And I said to my body softly, "I want to be your friend." It took a long breath and replied, "I have been waiting my whole life for this." - Nayyirah Waheed
When you form a friendship with your body, the mutual respect given on both sides will take you farther than any cleanse, 6 weeks to abs, or dropping the last 5 pounds program ever will.
When you befriend your body instead of hating it, and when you work with it instead of against it, always blaming lack of results on one thing or the next, that is when the change happens.
About 4 years ago I finally found a training regime I loved as much as I loved track in University, and for the first time in a decade I was focused on loving my workouts and eating foods to help me match the efforts I wanted to be able to put out in the gym. And guess what? I became fitter and a more well rounded athlete and more skilled than I have ever probably been, even more so than when I was doing track in university - sure, I was explosive then, but me now would kick university-me's butt by a long shot when it comes to strength & a variety of skills.
I'm at my biggest and heaviest size and weight of my life, yet I love this belly so much. I admire my body so fully for what it can do, and am grateful for that - during pregnancy, before pregnancy, and to continue beyond pregnancy. It's definitely NOT always easy, especially during the times when big changes are happening (for me, this was especially hard at times during pregnancy), or those times when changes are not happening yet you feel you should see more based on your efforts.
It doesn't matter if it's a focus on your gym performance, growing a human, treating an illness or injury, or feeling better and healthier day to day - focus on working WITH your body, not against it. Your happiness and results (however those are defined by you) will be so much more profound.
Photo : Kara Rohl Photography