Body Confidence
XL Emma is so excited that the very person who actually inspired her to become a plus size fitness instructor and promote the message that you CAN be fit, happy and healthy REGARDLESS of your shape, weight or size has provided her Top Ten Tips for Body Confidence for Emma's website!
ASTRID LONGHURST received phenonmenal success after presenting the fitness section on GMTV in the late 1990's, showing how fitness, beauty and health can be achieved at a size 20. Emma actually wrote to Astrid whilst she was studying to become an exercise to music teacher and Astrid replied with such a positive and supportive letter that Emma has always quoted Astrid as her inspiration to be who she is today!
Astrid is now based in Ireland and she is a qualified psychotherapist and runs workshops and seminars specializing in all Body Confidence issues. She produced a fitness video when she was working at GMTV and most recently published a fantastic book entitled "Body Confidence - how to feel wonderful, just as you are". Emma owns both the video and the book (see details below) and refers to them regularly for inspiration and would highly recommend them to anyone who would love to achieve true "Body Confidence" (and lets face it - who wouldn't!).
Astrid recently said "Emma proves that you don't have to be a size 8 to be fit and fabulous! Her philosophy on life and fitness workouts make her an inspirational role model - keep up the great work!"
XL Emma is very pleased and proud to present...
ASTRID LONGHURST'S TOP TEN BODY CONFIDENCE TIPS!
1. Accept yourself. This doesn’t mean that you give up caring about how you are – it means you care more! When you accept something it means that you have it. By having it you can work with it. Many people never accept themselves in any way, shape or form and as such live in a constant denial of who they really are. Acceptance is one of the first steps to really working with and loving your body.
2. Change your state! Come up with at least 15 different ways in which you can make yourself better at any time without having to resort to a negative solution. Put on some music, go for a walk, dance, have a lovely hot bath, phone a friend or watch a favourite movie. Make a list of whatever works for you and use it!
3. Write down 10 things which are great about you that have nothing to do with your body or the way you look. Read this list often and remind yourself that you are so much more than your appearance. Look at your skills, talents and good qualities. Try to keep adding to this list on a daily basis.
4. Start seeing your body as more than just how you look. Become aware of the marvelous creation you are. Look at all the things our bodies do for us on a day to day basis. The hundreds and thousands of everyday unseen miracles that take place within our cells as they regenerate and work to keep us healthy. The way our immune system flies into action at the first sign of attack and how our bodies always seek to attain optimum health. How our livers cope with getting rid of heavy toxins etc etc.
5. Decide that the next time you look in the mirror you will smile at yourself.
6. Realise that no one is perfect. You cannot have the perfect body – only a perfect feeling about the body you have!
7. Fake it until you make it. Imagine what it would be like if you felt total confidence in your body. How would you walk? Talk? Move? Dress? Think of people who are confident. They may be friends or people you see on television. Look at how they act. Watch them carefully and start to incorporate some of their skills into your own life. It may feel uncomfortable at first but with time the gap between trying to be confident and being confident will close.
8. To break the cycle of negative body image. Whenever you are tempted to treat yourself badly, jump on the latest crazy diet fad or succumb to some new potentially toxic beauty treatment stop and ask yourself – “Does this action show my body I love it?” If it doesn’t don’t do it! Just asking this question is often enough to make you realize that what you are about to do is not a positive action for you.
9. Make sure that your inner self-talk is uplifting, positive and full of loving support for you. Talk yourself up and do it always.
10. Remember that Body Confidence is about choice – You can choose to feel negative or great about your body. Whatever you think will determine how you act and become true for you. Thoughts become things!