Losing weight is undoubtedly a part of taking ownership of your health and wellbeing.
However, you may sometimes be motivated to lose weight by troubled and negative thoughts, self-criticism, and catastrophic predictions.
Here are some examples;
“Why do I look like a whale?”,
“I need to stop stuffing my belly with food.”
“At this age, I don’t think I can lose weight any more!”
“I have to start now or I’ll never lose weight!”
These words may serve as inspiration to begin your weight loss journey, but when you slip up, you become more critical of yourself. As a result, you might feel anxious, ashamed, or self-conscious, which can make your mental health issues worse.
Imagine focusing more on your deficiencies, especially those related to weight. For example, just because you ate a pack of cookies in the morning does not warrant negative self-talk. If you do, you’ll be led down a path of misery and frustration that is paved with the afflictions of many failures.
Not that you should ignore your flaws, but only if you can also find joy in loving yourself, your strengths, and your achievements.
Self-love and Weight Loss
Self-love and weight loss often go hand in hand because you can only change your lifestyle for the better when you have a positive relationship with yourself. You are less likely to practise unhealthy habits like yo-yo dieting, emotional eating, and self-criticism when you love and accept yourself.
According to research, self-love is a better motivator than self-criticism when it comes to weight loss.
You’ll find it difficult to take care of your body and lose weight if you don’t truly love yourself.
When you truly love yourself, you’ll want to take care of yourself. You’ll exercise, eat healthfully, and get as much rest as possible. In fact, you’ll respect yourself and demand respect from others.
However, after speaking negatively about yourself or focusing on the aspects of your body that you dislike, it might be challenging to get back into a positive frame of mind. You may even find it hard to love yourself enough to lose weight.
Here’s my story about self-love and weight loss:
I had a very low sense of self growing up and was overweight, and confused. It was difficult for me to figure out who I was and how I fit into the world because one of my parents rewarded me and the other one made me feel invisible.
I used to think that people only noticed my weight, which made me feel ignored and invisible in most social situations.
Over time, I started putting more of an emphasis on my own health and wellbeing as opposed to constantly limiting myself by speaking negatively about my body, hearing others speak negatively about how I look, or comparing myself to others.
Instead of just focusing on my body’s appearance, I started practising self love and started appreciating my body for all that it was capable of.
I’ve learnt to treat myself with more kindness and to concentrate on the qualities that make me special and unique. I can tell you that loving myself was an important part of my weight loss journey.
My self-love and self-care motivated me to develop healthy habits. I focused on developing healthy habits because they make me feel good, not because I wanted to change my body.
I believe that accepting yourself for who you truly are—a beautiful, fabulous, and radiant ageless woman—should be the first step. No matter what the world sees on the outside, that lovely, flawless spirit is within you.
To start your journey to a healthy weight, you must love and honour that aspect of yourself. If you keep trying to starve yourself while harbouring negative body image, it simply won’t work.
What’s happening in your mind is directly reflected in your body.
Let your motivation to keep moving toward a healthier lifestyle come from feeling good about yourself and thinking that you are worth the effort.
Read Also: Top 3 Secrets To Losing Weight Over 50
Ways To Love Yourself Enough to Lose Weight
Since losing weight often involves focusing on one’s physical appearance and the numbers on a scale, which can conflict with the goal of loving oneself, it can be challenging for many women over 50.
That is why it’s important to approach weight loss from a place of self-love rather than negative self-talk or criticism.
In fact, you can apply self-love to your weight loss journey by emphasising self-care, setting realistic goals, celebrating accomplishments, and avoiding negative self-talk.
Making self-love a top priority will help you lose weight in a healthy and sustainable way and develop a healthy lifelong relationship with your body.
Below are some suggestions to help you cultivate a strong sense of self-love for your weight loss journey!
Focus on self-care
When you prioritise taking care of yourself, it can help you make healthier decisions that support your goals.
Do things that will make you feel good physically and emotionally. This can involve engaging in physical activity, mindfulness practices, reading, socialising, or a hobby.
Sleep as much as you can. For better metabolism and hormone control, aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night.
Drink enough water to make you feel full and lessen the urge to overeat. Try to drink at least 8 glasses of water each day.
Losing weight requires consistent physical activity. Find a workout routine you like, and incorporate it into your daily schedule.
Positive self-talk is preferable to unkind self-talk. Keep in mind that losing weight is a journey and that setbacks are common along the way. Celebrate each of your little wins as you go.
Check out these powerful positive affirmations to help you instantly feel good about yourself.
Practise radical love
Radical self-love is a strong, unwavering love for oneself. The key is to treat yourself with kindness, compassion, and respect while accepting and embracing all aspects of who you are, including your strengths and weaknesses.
Radical self-love is especially helpful for weight loss because it can help you feel better about your overall relationship with food and exercise while reducing negative body image.
Speak positively to yourself and refrain from negatively self-critiquing yourself. Focus on your accomplishments and strengths while treating yourself with the same respect and consideration you would extend to a friend.
