Whether it's the Quarantine Fifteen or you're getting ready to hibernate for the winter, make sure that you're embracing your winter body in whatever stage that it is in.
Has anyone else been feeling some tightness around the waist? I know that since the onset of quarantine, I haven't been the most active in terms of fitness. The inability for me to go places during the warmer and cooler months usually led to me being alone with my snacks for days on end. While there's nothing wrong with gaining some curves, of course, I know that I've been feeling some type of way when it comes to how I acquired my new frame. As a naturally skinnier person, the idea of growing into my "woman body" always enamored me when I was younger; however, instead of it happening the way I imagined it-usually through happy weight or just by building muscle mass- my feelings of loneliness and a lack of motivation were the main inspiration for my newfound fluff. Because I know that I'm not alone in this, I figured that it might benefit us all if we take some time to learn how to truly appreciate our bodies, no matter how they look. Here's how to remain optimistic about your body size in the colder months (and during any time of the year).
Flaunting Your Fluff is a surefire way to make sure that you are confident no matter what size you may be now. I know that personally, nothing makes me feel less confident than having ill-fitting clothing items. Whether it be my pants flooding above my ankles unintentionally, my buttons not being secured, or my shirts fitting a little too snug, my countenance falls when I feel like my clothes aren't for me. It might be time for that seasonal clothing evaluation that should happen before the onset of warmer/colder seasons. Understandably, you might not be able to fully revamp your wardrobe due to financial or other reasons, but take a look in your closets and drawers and get rid of any items that make you feel hideous. Does that shirt make you feel like a slob because of the stain towards the bottom? Try cropping or tie-dying/bleach dying to create a new piece. Do your clothes fit tightly, making you worried about ripping or sweat stains? It may be time to get rid of the sweater that's causing you so much distress. Remember: from your perspective, you will only look as good as you feel.
In addition to looking good, you must make sure to feel good, too. It may be hard to commit to a solid workout routine right about now, but Finding Your Flow is essential to boost the confidence that you have in your body. Whether it be through gentle methods like stretching, walking, or full outbursts of energy when dancing or playing active virtual sports on a Wii, making sure to find a form of movement that you enjoy every day is a must-have. The goal here isn't necessarily to lose weight or tone up (although, you are free to do so if you feel motivated to), but to stay mildly active, ensuring that you regain some sense of productivity or motivation to continue some kind of physical activity. It's also very healthy for you; thirty minutes of any physical activity every day is good to increase blood flow, stimulate the muscles, and encourage movement.
Need another boost? This one may be a bit harder and take more time, but since we're all in our house responsibly, I'm sure we can all spare a couple of minutes. Or hours. Days, even. The ability to Forgive Your Flaws is vital to reaching the next stage of growth, whether it shows up as a physical transformation or through mental/emotional milestones. You do not need to constantly feel productive or accomplish some crazy personal goal during every waking second; with the constant "grind 'till you die" mentality that our culture possesses, it's hard to acknowledge that sometimes we are not able to make progress all of the time, and that's okay. You are allowed to rest, even if it feels like you got nothing done. We are human; take a breath. A simple way to do this could be through writing. Take some time to write down the negative aspects about yourself (physical and mental) on one half of a paper, and on the other side, you can write how you are working to accept those negative aspects. Maybe you are accepting the fact that quarantine has made you antisocial by holding yourself accountable when it comes to responding to calls and texts. Or, in the case of your body, maybe you are accepting your winter weight by finally letting go of that "goal dress" that is physically impossible to fit in without reconstructive surgery. Make sure to fully acknowledge your truth and work towards living in it; set goals that you want to achieve, but make sure that they are accepting of who you are in the present while also pushing you towards the future.
And, after all of that self-acknowledgment and forgiveness has taken place, Find Your Phat! Rock whatever body that life has generated for you. Admire yourself in the mirror after a shower or while changing clothes; make sure to pay attention to your fluff while applying lotion to physically acknowledge what's there. Dress up cute and give yourself an impromptu photoshoot just because you can. Your body may not look the way you want it to at this present moment, but so what? That's no reason to sit around feeling hopeless. I know that confidence can't immediately come from a ten-minute photoshoot in your room, but what if it can? And of course, if it can't happen as soon as you'd like, why not take some time to find the confidence that you'll need once we're finally all outside? While there is limited time in the day, there is always time to change the situations that you're in. With everything that's been going on, it's important to seize that time, whether it be by making progress on your own or accepting the little victories that come with waking up. You are alive, after all; it's time to start acting like it.
It may be hard to deal with any comments or clothing changes, but it's important to remember that weight is not everything. There are so many things going on in the world, so it's important to focus on overall health; and, fortunately for us, weight loss is affected just as much through diet as it is through exercise, so it's not the end of the world if you aren't feeling up for a cardio workout right now. If these tips resonated with you at all, let us know what changes or tips you've decided to incorporate into your lifestyle to help you love your winter weight. I hope that these tips have found you well; or, if not, I hope that you help you find better.
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(It may not help you achieve your body goals, but if you want to read some interesting food content, check out the new series that I'll be starting on my page!)