Learning to Love Yourself

Happy Sunday! To all my Canadian friends, isn't it wonderful that we still have one more day to our fabulous long weekend? The sun is shining and the birds are chirping and I have a feeling it's going to be a great day!

I apologize for being AWOL the last couple of days. I had a teensy weeny itty bitty breakdown on Thursday. I started pulling out my summer clothes and let's just say my fave jean shorts are super duper tight. I'm starting to sport a muffin top and I am not happy; yes, I know there are bigger things in the world to have a breakdown about, but I've been working really hard at being healthy and while I feel great, my bod just isn't showing the results that I want.

I've spent a couple of days pouting and whining  reflecting on the past few months to try and figure out what is going on. I think I entered a 48 hour funk. I was feeling very emotional and irritable. I didn't feel like sharing on the blog or doing anything. I just wanted to hide in my bedroom under the sheets and feel sorry for myself. We all have a day or two like this don't we? Please tell me I'm not nuts!

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Last night we had a friend's birthday and at first I really had no desire to go, but I knew I had to because it was a good friend and he was celebrating a milestone birthday. So, I painted my fingernails with my new OPI black, threw on a new pair of cropped jeans and a hot pair of heels and slowly I started feel better about myself. Getting dolled up in my fave clothes paired with painted nails and high heels always make me feel good.

At the party, as I looked around the room, I realized that Derek & I are very, very lucky. We have great friends and family who love and support us for who we are. The fact that I gained a few pounds doesn't make them look at me any differently or care about me any less. I am still the same caring, fun, devoted friend and that is why they love me. I don't love myself the same way and that needs to change. I need to be forgiving and understand that I won't fit my perfect standards all the time. If I fall off track or things go awry, I need to pick myself up, know that I can make changes and strive to be the best that I can be.

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So, where do I go from here?? Good Question. I need to accept myself as the wonderful person that I am ( giving yourself a little pat on the back once in a while is healthy friends ). In fact, I really need to take a lesson from my husband who is the definition of unconditional love. I also am going to work towards losing my 10 extra pounds because that is where I feel most comfortable in my skin. Am I going to deprive myself of all the foods I love and work myself to the bone? No. I'm going to fuel my body with healthy, whole foods like green smoothies and fresh salads and workout 5 - 6 times per week, so that I can be lean and strong. I'm going to treat my bod with respect, so that I can be strong, healthy and happy.

In fact, I've already started....check out that smile :-)

When was the last time you found yourself in a funk?

What did you do to get yourself out of it?

Have a lovely Sunday afternoon,

Andrea

July 18, 2011 - Check out my new Love Yourself tab. Each week I'm going to talk about ways we can love and accept ourselves for the wonderful beings that we are!

PS - Check back tomorrow for an amazing recipe. I have a really yummy dinner planned, as well as some new and fun ways to use asparagus and rhubarb! It's going to be a delicious Holiday Monday at our house!