We’ve all heard of the infamous “bad hair day”. You’ve probably even suffered through your fair share of them. But have you ever woken up in the morning, looked in the mirror, and thought, “Gosh, did I gain ten pounds overnight?”
It happens. It’s a “bad body day”, and for whatever reason, sometimes our reflection in the mirror doesn’t seem to be matching all of our hard work in the gym lately.
Maybe it’s just our imagination, or maybe fluctuating hormones caused a bit of water retention. Really, who knows what causes it! But if you know you’ve been working hard lately, following a healthy diet and exercising regularly, it’s pointless to beat yourself up over it. Here’s what you can do instead.
Let it motivate you. It’s really unlikely that the pasta you ate three days ago has suddenly materialized around your thighs. More than likely, a “bad body day” is a trick of the mind. But you can still let it motivate you! Lace up your running shoes, or head to the gym, and sweat out your frustration.
Ask yourself where these feelings are coming from. Logically, you know that there’s no way you gained ten pounds overnight. So, your perception stems from something inside you. Are you anxious about an upcoming event? Feeling guilty about something? Angry at yourself for skipping your workout yesterday? Focusing on body issues to ignore personal problems? Only you know the answer, but once you identify the source of your feelings, you can tackle the real problem.
Shift your focus away from appearances. Take a look at your exercise log from recent weeks or months. Have you added more time to your runs? Are you lifting more weight? Feeling more flexible? What else can your body do, that it couldn’t do before you started working out? Focus on your capabilities, rather than appearances, and you will find that you have plenty to celebrate.
Stop the negative self talk. Whatever you think when you look in the mirror, ask yourself if you would say those things to your romantic partner or a friend. Would you look at someone you love, and say, “Look at that gross cellulite!” or “Ugh, your arms are so flabby!” Of course you wouldn’t! We don’t talk that way to people we love… So why are you talking to yourself that way?!
Change those words to, “I’m wearing a size smaller in shorts now” or “This sleeveless top is a great color on me”. It takes practice, but it’s so worth it!
If you find yourself having more “bad body days” than good ones, give us a call. It’s possible that we can tweak your nutrition and exercise plans to help you better achieve your goals, while offering the support you need to stay focused.
