fit body


and limiting the comparison game. Providing safety, gratitude and love for your body comes from authentic happiness and ease with your innermost self. You can still strive to be stronger, faster and healthier. T e


biggest diff erence between working from a place of positivity and working from a place of negativity is how you focus on your goals. Signs that you are operating from a place of negativity: Nega-


Building Love for


Your Body by Shannon Dolan


S


ummer is right around the corner. In Austin, this means locals are trading their winter gear for shorts, sleeveless tops and bathing suits. Indoor activities are quickly replaced by


fun in the sun revolving around a pool, Barton Springs or the lake. It can be a joyous time of the year or one that is heavily an-


ticipated with worry and concern. T e diff erence between the two may be determined by the way one feels about their body. A study reported in T e Adrenal and T yroid Revolution


by Dr. Aviva Romm demonstrated that 97 percent of women reported dissatisfaction with their body. T at is an alarming percentage that shows the tremendously negative view concerning body image. Imagine what it would be like if we weren’t critical of our


body’s shape. Chances are there would be a greater sense of freedom when the summer pool parties make their way onto the social calendar. Your body is your only home throughout your life. You can


spend the time despising this home and continuously trying to make it look like someone else with quick fi xes, food depriva- tion, and over-exercising. Or, you can learn to embrace your body and express gratitude for its daily functions while achiev- ing genuine self-love. Practicing gratitude is a simple form of refl ection that builds


appreciation and comfort. T is practice can be centered around anything in your life. When it is done specifi cally with your body, it can include thoughts of appreciation for what your body does for you, the strength it has—even the ability it has to create life. Here is a simple practice of gratitude for your body: Upon


awakening, think of fi ve things you can thank your body for be- fore your day starts. In the evening, think of fi ve things your body did for you that helped in some way. Practicing gratitude takes little time, but the benefi ts can be


immense when shiſt ing your perspective in this powerful way. Showing actions of gratitude can further enhance this practice. T ese actions allow your body to feel safe, in turn helping systems to function optimally. Safety looks like nourishing the body with foods that it


needs, rather than depriving it and leaving it hungry. Safety and love looks like consistent stress management, positive self-talk,


May 2020 15


tive self-talk and being your own worst critic; comparing yourself to others; wishing your body looked like someone else’s; ritually checking your weight; being obsessed with food and engaging in unhealthy food behaviors; and working out because you feel guilty over something you ate. Signs you are operating from a place of love: Eating to nour-


ish your body; working out because it’s good for your body and you like the feeling; setting goals to feel healthy; being happy with who you are; giving your body what it needs; and learning about what your body needs. Implementing positive practices and actions daily can shiſt


your mindset and not only aff ect how you view yourself, but also impact the way you view other people. Life is too short to sweat on the sidelines when you could embrace your body and cool off in the water.


Shannon Dolan is a functional nutritional therapy practitioner and personal trainer who helps women balance their hormones, beat digestive discomfort and gain energy-utilizing nutrition, movement and mindset. For more information, visit HealthWithShannon.com.


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