Stepping into a Body Image Plan in 2009

From the Inside Out

Nicole Irlbeck of Restoration Fitness and Liz Canavan of Alchemy of Order put their heads together to come up with 3 easy steps you can take for beginning to embrace your body 2009. It's all about your attitude...

1. Work with What You Got
   • Mental Shift: Start Loving Yourself for Who You Are
     • Start a Self-Gratitude Journal
       • Brag about your gorgeous body
       • Brag about a choice or thought you had today that you're proud of or that served your highest self.
     • Write a Love Letter
       • Write an ode or short love letter to a body part (ovaries, elbow, ear lobe, triceps, butt, calves, toes, eyes, smile, nose...etc)
   • Look 10 lbs Thinner Instantly! Women look best when they look balanced- top and bottom look proportionate. Most women are not a perfect "hour glass", but we can fake it by what we wear. Check out tips on instantly looking like an "hour glass" here: www.alchemyoforder.blogspot.com.
2. Reveal Your Fabulousness
   • Step into Who You Want to Be
     • Ms. Fabulous! Give yourself titles. We all know what we think about we bring about. Why not give yourself defined and fun (!) titles for the roles you play in your life. (Diva Mom, Rock Star Femmepreneur/ networker, Gym Goddess (on "Team Pleasure!"), Naughty Sex Kitten...etc.) Your imagination is the limit, go wild!
     • Own It, Sista': Plan your life around these titles. If you want something to happen, you have to make time for it and WRITE IT DOWN on your calendar, just like an appointment. To make the inner Gym Goddess thrive, you have to plan for her. Check out quick calorie burners here: www.restorationfitness.blogspot.com
     • Step Out! Enjoy dressing your body in bold ways.
   • Donate your old clothes from your closet, keep only what you feel fabulous in!
   • Change your hair - either with a new 'do' or by curling or straightening what you've got.
   • Add your mom's vintage bracelets or scarves to play up your outfits.
   • Add a new color to your repertoire.
3. Snag a Buddy.
   • Left to our own devices, we will almost always choose not to go to the gym. Enlist a buddy who also has a fitness goal and make a weekly (or bi-weekly, tri-weekly!) commitment to meet at a gym or at home. You're much more likely to stick to a program if you have someone you can laugh and sweat with. Strength in numbers, ladies.
   • Fashion Police: Ask a girlfriend to be your Fashion Police. Invite her to raid your closet and be brutal. We all want you to look your best! Give back by doing it for her. Follow the three F's: All items should Fit, Flatter, and (make you) Feel Like a Million Bucks.
   • Watch your Language: In a grand effort to make bold changes in your life, we're going to encourage you to be very outrageous here. Approach a friend (or ten!) and say "I'm making some beautiful changes in my life and I would deeply appreciate your support. If I ever say anything negative about myself or how I look, please say "Reframe!" to which, I will have to reframe what I just said in a positive way."
     
     Example:
     Goddess 1: "I feel fat today"
     Goddess 2: "Reframe!"
     Goddess 1: "Thank You. I feel unusually full today."

May these tips help you shine in 2009! For more information on looking and feeling fabulous, we invite you to visit our websites: www.restorationfitness.net, www.alchemyoforder.com.