Take time to embrace your body, regardless of its size or shape. Focus on what your body can do rather than what it looks like.
Love your naked body. Wander around the house without any clothing. Take bubble baths to relax, and apply fragrant body lotions to your body.
Develop a healthy relationship with yourself by engaging in radical self-love. This will help you feel better overall and support your weight loss efforts.
Your body is capable of amazing things. Treat it with love and watch it thrive. Try these compiled workout series for women over 50 on my Youtube channel to help you feel strong and confident in your own skin.
Learn how to eat healthfully
What you eat today will greatly influence how you feel now, tomorrow, and later in the future.
Your overall health depends on eating a variety of whole, nutrient-dense foods on a regular basis. Eat a variety of these foods to make sure you’re getting a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Limit your consumption of foods high in added sugars, saturated fats, and trans fats.
You can try this weight loss snack, you will love it.
Plan your meals and snacks in advance to enable you to make better food decisions.
Drink plenty of water; not only will it keep you healthy overall, but it will also make you feel full and prevent overeating.
Eat mindfully and slowly. Give yourself plenty of time to savour your meal and stay focused on it.
As a result, you’ll be able to recognize your hunger and fullness cues more readily, which will aid in preventing overeating.
Read Also: Why You May Not Be Seeing Weight Loss Results
Set realistic goals
Every weight loss journey must start with setting realistic goals, especially when self-love is a primary goal.
Don’t wait until everything is perfect before you start loving your body, because it never will be.
Start by setting small, attainable goals, like increasing your physical activity or consuming more fruits and vegetables. You can set new, bigger goals after you accomplish these ones.
When deciding on your weight loss goals, take into account your lifestyle, values, and priorities. Make sure your goals are consistent with your values and attainable in light of the situation you are in.
The process of losing weight can be slow, so it’s important to be patient and kind to yourself along the way. Celebrate your progress rather than the scale by focusing on progress rather than perfection. No matter how little your progress may be, be proud of it and avoid comparing yourself to others.
Finally, rather than just concentrating on your appearance, work on improving your general health and wellbeing.
No matter where you are in your fitness journey, remember to always approach it from a place of self-love. These workout routines will help you build strength and confidence, inside and out.
Exercise regularly
Self-love is essential for both physical and mental well-being. One of the best ways to practise self-love and lose weight is through regular physical activity.
Exercise is not only good for your physical health, but it also helps you feel better about yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Working out is essential to achieving your goals for weight loss in a healthy and long-lasting manner. Consider your workout as a means of self-care and nourishment rather than as a punishment for your body.
Are you ready to take your weight loss journey to the next level? These workout routines are designed to challenge you, not only lose weight, but to also show yourself some love and care.
Always remember to stay hydrated while exercising, and pay attention to your body; if a break is necessary, take it.
Try to perform the workout routines three to four times each week because consistency is key.
Give yourself a mental high-five for coming out and taking care of yourself, too!
Keep in mind that weight loss isn’t just about the physical changes—it’s about the mental transformation as well. So, join our NEW YOU Weight Loss 14-Day challenge to lose weight, strengthen your body and your mind.
Keep your relationships strong.
It’s important to maintain healthy relationships while working on self-love and as you start your weight loss journey. Try to keep your relationship strong by staying connected with your family and friends.
Make sure to set aside time for the people you care about and to interact with them frequently. This can improve your relationships and serve as a source of support and inspiration.
As you would with your own self-care, put time and effort into your relationships. By doing so, you may be able to keep a healthy balance between your needs and those of those around you.
Be careful not to compare your development or journey to that of others, including your family members. Focus on your own growth and accomplishments because everyone’s journey is unique.
Read Also: The Benefits Of Cardio For Women Over 50
Always be grateful for who you are and what you have
A powerful strategy for encouraging self-love and enhancing general wellbeing is practising gratitude.
You can develop a positive and encouraging mindset by concentrating on what you already have rather than what you lack.
Focus on the present and what you’re grateful for, rather than regretting the past or worrying about the future. You can develop a more upbeat outlook and experience less stress by doing this.
When faced with obstacles and difficulties, try to see the bright side. This can help you cultivate resilience and a spirit of gratitude.
Live with an open mind and a kind heart, and roll with the punches. The key to happiness is to fall deeply in love with the life you have, and the key to a successful weight loss journey would be loving the body you have.
You must truly feel the love for yourself; simply acting the part and saying the right things won’t cut it.
Focus on feeling a sense of love for yourself as you say, “I love myself.”
If you’ve never done that before, it might take a little practice, but the difference in your outcomes will be significant.
Try to keep a positive outlook and ward off any pessimistic thoughts that might hinder your weight loss efforts.
As you make dietary and exercise changes, never forget that loving yourself is a huge part of your weight loss journey. Don’t forget it!
Ready to love yourself and your body while losing weight? Join us for our “New You Weight Loss 14-Day Challenge” and lose weight, get fit, tone your muscles—transform your relationship with your body.
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