your body. Maybe you do really well on your diet or exercise plan for two weeks, and then you fall off the wagon. For one whole week, you don't exercise and you don't follow a healthy eating plan. That's okay! Forgive yourself and get back on track. You don't have to completely abandon your plan because you didn't follow it perfectly.

5. Have Fun! Taking care of and loving your body doesn't have to be drudgery. Have fun! Find new low-fat recipes that contain your favorite foods. Adjust your attitude toward your health and your body. Exercise is only boring if you view it that way. Find activities you love that exercise your body. When I was in Las Vegas this past month, I was taking a walk in a local family park. I watched a dad and his two children having the time of their life. They were riding their bikes and dad was leading the way. He created an obstacle course that required the kids to ride in circles, up and down ramps, over the grass, and around various walkways. They were laughing and having a blast, while exercising their body. This dad knew the value of adding fun to a healthy routine.

So, here's to good health and loving your body even if you don't like it!

This month I'd like for you to make a list of at least 30 things you could do to love your body. Then pick one thing from that list everyday and do it!

Q. I try to lead a very balanced life paying attention to my priorities, addressing my family's needs, my spiritual needs, my health & well-being, etc. However, there are times when it feels like my perfectly balanced life begins to spin out of control and I am powerless to stop it. I end up struggling with horrible feelings of guilt (because of my behavior during these times) and failure (because my BALANCED life is obviously not). What am I doing wrong and what can I do when these periods arise?

A. I would try to stay away from the word "wrong" because you are doing your best in those moments. What can you do "better"? First of all, it's helpful to know that a "balanced" life is assessed over time. Just because you have a series of days that your life is turned upside down does not mean your life is "unbalanced". In an "unbalanced" life, you will have far more "bad and unhappy" days than "good" ones.

When you sense your day starting to "spin out of control", it would be helpful to slow down and pay attention to the triggers in your life. What all is happening in your life in the moment? What is currently weighing on your mind? Are you trying to do too much? Take a time out and do something to take care of yourself. Spend some time being thoughtful about what you need to do to steer your day in the direction you want to go. It may mean you have to make some different choices in the moment. Staying "balanced" is all about making choices.

What question do you have? Ask Coach Lori.

Create a fun and active experience for you and your family this month. Ideas include:

• Organize a neighborhood soccer or baseball game
• Take a hike in a beautiful woods
• Set up an obstacle course in the backyard and time each other
• Play childhood jump rope games with your kids
• Take a bike ride to the local ice cream shop
• Moonlight bowling at midnight
• Take a self-defense class

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To Find Out More

True to You Life Coaching, LLC coaches moms to live peaceful, balanced and fulfilling lives by connecting to their authentic selves, identifying and achieving goals, and making lasting changes in their lives.

Read an overview of our services.

email: lori.radun@sbcglobal.net

phone: (630) 236-7142

web: http://www.true2youlifecoaching.com