Body Image & Holiday Food Guilt

Hello my beautiful people and thank you so much for clicking on my blog post today! I hope you enjoy :) Today's blog post is all about body image as the season change, redefining health, and dealing with food guilt during holidays/celebrations.

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to go home and spend Easter with my family, boyfriend, and friends. On the train ride home, I was feeling overwhelmed with gratitude and this is why.

I am starting to really love school. I am finally starting to feel comfortable and free to be myself at all times. Yes, everything comes in waves -- what goes up must come down and what comes down will always come back up. Regardless, I am learning to live in the now because the present moment is all that matters.

It is mind blowing to me that I only have 3 weeks left of my freshman year. I am determined to live these next three weeks with intention. I am going to surround myself with my favorite people and push past my anxiety. I am not going to let my anxiety win.

The warm weather and sunshine definitely boosts my mood. With that being said, negative thoughts about body image and being hyper-focused on my appearance tends to control me in these next few months before summer. Not this year!!!

If you struggle with any type of body image, let's work on this together. DO NOT LET YOUR BODY IMAGE PREVENT YOU FROM LIVING YOUR LIFE. Here are some good reminders from @kyrasgoodeats on instagram:

NOT HEALTH:

- certain body type

- low cal

- abs

- eating less

- being stressed and anxious over eating foods

- constantly trying to "burn off" everything you ate

TRUE HEALTH:

- nourishing and moving your body in ways that work for YOU

- recognizing that health looks different on everyone and what may work for someone may not work for you

- Accepting that social media is a highlight reel so stop comparing yourself

All that matters is living your life to your fullest. If you are happy and fueling your mind, body, and heart that is all that matters. FOCUS ON HOW YOU FEEL -- only you know how you feel. So stop comparing yourself to other people's bodies, other people's exercise routines, other people's diets, OTHER PEOPLE. When you begin to focus on what truly works best for you, life becomes a whole lot better.

I used this past weekend at home to just be. I slept in my own bed, spent lots of time with my loved ones, ran through my hometown, sat in my backyard while listening to music, and ate so many yummy foods.

Holidays and celebrations can be hard if you have a history with disordered eating. This is the time we need to let go. Food guilt and body image struggles are REAL. These thoughts can be especially loud the days following. I am here to remind you that life is too dang short to worry so much about the cookies or candy you ate this weekend. You deserve to eat what you want and make memories with family, friends, and fun foods. If you are struggling with any sort of food guilt right now, this feeling will pass. Focus on gratitude. Focus on love. Focus on letting go.

Be kind to yourself

XO,

Mo