This “self-talk” can be anything from “Your legs and belly are disgusting” to “You will NEVER look good.”
If you have struggled with body image, or joined a variety of different weight-loss “clubs,” or tried thirty-five diets, keeping the faith seems impossible sometimes.
But there is another way. A way to talk to your body to create permanent weight loss forever.

This is not about being a size “X” or losing “X” number of pounds in “X” number of days. It is about the slow and steady changes that will give you more energy and a more beautiful you, inside and out.

You CAN create and claim the magnificent life you deserve.

The Contest,

Winners will receive a *free* 30 minute body image consultation with me, your body image checklist and you also will receive 4 Downloadable Body Image Mastery Exercises. All these gifts will set you up to be on your journey to learn how to love what you see in the mirror

To Be Eligible for My Body Image Consultation Give Away,
Simply write a comment on this blog post (100 words or less and include your email) about how changing the relationship with your body could change your whole life.

I’ll select the “10″ most inspiring answers.
Winners will be selected by or before March 15th, 2011 at 5pm PT and notified by email.  I cannot wait to hear what you have to share!

Oh how I can relate to having too much to write about and feeling overwhelmed by it. When those moments happen, I just breathe and ask for guidance. Sounds like yours came in the form of your darling husband Leigh. Thank Leigh from me.

I have so much to write about.

And I have so much to share about…and I will get to it all or get to whatever needs to come out right now.

The only thing that I truly want to say today comes in the form of some questions.

1.)                     What are you feeling right now? (i.e., happy, sad, curious, depressed)

2.)                     How are you feeling right this moment about your body?

3.)                     Describe your experience of looking at your reflection as it if were happening right now. (include observations, surprises, feelings, judgments, and impressions)

4.)                     Whose voice did you hear while doing this exercise? Yours or someone else’s? And if not yours, then whose voice?

5.)                     What self judgments are you willing to release?

6.)                     What self judgments do you want to hold onto?

7.)                     What was the most challenging part of this exercise for you?

8.)                     Are you willing to practice this once a week for 30 minutes and if not, why not?

9.)                     What are you afraid might happen?

10.)                  What great things do you believe can come of your practicing this weekly?

I recommend you repeat this exercise at least once a week for the duration of the next 3 months and watch your relationship to your body change dramatically.

You and your body are worth the 30 minutes you will put aside every week to practice this.

Here is a clue, there is no perfect way to do this. The process is for more releasing.

Enjoy it.

You are Loved, XO

Laura

We all know that our greatest challenges are our greatest gifts and here is a little story to share about why obstacles are disguised opportunities.

Another Important Lesson

Obstacles help us to improve ourselves.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.

Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

The peasant learned what many of us never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

—Author Unknown

Speaking of overcoming obstacles, I asked OnePinky member Corrine what she is getting from being in Body Image Mastery. I loved what she had to share. Leah, please note the impact you have on women all over the world. Thank you for that.

Here are a few things that came to Corrine’s mind that she agreed to let me share.

1. Meeting Leah – my relationship with her has been an unexpected joy in my life – i look forward to our daily emails -the inspiration and comfort they bring.
2. My 30 Day Challenge – given me the drive to make working out a part of my life – YA!
3. Recognizing the importantance of being present and “releasing that which no longer serves me”

xoxo,
c

Thank you to all you Pinky’s who are on to my XO’s.

The world needs more love….As far as I am concerned the more love that goes out in the world, the more love the world can receive.There is no such thing as too much LOVE.

SO LOVE and HUGS to you all, now and always.

XO, Laura

Love what you are learning, how you are growing and shrinking at the same time…

Some words of love…a Swedish proverb I love….

“Fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, sigh less, breathe more, hate less, love more and all good things are yours”.

And now some words from me…an article I was reviewing today that I wrote last year…that I think needs to be shared. I hope you get some value Leah…Keep up your great work. You changed your relationship with “being on track”….a very powerful place to be.

Glad you are back Leah and I know that you never left. It may have felt like it and you never left….

Beauty is an Inside Job

One of the worst outcomes of poor body image is that it often becomes systemic – taking all of one’s self esteem and day-to-day joy-of-life with it.

If only we could say, my big butt is not my best feature, and love the rest of ourselves completely.  My big butt is not who I am; for many of us, we will allow thoughts and feelings about a body part to run our lives.

Our outside body starts to kill our inside spirit.

We must come to the conclusion that the popular idea, sold by millions of weight-loss experts and fads, that we will lose weight and then love ourselves simply isn’t working, is it?

Usually you get one of the following results:

a) You can’t put aside the self loathing and stop continue to overeat.

b) You can’t, “love the new skin you’re in,” and even though you might lose a few pounds, you gain it back immediately.

c)  The self loathing didn’t fade with the pounds.  You do lose weight, but you still don’t really love yourself or believe you’re beautiful and magnificent.

So here’s the big What If.

What if you make weight loss an inside job?

Just try it on for size:

1)  Remember, popularity is when other people like me.  Happiness is when I LIKE ME.  Say this to yourself out loud right now, I like me today!  Because (i.e., I am wise, I am smart, I am generous, etc.) … _______________________, __________________, __________________.

2)  You are what you eat. So don’t eat crap. Stop hanging out with people who deplete your energy and your spirit.  Just for today!

3) Enjoy a day of fun physical activity – whatever level you are at, and eat great foods today just because you can.

Because the truth is that beauty is an inside job!

B e

E verything

A wesome

U nique

T errifically

Y ou

Because you are the only YOU that you get!
Have a great day and sending you a big hug from California.

Live, Learn and Let Go Sweetie.

XO, Laura