What's been on my heart today:
We've all read the posters about loving ourselves. We've seen the "Real Women Have Curves" phrases and "Love yourself no matter what". I agree with all of these phrases, most definitely, but I wanna throw another side of those to you. Tell me what you think.
How happy would your body be if you could lose extra fat?? Let me tell you a few things you may or may not know about your health. Never am I preachy - just wanna share. I love you too much!
Excess fat actually releases estrogen in your body. Did you know that? Fat releases extra hormone. Belly fat especially. Just losing some belly fat actually decreases the release and your homonal balance is more in tact. Couldn't we really use some balance, hey? With all the hormone activity that happens in our bodies already, wouldn't it be nice if we had some control?
Did you know your blood holds on to fats when you've eaten excess? Your body actually creates something called tryglycerides and they hold on to that fat in the case that you might need it later. When you get excess tryglycerides in your blood, heart disease risk goes sky high. Again, yes, real women have curves, but think of the huge amount of women who die from, or have heart disease. Number one reason women die they say. What if this was something you could control, or even prevent??
Not to mention excess pressure on your bones, and the amazing effect exercise has for your bone health. It actually builds your muscles up!! That's why when women go through menopause and their body wants to start thinning their bones up, doctors recommend.....wait for it....exercise!!!
Do you see what I mean?? So many (and I only mentioned a few) reasons why health THAT WE CAN CONTROL is so important.
I was thinking today about how many times, at my recreation job at the senior center I work at, I take the elevator. I probably go up and down over 10 times in a 5 hour shift. Just think if I had taken the stairs Cliche to say, I get it - but take the stairs. When you're brushing your teeth, do squats in the bathroom. When answering the phone at work, flex your abdominal muscles. When waiting for the microwave, do jumping jacks. There is never an excuse for exercise in a day. It can easily be incorporated in a busy day. If you DO have the time, hit up a local gym or go for a run with a friend.
I'm a firm believer that if you are making healthy informed choices with your food, you won't need to count calories. Maybe this is a very loose theory, but think for a second - choosing a bowl of strawberries or a bowl of pretzels. Yes, maybe the pretzels are those handy 100cal bags, but think of the amazing things that strawberries have in them and how your body would thank you after you ate them. Do you see what I mean??
Incorporating exercise, whether hours or minutes, can be an easy transition if you make it a habit. Eating right isn't as hard as people make it out to be. Just simple healthy decisions all around.
Yes, real women do have curves and I want you to love your body just the way you are, just make sure that your body is loving you back with every decision you make during the day.
Love always from me. And if you ever wanna leave a comment or ask me something via email, messages from everywhere go straight to my phone....which makes me always here for you.
Gnite,
Naomi.