I am an asthmatic.  I was diagnosed when I was a young child and have had quite a roller coaster journey with this disease.  I have learned to live my life within the limitations of my compromised lungs and at 53 I am happy to say I am the healthiest I have been in my life which includes how I view myself.  Here are a few things I have learned on my journey to a healthy body image;

The scale does not determine your self-worth.

I am actually heavier than I have ever been except for when I was pregnant.  Muscle weighs more than fat so I am less concerned about the scale and happier with how healthy I am and how my clothes fit.  On the self-worth idea – your self-worth is also NOT determined by what you do for a living, where you live or how much money you have.

Enjoy what you eat and indulge a little too.

Over the years I have starved myself.  Binged and purged.  Counted calories and ate air blown popcorn like it was a protein.  Food is a fuel. You need healthy food to be healthy.  Learn to be creative in the kitchen.  And it IS okay to indulge once in awhile.  So if you are heading to your favorite Italian restaurant go ahead and enjoy that pasta.

Never be idle but LISTEN to your body.

Find a few workouts you like to do and change them up.  I love yoga and go as often as I can.  I also love my sessions at the gym with my trainer but that is a few days a week.  I also love kick-boxing and boot camp workouts that are fast paced and high energy when my lungs allow it.  Walking the dogs, bike riding, paddle boarding, hiking or any movement that gets your heart rate up and pumps some blood for 20 minutes is great for you body and mind. But if you do have one of those days where you don’t want to work out I think it’s important to listen to that intuitive voice and take the break if your body really needs it.

Appreciate NOW!

Don’t take any day for granted. Life is a gift so enjoy the present.  Remember that the past is over and you can’t go back and that the future hasn’t happened yet so it doesn’t serve you to worry about it.  Be present.  Be grateful even when things are tough.

Sleep is a powerful thing.

Remember when we were really young and our mom would tell us it was nap time?  Remember how much you hated the idea of stopping playing with your dolls or blocks to go back to bed?  Funny how we all grow up and WISH we could have naps!  I love a good nap.  Twenty minutes to re-energize in the afternoon or a great nights sleep – for me 8 to 9 hours makes me feel so much better.  If you have trouble falling asleep, drinking tea, taking a bath or using essential oils can really help.  I don’t have that problem! 🙂