When my friends were visiting a few weeks ago we found ourselves perusing shops at L.A. and California Fashion Marts (we went twice it was so much fun!) I wondered what size we all were? What size was I before and what size do I want to be? I got to thinking, isn’t your outer size usually a reflection of what’s going on inside of you? If you’re calm, feel supported and taking good care of yourself then you ought to be the right size – right?
You are often so consumed with your size aren’t you? Aren’t we as a culture? Do things fit or not? You are often aghast when you try on that pair of pants you bought only last year and suddenly they are now feeling r-e-a-l-l-y s-n-u-g! Yikes – what happened? Where did you go wrong? Are your only fooling yourself with your disbelief ? Certainly you know what you did or didn’t do to get this result – don’t you? OK – well maybe you forgot to exercise (a few times), oh and yes you completely forgot to have smaller servings, you perhaps doubted that too much wheat, in the form of pasta and bread could actually be a culprit…after all didn’t all of your ancestors perpetually eat this food and never gain an inch! Quick note here – the grains of our forefathers were actually much better for you – they were filled with more nutrients from the rich, fertile non-ravaged soil, they were not highly processed, they didn’t need to be shipped from as far away as China (just kidding not sure if we import wheat – more like rice I think) and finally, we didn’t eat as much of it as we do today – it’s in everything.
But hold on, before you drown yourself in a bowl of cheerios, let’s get back to the title of this article “What your Inner Size?” Yes, that’s right – your outer size is dictated by your Inner size – or rather your Inner Life. Your thoughts, your emotions, your feelings, your beliefs and your fears – everything that’s going on inside of you is affecting your weight, your wellness and how you view your world. If you are suffering from too much stress – it will most likely be affecting your food choices, amounts and regularity of meals. You may even forget to eat and that can be worse than eating too often – it will negatively affect your blood sugar and cause other hormone fluctuations. Even if you’re vacationing and throwing caution to the wind – remember even on vacation you can use some restraint and make good healthy choices.
Your inner size requires a deeper look at not only what you are eating but what’s eating you and how you are coping with the demands of your every day life. Your inner size actually reflects what your body will look and feel like. If you are not treating it well because you don’t have the time and feel overwhelmed by making everything else a priority then eventually (sooner than later) – your body may start showing signs of your lack of attention with weight gain, cellulite, lack of muscle tone and heavens … dare we mention sagging. But what about the things that are not visible as in high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure or digestive distress. Your overall metabolism, energy level and how well your body functions will be affected if you don’t take care of it every day.
The good news is just by doing a little every day you will have a compound effect. Try 10 minutes on the treadmill instead of 30 or 60. You need to build in a habit of success. You will be pleasantly surprised when you start seeing the effects of all your efforts. You may start seeing results as soon as 30 or 60 days into your new habits. Don’t quit – keep at it. Cutting back on the extra servings (even if the food is considered “healthy”), a little exercise daily as I mentioned, getting up 20 minutes earlier or going to bed 30 minutes earlier will all benefit you. Taking your supplements on a regular basis is a very important part of self care. An easy way to remember to take them is by keeping them on your nightstand, kitchen counter or office drawer. Keep them in a convenient place so you won’t have any excuses about forgetting. Mine are on my desk both at home and in my office. My Calcium/Magnesium, which I take at night, sits on my nightstand, it’s a real simple way for me to remember. After awhile you feel something’s missing if you miss out on one of your new routines – that’s how you know for sure a good habit has been formed.
Your inner size is a reflection of how you take care of yourself and how you manage your life. You are worth it – so begin now…
Stay well…
