Trust me, we've all been through it. You put on a few pounds and suddenly your self-esteem sinks to a whole new low. This seems to be the problem too many women have these days: their notion of self-worth and their body image have suddenly merged into one insatiable monster. But it doesn't have to be that way!
I'd be exaggerating if I said re-building your self-esteem was easier than losing those few extra pounds. It's hard work to stay positive when you've experienced a minor set-back in your weight-loss goals, but just like your body, your spirit can also bulk up with a few simple exercises! Try a few of these "spirit strengtheners" when you've hit a rough patch-
Step one: take a good look at yourself.
Sometimes it helps to make a list of all your negative thoughts. For example, things that top my personal list would include: "I don't exercise enough" and "I'm not motivated enough to lose weight." Once you've made your list, throw it away! Replace it with a list that turns all your negatives into positives. Turn phrases like "I can't do this" into "I will succeed!
Step two: visualize your future successes.
If one of your diet trouble spots is portion control, picture yourself sitting down to dinner and eating just the right about of food. Try to start and end your day with a few positive visualizations and chances are that your entire outlook will change.
Step three: be nice to yourself.
Remember only you are in charge of your own self-worth. It's really important to protect your self-esteem; both from outside criticism and your own negative thoughts. Remember that we're all human and can make mistakes!
The most important part of rebuilding a shattered self-esteem is to live in the present. Try not to dwell on thoughts of meals past or worry too much about the future. There is no better time than the present to build a health body AND mind, so why not start now?
