Micro Problem linked to their dream goal:
Hating your body or even parts of your body is a recipe for a joyless life for both you and your lifetime partner. Therefore men have the running joke “Never tell your wife you look fat in that dress” or “Never tell her why you prefer she not wear that outfit” because she will never stop asking you WHY?
Most women are simply too hard on themselves when it comes to accepting their body shape. There is nothing wrong with bettering yourself but using self-deprecating words while on your health journey will not get you there quicker, in fact, it will halt your progress. What most do not understand is that this negative energy you hold within you changes your whole energy state which has downward negative effects not only on your physical body but on all those around you.
Holding yourself ‘hostage’ in this imagined ‘perfection’ is as realistic as a Pixel production.
The Cause
An informal survey in Glamour magazine, in 2011, found that 97% of women dislike their bodies. They were either too fat, too skinny, too giggly, too pear, too apple, too butch, too weak, and the list goes on. Every woman has a vision in their mind of what a perfect body should look like… Note: SHOULD is the keyword. Where did you get the Should from? Societal norms. Studies show that the more reality television a young girl watches, the more likely she is to find appearance important. Similar studies document students, especially women, who consume more mainstream media, place a greater importance on sexiness and their image.
The Solution
Visualisation techniques when paired with positive self-talk are a powerful tool used in the program. Incorporation of these tools has proved to be an effective means to shift my clients’ beliefs surrounding their bodies. The conscious mind projecting images on the subconscious mind combined with encouraging words, will allow you to break out of the negative thought loops and see your body differently. When you calm your mind to see your body differently, that image will become your reality.
My Couples
I was coaching a couple through their hardships when in an individual session with the woman, she revealed a life-long hatred of her body. She was an elite rower at University. Strong thighs and upper body were a must. Ever since she stopped the sport, she resented the fact that her body was built to be ‘strong’. She felt less feminine. To move away from body shame, I asked her to envision her body being strong and feminine right now. I asked her to buy special lingerie now, instead of wearing the old sports bras she had for years. From that place of self-love, we built future images, but all while using self-love. This loving energy carried through with her partner and her family. We did this all while taking a closer look at her diet and lifestyle. With more tweaks and persistent practice in building new thought patterns surrounding self-image, it was easy for her to build new behavioural patterns to lose weight.
If you are someone who suffers from body shame which is, in turn, affecting your esteem and behaviours, and believe you are someone who might benefit from moving through my 3-step transformation towards living in a body you love, please email me for more information.