How in tune are you with your body? Do you wait for the obvious aches and pains to show up that bring a big message, or are you in tune with the subtleties?
For many years when I was bulimic, being in tune with or listening to my body was the last thing on my list because I hated the way I looked. But that’s a really horrible way to treat yourself and your body. And in case you haven’t noticed, this is the only body you get in this life!
Are you kind and considerate to your body? Take a look at these five questions and be honest with yourself.
- Do you consume and feed it high grade fuel?
- Do you give it exercise so it can perform at optimum levels?
- Do you maintain a healthy weight that makes it easy for your body to meet your daily energy and performance demands?
- Do you sit and let yourself experience the emotions you’re feeling and let them pass through you?
- Do you listen when your body lets you know it needs to rest?
Now let’s qualify those questions:
- Consuming and feeding your body high grade fuel means eating whole foods, avoiding boxed or frozen foods as much as possible. Limiting your sugar, caffeine and alcohol intake, and drinking plenty of water ~ 64 oz per day depending on your size.
- Your body will thrive on various types of exercise. Being outdoors provides fresh air and invigorates you, resistance training builds muscle and has many health benefits, yoga, tai chi and other forms of exercising with your emotion will help you let go and your heart will thank you for cardio.
- Is your current weight within 10 pounds of the average for your height and body frame?
- How often to do sit and take deep breaths, or meditate? Taking the time to slow down allows you to experience your negative feelings (anger, disappointment, frustration, etc.) and let them go. Something Americans aren’t real good at. Instead we tend to push them down and ignore them, creating energy blocks that do not allow flow in your life.
- When you’re energy is lower, do you listen and cut back? Do you cancel the unnecessary social engagements, make adjustments to family plans and take a night in?
Some of the biggest gains you can make in life come from the simplest solutions. But if you’re not listening and paying attention, you’ll miss the message.
I had a number of people respond last Monday with their commitment to take the technology break. I’m looking forward to hearing from each of you today with news of your experience during the past week.
